Looking for someone who has installed/***embled Speedway 6" dropped axle kit. (duel leaf) Straight axle kit from them bolts together as kit , but their tech guy couldnt tell me how the dropped axle matches up to tie rods,spindles ,etc. You'd think/hope they have ***embled them in both configurations. Or any other reputable businesses that sell them? Going into 1940 plymouth business coupe
Not forged, it is a tube axle. To answer the OP if you bought the kit for Ford spindles for example then yes, ‘37-‘48 spindles will work. Stock spindles will require bending the steering arms to clear the 6” drop, or you could use bolt on aftermarket arms. Once the steering arms you decide on are on the car then and only then will you know how long your tie rod needs to be. The tech advisor has no idea about your particular combination of parts. BTW, the kit is “universal” (my favorite hot rod part word) and by that I mean it will adapt to many different frames. Be sure you weld the spring pads to the axle once you establish the correct location based on your frame width.
I did a 6" single leaf and figured scrub line would be OK with 165-80/15 but forgot about the hairpins which extend lower. In hindsight I should have done 4". With tie rod behind I am going to have to bend steering arms lower to clear frame by more than 1".
This is why these forums are needed, probably saved me a lot of headaches with other rodders helping out. thanks
6 inch will bust the scrub line ! I used a 5 inch years ago it would clear . The owner burned up a nice set of front fenders , but damn it was loooow ! Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
If they run one in the '38 Special', they must be well built, that thing does amazing wheel stands all day long. Warren
I'll agree that those axles look well made, now that I've been to the site and looked around Didn't know about them, seems to be an old time like traditional hot rod shop. But I didn't see any mention of dropped axles, just straight g***er axles. Also, been reading for years here on HAMB and elsewhere that tube axles and split bones, or wishbones, are not a good idea with a tube axle. Only good with unsplit radius rods or 4 bar setup.
School me here now, As I remember, a 40 Ply was one of the 1st cars to utilize a SLA control arm (independent front suspension) design along with tube shocks. (Pic front another HAMB post). So what exactly are you attempting to put under the Plymouth? Did ya just want to give it a different design like earlier quad spring cars? I don’t have any feedback on any thing that speedway sells suspension wise. If I’m doing a straight axle, it mostly would entail FoMoCo era specific components. If you’re seeking a dropped axle front end, it may take some engineering that the “Speedway Answer Man” May not have the experience to answer.
If I was doing this in my shop and my customer demanded a tube axle I'd go to a forged 5 inch dropped tube from Magnum Products. Much safer.
Sorry to drag an old thread up but I'm also interested in dropping my willys using a drop tube and parallel leafs. The 2 companies mentioned above magnum and WAC only seam to sell drop tubes for fords or transverse leafs or am I missing something? I've also been looking at the 6" speedway drop tube but I'm interested to no what problems getting into the scrub line will cause? I'm new to all this geometry and setup stuff but would like to get it right Thanks Luke
Scrub line is described this way- if you were to stretch a line from the lowest part of a front rim to the lowest part of a rear rim would anything be below that line? In the event of a blow out could any of your front axle components, steering, exhaust, etc. come in contact with the roadway causing a potential catastrophic loss of control? But also, in the case of your Willys do either of the manufacturers mentioned have an axle in the width you would need? Check the C-C of the king pins on a Willys axle and then research the catalogs to see what they offer. Edit-I just went back and realized you mentioned WAC, I am sure he can make what you want, but consider the scrub first.
[QUOTE Also, been reading for years here on HAMB and elsewhere that tube axles and split bones, or wishbones, are not a good idea with a tube axle. Only good with unsplit radius rods or 4 bar setup.[/QUOTE] Don't go there Dave. The blind will never see.
Exactly what I thought it was ideally I want a 5" 6 is within the scrub line but not by much. The ones the above companies advertise have spring perch holes whereas the speedway one doesn't as I won't need them as I'll be running parallel leafs. I will contact WAC to see what they can do but I think I need a 48" as I'm sure my willys is 48 1/4 Thanks for your help Luke
I had a 6" dropped tube (from MAS, now defunct) in a Plymouth coupe. Had 6" wide front wheels with 165 x 15" tires. No scrub line issues. I did use Econoline spindles, and they may have brought the spindle a bit lower than early Ford, but not sure. It's been years.
They make the axles to fit 37-48 Ford spindles or 49-54 Chevy spindles. If use original Ford spindles you will have to bend the steering arms for clearance reasons. Most people using Ford spindles use aftermarket spindles. These spindles have no steering arms on them but they also have steering arms available to fit the spindles.
I recently got a 5 inch dropped forged I beam axle (46 inch kingpin centers) from So-Cal and it is a very good quality product. I know Speedway used to have a man named Jelly making their tube axles in Wichita Ks and they were good quality but he died so who knows where they're coming from now?
WAC Face Book page https://www.facebook.com/WAC-Customs-602766899798304/ Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
What ever you decide, make sure it's USA made and not that offshore ****. The Chinese don't care if you live or die.
They are not the only ones that are capable of manufacturing ****. I have a MAS, Minnesota Auto Specialties, dropped tube that I bought in the early ‘70’s and the king pin bosses vary by 3.5* side to side. Set one side at 7* and you get 10.5* on the other side. MAS didn’t care, no refunds, it’s been laying around all these years as a reminder, check everything and trust nobody.
If I lived as close to Mn as you do, the day would come when they found that damn axle stuck thru their front window.
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