Technical Dropped axle in a 36 Ford

I've got what I think is a 3" ( poss 4") "more drop" dropped axle in my 36 Ford coupe and I want to go to a 4" or 5". I'm thinking about a 5" with 46" between the centers on the kingpins to keep the wheels in the middle of the fenders. Anyone got any ideas about this, or have one in their 35-40? What spring to use? Thanks!

 

The lower you go the closer the tie rods come to the bottom of the oil pan. I think 5 in. is too much for a 36 Ford due to fitment problems. Here's some general info:
A 4 inch dropped axle results in a 2 in. drop. A stock reversed eye spring gives you an inch more drop. A Posie reversed eye super low spring will give you even more drop.
Do a search on lowering and lots of info. appears. Ford axles are not the same for 1935-41, so be sure and read all you can about old axles to ascertain the differences. Also, be sure and read ALL this thread. Also, there are HAMBER's who do drop axles and know their stuff.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=212055&highlight=dropping+your+car Super Bell makes a dropped axle for your 36.
http://www.posiesrodsandcustoms.com/super_slide_springs/ford_i_beam/

 

Good points, thanks for the info. My main concern is to not do what some guys do and put in too wide an axle, so the tires are close to the fenders.
Thanks again!

 

Here's the info on this car.
1940 Tires and Wheels over the years.
In the 2nd photo the only change to the stock suspension was a Posie reversed eye front spring which lowered the car a little more than 1 in. after settling of the spring. Tires were stock 6:00 x 16 on stock 16x4 FORD rims. The 1st photo shows the car with with Posie reversed eye spring, Magnum 4 inch dropped axle and steering arms, with early FORD 15x51/2 pickup truck rims with 4 inch backspace and Coker Cl***ic 5:60x15 inch tires with 2 3/4 inch wide white wall. On the stock rear are 15x6 rims with 4 inch backspace made by a company called SOLIDS ( no longer around) with BF Goodrich Silvertown 7:60x15 tires with 3 3/8 in white wall. The dia. of the rear tires is 28.66 inches. The dia. of the front tires is25.88 in. The car sits very low with the chin pan 4 3/8 in. off the ground. The axle is resting on the rubber bump stops. The tires did not rub the fenders in any of these alterations. The Magnum axle is 3/4 inch narrower than the stock 40 axle. Hope this helps.

 

I used a Monoleaf in mine to get the front down that extra bit.

 

VERY cool car!! Do you know what the distance is between the spring perch eyes and also between the kingpin centers? On the 40 I had I used a 46" axle and it worked perfect. Thanks , great information !! Larry

 

Sits perfect! I was thinking Monoleaf too. Do you know what the C to C on the kingpins is on the axle?...and is it a 4"? Thanks !

 

This is mine as it is now.

 

Larry, RE: VERY cool car!! Do you know what the distance is between the spring perch eyes and also between the kingpin centers? On the 40 I had I used a 46" axle and it worked perfect. Thanks , great information !! Larry

The distance between the spring perch eyes is 38 1/2 in. - same as stock 40 axle.
The distance between kingpin center lines is 47 3/4 (3/4 in. smaller than stock which is 48 1/2in. )

Also zip over to www.fordbarn.com and do a search "dropped axle in your 36"
Here's an example of t what you will find. Vhttp://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109717&highlight=dropped+axle+36

 

I can go out an measure tomorrow. It's the stock '36 axle dropped by a friend to a total of 4" so 2.5" over stock I believe. Unsplit wishbone kept in tact.

 

i put a 4" axle in mine with 40 ford split wishbones an new spring works great.

 

The distance between the spring perch eyes in the axle at the top is 38 1/2". Between the eyes in the spring as it sits is 41". As near as I can measure, with everything in the way kinda, between kingpin centers is "about" 46-47" so I would go with a 46" axle.

 

The axle in my car was dropped by someone because the ends are filled, but I'm not sure how much of a drop it is. If I measure straight up from the top of the spring perch boss and eyeball across to the top of the kingpin boss it's 3" , so 3" drop ??? I've still got the wishbones too but split apart slightly in the center.

 

Don't forget that wheel backspacing does make a difference too.

 

Yup, keeping that in mind too.

 

The front end in this was taken out of a 37 Ford before I got it, so it's all the 37 dimensions. The axle is 47" C to C on the kingpins and 38 1/2 C to C on the spring perches. I think what I'll do is put in a monoleaf to start and see where that puts the height and go from there.

 

I was thinking about getting a 4" axle from Ch***is Engineering but on their 47" axles the perch pin holes are only 35" C to C and my spring is for the 38 1/2" C to C..