Technical Did all '32's have HEAVY front axles?

Just picked up a very nice '32 front end, super uncut wishbone, nice perches, but the axle is the 33-34 style not a "HEAVY" '32, did they come both ways when they were new? Bob

 

All '32's had the "heavy" axle.
Maybe you have a '33 / '34 front end.
The wishbone will be slightly shorter on a '33 / '34, than a '32.
Every thing else will be the same as a '32.

 

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Hi Pete, I had an unrelated question for you. I just bought a 32 roadster that was stored for 29 years. it has a Beverly Hills Frame and it looks just like a Pete & Jakes, Could you give me any info on the frame, Thanks ,Tommy Caruso

 

Thanks Pete! At 48 inches perch center to ball center I think the wishbone is '32. It needs a home, will list it here tomorrow.

Bob

 

Didn,t the 4 cylinder 1932 Fords have the thinner front axle ? I have an Original 32 Ford that was a 4 banger ( now V8 ) and it has the thinner style front axle .

 

This is what I always thought. Always been told this.
There always seems to be some debate on this topic. Maybe only country’s outside of USA had the light axles in the 4 cylinders.
Some suggest that there were replacement axles that were the light ones, made from ‘33-‘36. Why Henry Ford would sell a replacement axle different to original is beyond my comprehension.
I have a light axle in my coupe, came out of a 4 cylinder fordor sedan.
My V8 fordor has a heavy axle.
Photos from original poster would help.

 

As Pete said above, ALL 32's left the factory with the so-called "heavy" axle. Even the four-cylinders. Many cars over the years might have had their front axle replaced for some reason or other, and the standard 33-36 axle is dimensionally the same, so it was used by the mechanic.

 

If you want a second (0r third) opinion, you can ask DavidG over on the Fordbarn, he is the 32 guru over there.

 

Thanks Alchemy,
Can you confirm this for other countries outside of the USA ?
Clemens.

 

Believe all American 32's came with the "heavy" axle. After 1932, the 1933/34 was the only version used for service, so I would gues your front end is a 1932 but at some point the axle was replaced with a service replacement (33/34 style). This would not be uncommon as the roads of the era tended to destroy axles.
Mark

 

1935/36 Axles are dimensionally the same , BUT the boss is shorter, so they won't fit correctly in a 32-34 wishbone.

 

My guess would be that at the end of 1932 production the axle was redesigned to be thinner (most likely for cost savings, knowing Henry). Since the new axle fit on the 1932's no need to produce more "heavy" axles.

 

Why not? Aren't the bosses on all the axles from '32 through '36 all 2"?

Canadian '32's had a hybrid type axle where the axle was thicker, or 'heavy' in the center, wishbone boss to wishbone boss, and the ends were thinner like the '33 -'36' axles.

 

Your right, It's tired and I'm late. Thinking of the 37 and up not fitting the earlier.
Mark

 

And here in New Zealand, all our ‘32s were imported from Canada.

 

I've heard of an early 33 axle that is more like a 32 in the center, with the thinner outer portions. I don't own one though. Maybe that is what all the Canadians got.

In Europe, didn't the 33 Ford look like a 32 with just a little revision of the windshield? Maybe they had the same old 32 frame and wishbone? So maybe parts got switched around easily there?

 

As far as I know here in Europe (France) the 33's & 34's are identical to the USA.I speak for 2dr.,3W.5W.,Cabriolet and 4dr that I have seen.I have not yet seen a roadster or phaeton.All 32's non modified that I have seen have the so called "heavy axle".I know of a '32 ch***is without the reveals on the side.Here are pics of that ch***is with firewall.

 

My dad has a very original 33 fordor that has a Canadian Vin. It has a "heavy" axle. I always wondered if Canada got the left overs and used heavy axles under their cars.

 

I bought an original 32 axle from Okie Joe that he dropped for me. I asked him this question, he told me that the term "32 heavy" was just a nick name and really meant nothing other that it's a real 1932 axle. As other guys stated, other year axles are replacements and they fit right in but they are made (thinner?) differently, guys like Joe can look right at the different years and tell a 32 right away, guys like me cannot.

 

If you had a 32 and a 33-36 side by side it would be very obvious of the difference

 

If they are the same size in the perch pin boss then why are the axles offered in both 2" and 2¼" ?

 

56Don, only the 32-36 axles had a 2" perch boss. All the other years used a 2.25" boss.

 

Here are some axle ID pics I copied from somewhere.

 

My friend has a gennie 4 banger 32 Roadster, He told me that has the term Heavy Axle fitted from Henry's factory all the 32's in Australia I have ever seen have the heavy axle from all the research I've done over the years a lot of the bodies and ch***is were imported from Canada in flat pack form and ***emble in Australia it had to do with taxes and having Australia content as we were ruled by England at the time and Canada was under the umbrella of England along with Australia. Thats why australian 32's are full of timber had to have Australian content i was told and read 30 plus years ago the factory used the timber crates that were shipped over from Canada packed with 32 parts to wood out the bodies so there was no waste sounds like Henry maybe he was ahead of his time with recycling in that department? hope this helps

 

My 32 V-8 had a 'heavy' axle when i bought it but was replaced with a thinner one because
the heavy one was bent.
Three Model B's i have/had all had the thinner version.
Okay they are all European maybe they were different from the American/Canadian ones.
It would be hard to believe all 4-cylinders had the front axle replaced

Hennie

 

GAZ, My '32 Model B had the 4 cylinder motor and the "heavy" axle and I don't think it was ever modified.


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There were about 1000 frames made without the reveal. Most had no K-member legs. Whatever it's a really early frame. Probably a French pre production car.

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More about the axles,
I have found several now of the lighter type that have the part number B 3010.
Same part number as the heavy ones. If it was a ‘33 - ‘34 axle, surely the part number would be different.

 

Post a pic.There was no such thing as a light or heavy.The big trucks had a heavier duty axle that looked the same.