Technical 29 roadster on 32 brookville chassis

Hi everybody,
This is my first full build and have always had a love for traditional hot rods. My car will not be 100% period correct. Unfortunately that's not my goal. I want to build a roadster that looks like a hot rod from the 50's and be very reliable and affordable to build. I plan to build it to a high quality standard and would like some guidance from the more experienced members.

I'm looking to get some input on a front axle setup. I'm running speedway wishbones. I've read some info on different companies that manufacter them. I'm looking for a 47" forged front axle. Ch***is engineering looks promising as long as its in stock. What are you guys running out there on a weekend driver as far as front suspension setups with split wishbones? I also plan to use 40 style drums as well. If anyone can lend some experienced info it'll be a huge help. The picture is where I'm at in the build. Not far from the start I know. A little at a time and it will be done soon enough. Thanks for any help.

 

This is the look I'm going for on my build.

 

I wish you luck on your project. Are you going to do all the work yourself????

 

Love what you got brewing, I have always loved early A's, as soon as I finish my 28 Tudor I'll be working on a 28-29 roadster on 32 rails. Keep the progress coming.

 

Thanks guys. I plan to build the whole car myself. The only things I won't be doing is paint and powder coat. My next step is to get the front end complete and get it to a rolling state. Then I will be getting the brookville body. After that point off to the exhaust shop. I'm undecided to have the ch***is painted or powder coated.

 

Lucky 7 has a nice forged 46" axle.. Tucks the front wheels in a little and looks nice on hi boys...

 

J Ho-- some fun ahead for you(if you get your C.I. axle this year) waited over a year for mine,
but they are the best(my opinion) and they look really nice(again just my opinion).

 

How about finding a stock '32-'36 axle and having it dropped? Just my opinion, but they really look a bunch better than the aftermarket stuff out there. And, there are so many guys dropping them these days that it's really not the big deal it was when the aftermarket stuff was created.

 

Good points guys. I haven't put much thought into finding an original and having it dropped. I'll have to look into it. Thanks for the input guys.

 

Or you can get a dropped original Model A axle from Joe's Speed Shop. Okie Joe does great work and has good prices.

 

Brookville suggest the So cal front axle. Do any of you guys have experience with the So cal axle?

 

The only thing I see wrong with dropping an original axel is the fact that you still have the same amount of metal that you did when you started but it is stretched out thinner now thus making it weaker. I have seen them fold up under hard braking.

 

I've used a SoCal axle on a customer's car. I think they're ugly in the spring perch area, but the quality seemed good considering they're Chinese.
You want a hot rod that looks '50's ? You need a dropped FORD axle. You will not find another axle to match the quality of the real thing, either.
As mentioned above, you need either a '32 axle or a '33-'36 axle, dropped by a pro. A bunch of guys on here do it and are trustworthy.

 

Metal man I took your advice and looked into an original axle setup. I have good news. I will be going with a 32 heavy with a 4" drop and standard spring. I did some searching around and spoke to Joe at Joe's Speedshop. He is a wonderful person to deal with. He gave me very sound advice and was 100% looking out for what my final outcome was for the rod. If anyone needs advice or is looking to build a front end I suggest giving him a call. He deals with all original parts etc. Looking forward to doing business. Stay tuned guys. and thanks for all the help!

 

That's great. He did the '32 axle that my son has in the A coupe he's building (1.5" drop over stock) and it's a thing of beauty . You won't be disappointed... It really looks like it was made that way at the Ford plant and the quality of the axle
Can't be matched by any aftermarket axle.

 

Hooray!!! You'll be happier if you use as many original ford or old speed parts as possible. Going with a '32 axle dropped is a great choice. Don't let old stuff scare you, it all can be very reliable.

If you are going to run something modern run a T5 behind a flathead but even there you don't HAVE to. I love the inspiration you have for the build and I bet it'll look great when it's done.

This rules...

 

Thanks for the help and support. I have not located a useable flathead around me. Old pieces like a good flathead are some what scarce. When you do find them the price is through the roof. This being said I had my frame setup by Brookville for a small block chevy and 4 speed trans. I'd love to have it flathead powered but its not within budget. I have a small block 327 that is a 63 corvette block with the 4 speed Saginaw. Its an easier/quicker/reliable way to go that could still be in that era of a build. Even though my frame is set up for a SBC I constantly still search online etc. for a flatty. :/ thanks for all the help and kind words everyone.

 

I love flatheads..... That being said I love early chevy's probably even more!! That 327 with 4speed will be a killer combo in that car! Don't think you have to make and excuse for that engine that's the cream of the crop!!! I have a 265 Chevy with 4 Strombergs on top backed by a 39 ford trans. I love that engine so much and you will to. Screw the flathead Viva La Chevy!!!

Just look towards late 50's hot rods as examples of cars to make that entire package of parts jive together. Maybe chrome 40 ford wheels with black walls?

 

So many model A's to the repop '32 frames going on now (always have been I guess) who's frame are people using for this conversion anyway? Seattle, Portland, PNW area?

 

I've love the old Chevy's myself. Do you have any videos of yours running?
The 40 ford wheels will be black with a chrome ring and cap. And most definitely black walls. 7.50s in back and 5.25s up front The ch***is and body will be ppg Washington Blue.

30tudor my ch***is is made by Brookville Roadsters. There is a lot of builders out there repopping them.

 

Here's a video of my 35 when it went for it's first drive with the 265 Chevy I had built for it....

 

Wishing you the best on your build, I almost forgot, welcome to the HAMB from Minnesota!!

 

Wow Jeffrey your coupe is sweet! Are you running mufflers on it? Sounds like smithy's or porters. I love porters myself. Thanks for the video.

Thanks 1927graham. I hope your keeping warm!

 

I will be going this route thanks for your input. I will eventually need louvers

 

I like the direction you're headed, especially with the small block and three pedals!

Malcolm

 

At your service sir, when the time comes...

 

The axle under my 32 coupe is an original Ford 32 heavy Dago Axle that Bob Stewart dropped many, many years ago and has been under two different Hot Rods for well over a hundred thousand miles with no issues. Just my experience.

 

Yep, there must be thousands of hot rods like that on the road. My dad is 73, and is still driving the same hot rod he drove in high school, with a stretch dropped deuce axle up front. It's not as pretty of an axle as the one my kid is using that Joe dropped, but it must have 150,000 miles on it . I'm going to double that,and my son will have it after me, and.....
Joe doesn't "stretch" them when he drops them... They actually get shorter than stock. That's part of why they look so nice I think. I don't so much care for that "taffy" look that some dropped axles have when the fixture doesn't allow them to get lightly shorter during the process. The taffy look is totally traditional, though. Seems like most of the really old dropped axles look that way.

 

Thanks need louvers. I will need my deck lid done when the time comes.

I know what you guys mean by the taffy look. I really like how Joe does his axles. It shows that quality time and effort is put into making the axle right. His help over the phone was amazing too. I'm 2-3 months out, but I'm going to have Joe build a complete front end for me with original parts etc. He is going to build the draglink too.

 

Been running a MorDrop '36 axle for nearly ten years, it was under my dad's roadster for decades before that. No problems. IMHO a stretch that "narrows" the width isn't nearly as graceful as the older stretches. Axles that are done right don't have the "taffy" look -- they can be stretched without compressing the web.