I guess I have to weigh in on the side of the dropped originals. I've got an old superbell for my 35 coupe, a stock dropped 34 for the 30 roadster, and a stock dropped A under the T roadster. I like the looks of the dropped originals far better than the superbell - must be the perfectly stretched lettering. My friend 55 merc here on the hamb and his buddy Joe drop axles. Joe did my A axle and its damn near perfect (at least in my eyes).
Just did that and found more good info, thanks for reminding me of the search function (new here, still learning the site). Some of the new cast axles look nice but I'll go with a dropped original.
I have to join the minority on this subject. Most original axles that have been dropped have that "Playdoh" look, that was mentioned, to them and are not nice to look at. I appreciate the use and time of an original axle etc. but they don't do it for me. I don't like Superbell's for the simple fact that they have that HUGE logo in the middle that sticks out worst than the fact that they are aftermarket. Magnum or CE, and we all know CE is the only Forged, are probably the best looking of the aftermarkets. That said - after looking through the thread a couple of times I only found a couple axles that I thought were asthetically pleasing - 2 of them being the heavy's and that is cause they don't have the "playdoh" look and the 3'rd being Harrison's that was done by Loudpedal - that one appears to have been done correctly and with the "right" amount of drop. I'll be using a drilled CE next time around as I like the "heavy" look and I can't afford a real '32 heavy and then pay to have it dropped & drilled.
I definitely didn't expect to suprise anyone with that. I don't really think I can explain this without going way off track. I'll try my best to keep this short. In it's simplest form I like what I like. And I prefer the look of an original dropped axle to an aftermarket one. I'll qualify that by adding that I am not talking about the crazy stretched, hammered, or cut and welded examples. Though I appreciate them as history. I'll agree with the examples Neal has pointed out as well executed. An aftermarket axle can't touch them. I hear what you and Sam are saying in regards to being around hot rods, growing up with them and appreciating different eras, genres, etc. I appreciate it all and it's not "gennie parts or die" for me by any means. BUT... I am inclined to have a very narrow view of what is cool... for me. I've always been this way. I guess I see it this way. I kind of started this whole deal on my own. Now I've definitely had my share of influences in the past few years but in the beginning there was no one telling me what was what. I would just look and learn and I gravitated toward what I thought looked cool - it was already built in. I didn't know what a traditional car was ten years ago but somehow I latched onto it and dug deeper. That's just where I am. Still digging though. Sometimes I like ultra refined things, and sometimes I like things that aren't so refined. And sometimes the best stuff has a perfect juxtaposition of both. That may be what I'm trying to accomplish here? I like sketches as much as finished drawings. Armatures can be just as cool to look at as the finished sculpture.
everyone here has made some good points. I personally have a 32 heavy that was bone stock and took it too Elpalcko at his shop Industrial Chassis and had them drop it 4 1/2 and it looks totally stock from the aspect of not having the playdoo look. Car rides great and look great as well. I just got another 32 heavy axle and going to have it drop as well. So far I have about 4000 miles on axle from Elpalcko including Austin trip and back and it was perfect. Just my two cents. Hopefully ElPalcko will chim in with his thoughts.
I agree if a original I-beam axle is dropped right it will like good. I like original dropped I beam axles. Can't beat a forged steel I-beam axle. I was raised to take old junk and make it what you want because we did have the money. Also end result was you had something to be proud of! Here is a 53-56 Ford axle I stretched dropped 4" over stock. Better that the after market option "tube axle"
I tend to agree with a lot of what Grimlok says. I like what I like. Most of it just tends to be traditional stuff. Also, I'd take a CE, Magnum, or Superbell axle over a 60 year old "taffy pull" axle anyday. The picture I posted of mine doesn't even come close to showing how nice it is. The webs are perfect. Loudpedal did a super job with it. I couldn't have wished for anything better. JH
O.K. Now maybe I'm taking this thread completely off kilter, but I have to say this: I don't like dropped axles, at all. (the crowd gasps in horror) There I said it. I like OEM Ford axles...undropped. As far as I'm concerned, a dropped axle should only be used when all other methods of dropping a front end fail to do the job (practically or aesthetically). There are very few period dropped axles that came out right (not looking like it had been extracted from the Playdoh machine). And, it is very traditional NOT to use a dropped axle...perhaps even more so than using a dropped axle.
oh snap! no he didnt! hahaha I like un dropped heavys well ol henry droped them just a smidgen. this is just a first mock up, I will mess with the spring alittle.
I like undropped Ford axles too. In fact it's kind of funny. Here I am talking about how much I like original dropped axles, and my roadster had an undropped '39 and the car I'm putting together now has an undropped axle as well.
Neal's chassis is a reminder of how graceful Ford forgings and stampings really were...every little chassis bit is a small sculpture instead of the current cacaphony of welded steel plate. Every change of plane in the frame is a swoop instead of a kink or step... And the flathead engine looks like a little Gothic cathedral... Ford didn't think much of axle drops either...the little Ford Engineering text from 1935 goes into the multiplying torque problems as drop increases...Ford liked stuff that was inherently stiff, so it could be stiff by design rather than by brute weight. Still about the only way to lower one enough, though, if your car isn't suitable for stepping or suicide mount.
I come from both sides of the fence on most things concerning hot rods. Being 63 years old and starting this craziness when I was 13, I remember when there was very little aftermarket save for what was in the ads in Hot Rod and a couple of other mags. Even Speedy Bill only had a store the size of an average corner gas station, and Bill Neikamp's AMBR winner was only a dozen years old when I got my drivers license. So, after attending General Motor's Institue to study Mechanical Engineering (GMstyle) I aquired another perspective and that is, There is a right way and a wrong way to do things and hot rodders have done almost everything the wrong way at least once. Some have gotten away with it, some died prematurely. I love everyone of them because they have gotten us from there to here. Fast forward to the HAMB. I love this place the same way and this thread just magnafies the feeling. Carry on guys, don't you love being able to agree to disagree? Frank
I think he might have meant "sidesteer" as the side drag link, not a "cross steer"? Drag link steer flex meaning the front-to-back flex of the left axle end??
What exact year did "traditional" occur? '50? '40? '70, '60??? I personally would rather see a dropped axle ANY day, than a step...a kicked up frame, with the rails going on an incline, past the grill shell at the center of its height, to me, looks poor...if you want to do a spring-over, and not stretch the hell outta it, you have limited options...goddamn...this tradition crap gets annoying...traditional for when? what time line? WHO'S time line? traditional cars used wooden wheels...and mechanical brakes... I DO like the early axles, if dropped nicely, I also like the new ones, I have one...Superbell...it came with the car...I used it...it works good. I even like tube axles! AHhhhh! oh, no...not THOSE! whatever... I like hot rods...
Bravo... Most of these guys wouldnt know tradition if it bit em in the ass... Old axles are cool new axles are cool .. Im tired of all this traditional shit myself.. Just build it the way you want and try not to insult the guys that use the newer stuff just because you dont. Dave
This board was created to "spread the gospel of traditional Hot Rods and Kustoms to hoodlums worldwide". I could really care less whether someone chooses to go traditional or not with their build and their parts. I'll probably like the results either way, if it is done tastefully and correctly. But tradition is (mostly) what is discussed on this board.
Damn I probably am in deep doo doo just bought a dropped tube axle for a 28 RPU project===however I have a dropped beam axle too==thos post just erased a bout a 100 ways to do it and now I will have to start over again in my mind progress has been started thanks Ken
Maybe i should of put it more that im tired of this traditional shit cause a lot of people pointing fingers and yelling that aint traditional dont really know what traditional is. Just cause one guy wants to use a new super bell i beam with split bones doesnt mean its not traditional maybe he has a reason for the axle. Shit its got split bones.. I think a lot of people are loosing the hot rod in hot rod. Hot rodders have for years took something and changed it or modified it to thier tastes. Thats what its all about . Thats more of a tradition than arguing on a message board about what traditional means... Dave
Some of us just have to make due with what we have. I have a 46 ford panhard bar and swaybar on my 39deluxe coupe......BUT DONT TELL NOBODY!!!!!!!! hahahhahhahahaha
Here's mine -- what I think is an original 42-47 axle, stock, which is a slight drop, with Econoline spindles and drum brakes, and 14" steelies. Will be good enough for me. I'll run a reverse eye spring, and it should have a good stance when done. Got the axle for $10 at a swap meet, and had to do some machine work to fit the econoline spindles. No catalog for me. Pete
I agree with the comments about "traditional when?" and what timeline? I also grew up with the aftermarket explosion of the 70's/80's and have a HUGE appreciation for what is available new - most on here, whether they will admit it or not, couldn't do what we do without the new stuff. My build plan for my new '32 sedan is simple - a hot rod that draws aesthetically from all my favorite hot rod influences - the Southern California hot rods of the 70's/80's (note: the P&J, P'wood, Vinther, Small, Thelan and Fat Jack style of hot rods), Bonneville, late 50's/early 60's Indy, Champ and dirt racing. Just as an example, it will run Indy/Champ dirt-correct magnesium 18" rear wheels with Grooved Rear dirt tires but with spindlemounts and ribs up front. Why? Because the design of the spindlemounts I have very nicely matches the design of the oddball rear wheels (almost like they were meant to). They are all old, magnesium Halibrands but are a mix of styles and/or original uses. Used together (which, historically you probably would never have seen) they will look very good, a much more important aspect to me than being "correct". Also, I'm runnin' 4 wheel discs and they will look "right" (let the mud slinging begin ). This brings me to my axle choice - my primary design direction of encompassing my Indy influences lean me toward a torsion bar suspended undropped tube axle - YUCK! I don't care for the look of this style of axle (even though it is traditional for this "look") so I won't run one. Most likely the car will get an original Ford axle dropped and drilled by one of our resident pros here on the Hamb. And to hang it on the frame some nice, new, aftermarket stainless hairpins, perches, shackles, etc. Again, not "traditional" but very attractive (and hopefully very functional). Having spouted off all the above, I appreciate the aesthetics of the past and, like everyone, am influenced by them. But, I only worry about what one guy thinks . . . Steve
The Jalopy Journal
