Technical Help me identify this front end

Hi all, I’m starting a rat rod t-bucket project and I could use some help. Can anyone identify this front end I have? I don’t have all the parts and need some direction so I can replace what is missing.

Backing plate hole pattern is 2.50” x 2.50”, and are a little bigger than .375” in diameter
Spindle length is 4.25” from top of the round part to the top of the spindle, 5” in total from backing plate mount to end of spindle

any help would be greatly appreciated

 

Sorry, I guess what’s most important at this point is to figure out what the brake backing plate, and or spindle origins are

 

Not 100% positive but I think you have early Econoline spindles and brakes, like ‘61-‘63. Those steering arms are homemade to adapt the r&p steering. Be advised that r&p is a non-issue here, it doesn’t fit the theme that the HAMB follows. Regardless, I see no way for a rack to work with a straight axle, take it off and go with a conventional worm and sector steering box. Oh, and your tube front axle could have been made by any number of early hot rod parts suppliers.

 

MAS is my guess for axle.

 

The R*t word is not spoken here, we are traditional pre 1965 Hot Rodders on this site. Please keep it pre 65 Hot Rods and Customs. Also it would be to your benefit to do an introduction.

 

in case you didnt get saltracers message-- no rat rods!

 

65 and earlier not pre 64

 

Hopefully it’s a generation thing that thinks Hotrods are rat rods. Give the fella a chance.

 

Tube axle should not use hairpins.

Gary

 

There's thousands of t-buckets on the road with tube axles and hairpins, mine included

 

Hey, thanks for all the responses. I’m really sorry for the mistakes I made with this post, I’m just not sure where else to go to information.

 

Sorry about this

 

Thanks for the info, I’ll look into the econline dimensions.

 

That pic is wild.
Would love to see the steering shaft for that application.

 

Only if the 65 is the same body design as a 64. = 65 Rivera works, 65 Nova works, 65 Impala doesn't work . If you can't tell it from a 63/64 or just a 64 without being an expert in the little nit picking year to year details life is good,
Yuppers to the spindles being Econoline from the looks of this set on Ebay eBay item number:195881565003

Popular spindle and brakes for tube axles in the 60's and 70's. eBay item number:195881565003

The rack will "function" as far as steer the car but with those long steering arms it probably has a huge steering radius lock to lock. It adds a lot of unsprung weight to the the front end and looks Butt ugly and is a lot of clutter on an axle that is supposed to be clean and simple.

 

Edit your post to eliminate the 'rat rod' reference and you'll be OK here. Add your introduction and location so people can chime in from your local area if they have parts or can help you. Read and get familiar with the rules that apply to thread. Get yourself a LARGE jar of skin thickener.
Then....... post away!
In the meantime, you can spend some time searching on here for solid axle front ends and steering gears. There's a lot to be learned from all these guys, and as long as you use the skin thickener as suggested, you'll get a lot of good advice and guidance.
Good luck!

 

Hair pins should only be used on Tube axles

 

The way to tell it's Econoline is the top of the king pin which has a bulbous shape to it, note the king pin incline of that spindle will be of a different one to an early ford. So you may not be able to switch them onto a stock or aftermarket early axle. What you gain is a wide shoe and self adjusting
brakes as stock. I am reckoning it's due to a 14 inch wheel, but am not 100 certain

 

Rack steering has been around for a few years. I'm curious what that came out of? Some sort of drag car?
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/first-use-of-rack-and-pinion-steering.435130/

 

That rack arrangement is... different! No bump steer with a rack mounted to a solid axle. But you'd have to have a slip joint with lots of movement and a couple of wide range unis in the linkage back to the steering wheel, to allow for suspension motion! Can't see how it would possibly have ever worked properly as is, unless the mounts allow the entire steering rack to rotate?!

 

Pre '66.

 

So just being a newbie relatively speaking, would a rack and pinion from a 1959 Mini be verboten? It's age is appropriate...

 

Well that leaves me out as I have on in my 56

 

Tube axles should NOT be used with split wishbones.

 

^^^^Hairpins locate the axle in the same way as split wishbones. I've always read that tube axles need four bars.

Gary