All....looking for help on the application of a dropped I-beam front axle. I have a 1958 Morgan that I am resto-modding. The car came with a perimeter frame with Pinto rear end, front end, engine and trans. I have swapped the rear to a S10 LSD as it most closely fit the width to fit under the body as well as am putting in a mild 4.3 V6 engine and trans. The Pinto front end was literally welded on top of the perimeter frame. YIKES! In order to get the right stance as well as upgrade to disc's I am looking at a dropped I beam. I have the rear frame set at 6 inches and the front also needs to be set at 6 inches in order for the correct stance. Questions: Does the I-beam go under, over, in front of my front cross member, which is where the Pinto frontend is current welded to? Can I remove the Pinto frontend and then install the I-beam? Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. I live Tacoma, WA for reference. Attached is a picture of what I am thinking of and the other pictures is of what is right now top view and front view.
A '58 Morgan might be worth a little money if redone as original or close to it. How about pics of the body.
The axle usually goes under the crossmember with a leaf spring in between. But as you have shown in your pic (which is a tube axle, not I-beam), anything is possible. If you want coilover springs/shocks, whose to say you even need a crossmember anywhere near the axle? I don't think you will be able to fit one under your frame if you only have six inches between the frame and the ground. But you could C or Z the frame up over the axle to make room for it and the spring.
Firstly appreciate everyone's response. I only have the body....hence the resto-mod path. my goal is have it turn out looking like the 2014 Morgan lightweight Speedster...only 60 were ever produced. see attached pic. My challenge is the front inner-fenders/wings will hit the upper A-arm mount by placing the ch***is in the position i need it to be in so I need to have a frontend that resembles this attached picture in which nothing will obstruct the mounting of the body. I can remove the entire Pinto frontend and have a completely clean/blank main frame rails and reposition the crossmember further back to accommodate the I-beam/tube dropped axle....hopefully that makes sense?
This is the exact frontend I that I am thinking of using....just not sure where to/how to attach to my frame? The frame is two parallel main frame rails that run from front to back and is tied together in the front with a flat cross member...frame height in the front and back is 6 inches. I can remove the entire Pinto front end as if it was never there.....just need to know how/where to mount this type of front end. Thank you.
I don't think you'll know where to attach your suspension parts and mountings until you set the frame at ride height with blocks, stands or whatever. Then I'd mock up the fenders so you'll know where your wheels will sit in the fenders. That should give you an idea of where to put your suspension parts and mountings. At least thats' the way I approach a new frame-up build.. In this photo I have no suspension parts in place yet...wheels are just leaning up to the car so I could get an idea of where all the parts were going to go.
I’d recommend looking at a million threads and pics about old Ford style front suspensions and getting a feel for the peculiarities and varieties. There are many different ways to build crossmembers that could help you with your height problem. Another thing you should be aware of is width. I’m guessing your car is narrow, right? You will need to make sure your axle is one of the 46” type and your brakes don’t add too much width (some discs are wide), and the wheels don’t have too much offset.
Search "bulldog" or "suicide" front spring mounting. Putting the axle and spring in front of the crossmember will allow you to set the frame height that you desire. The problem come in clearance for the tie rod and obtaining proper ackerman.
The Jalopy Journal
