Straight axle Questions

I am currently building a '55 ford g***er and need some help. My local junk (treasure) yard has a few early ford econolines and dodge d 100's. My question is this, which straight axle would work better. I know they both have 5 on 4 1/2 bolt patterns and parellel leafs. I was wondering which steering set up would work better or are they identical. I didn't have time today to compare both. Also i ma looking for a 4 speed to put behind the FE i am putting in it. Any help or pictures would help out and be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Brad Gray

 

If it's going in a Ford I'd go with the Ford if it fits what you are doing.

 

FWIW My buddy has a '55 Ford with an econoline. The econoline is a tad wide to fit nicely. The present one in his car was narrowed about 4" I think - basically to center the spring perches (this is how he got the car) and he picked up another one that most likely will need narrowed about 2" to actually fit "right". If it helps I'll see him today and verify these numbers are correct.

 

i met a guy on www.g***ermadness.com this site has been a wealth of knowledge not that this site wont be able to help there is a good knowledge base here as well just a sugggestion im usin a early chevy pu 47-54 and mas spring kit with a toyota pu steering box on my 54 chevy

 

thamks for all the help guys. If you could check on those measurements for me. I would appreciate it. Also how would i do the steering linkage?

 

The Econoline axle would have easily available disc brake conversions.

 

HemiRAmbler is there anyway you could post some pics of your buddies '55 i could use some visuals

 

Hey - I haven't talked with my buddy in a few days - but I'll call him tomorrow and try to verify those dimensions. Here's a shot of his car.

 

that car is awesome. Love the stance. Can you get anymore pics. Am i mistaken or does it have a gl*** frontend? ANd bythe way thanks for checking on those dimensions.

 

I'm with you I LOVE the car too. I don't have anymore pics on my computer but thought I did - so I'll keep looking. Yeah I'm thinking the stance is pretty kick***.

Yes the front end is 'gl*** - old race weight stuff - it needs reinforced for continued street use for certain as it's showing it's age with several decent sized cracks!!!!

My buddy ain't much of a computer dude so I did call him and did ask about those front end dimensions. His axle is in fact Econoline - but he figures it's been cut down 4" PER SIDE to get the spring pads centered on the frame rails. Uncut he figures the springs would ride on the outside of the frame rails - doesn't sound like all that good of a choice if you ask me. Again he figures with HIS wheels a stock econoline would need narrowed about 2" PER SIDE to place the wheels where he'd like them, but that doesn't work real well as far as spring pads go.

He's got it apart at the moment and we're gonna look things over again to see if it really makes sense to continue to try and use a Econoline or not. They are DEFINITELY on the wide side for his '55. He's really not all that thrilled with welding one together - mostly (I think) because he wants to drill the axle anyways and doesn't want to drill a welded one.

FWIW I run a tube axle in my Rambler - the tube axle is his second choice - they are easy enough to fit, but don't look anywhere near as nice as a beam!!! Time will tell. In any event next time I'm at his shop I will grab a tape measure and write everything down - hopefully it will help.

My impression is that there are FAR better choices than an econline for his application.

 

thanks again for all the info