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Projects 1936 ford 3w front suspension

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by flatheadfreakv8, Jul 29, 2026.

  1. flatheadfreakv8
    Joined: Jan 27, 2010
    Posts: 91

    flatheadfreakv8
    Member

    I’d like to see some pictures of peoples 36 ford front suspension setups. What width front axle are you running? id like to do a 4” drop axle and keep the spring and brake setup I have. Any advise would be appreciated
     

    Attached Files:

  2. 2deuces64
    Joined: Mar 9, 2006
    Posts: 1,802

    2deuces64
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Any dropped 32-36 axel should work they all have the same dimensions. I would recommend an aftermarket forged 47" axel. Pete and Jakes sell a 46" forged one if you want to really **** the tire in, but it will require a narrower spring
     
    LOU WELLS likes this.
  3. ***Area-51***
    Joined: Mar 25, 2005
    Posts: 1,026

    ***Area-51***
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Ohio

    Prob just drop your existing axle and go from there….

    Or measure what you have and match your perch to perch dimension, see what the aftermarket offers…thinking a Super Bell 1103A might work for you (Verify This)
    Who knows what could have been changed on
    your 36 over the years
     
  4. 55styleliner
    Joined: May 11, 2015
    Posts: 577

    55styleliner
    Member

    Here is the setup on my 35 3-Window. Superbell 4” dropped axle, split original bones, original spring with eyes reversed and a couple leaves removed. Ride’s excellent and handles well too.
    IMG_0975.jpeg IMG_2938.jpeg
     
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  5. ***Area-51***
    Joined: Mar 25, 2005
    Posts: 1,026

    ***Area-51***
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Ohio

    Nice!! Any chance you know the part # on that Superbell axle?

    What brakes are using?
     
  6. Rob28
    Joined: Oct 25, 2014
    Posts: 360

    Rob28
    Member
    from Calgary AB

    Good to see that 36 surface on the HAMB in Alberta. Not going to lie the for sale add was saved in my favourites.

    Mine is a 40 (wider wishbone) I have stock axle drop 2” over stock. I then had to heat and bend the original ford arms to clear. The 36 axle has a narrow wishbone so you will not have to do as extreme bends for steering arms.
    Mine has the drop axle and a posi reverse eye drop spring in the car. Original front brakes would work but I swapped mine up to the Roadster supply disks that fit the original wheels
    IMG_5134.jpeg IMG_5133.jpeg IMG_4602.jpeg IMG_4605.jpeg IMG_4608.jpeg IMG_4624.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2026
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  7. RICH B
    Joined: Feb 7, 2007
    Posts: 6,298

    RICH B
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I used a 47" CE axle (Pete & Jakes make a similar forged 47" axle now-a-days), split '40 bones to give more turning room as compared to '35-'36 bones, a matching width Posies spring, CE sway bar, Pete & Jakes shock mounts and shackles, CE adjustable shocks, F-1 brakes, and a 525 steering box on a Pete & Jakes mount.

    P2040025 (Medium).jpeg
     
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2026
  8. Dooley
    Joined: May 29, 2002
    Posts: 3,161

    Dooley
    Member
    from Buffalo NY

    img_1_1784586315330.jpg stock 1938 axle with reversed eye spring and split wishbone
     
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  9. Get your factory axel stretch dropped if you want to run a similar size wheel. Regular no stretch drop if you want to run wider wheels. With both setups you can send in your spindles and have them dropped to fit. If you stay with the stock perch to perch width you can use the stock spring, if you split the wishbone you’ll have to heat up and bend the spring mounts to fit. It looks like you’re running F1 or F100 brakes now and those are perfect.
     
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2026
  10. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 23,463

    alchemy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Easiest way is to have the stock axle dropped. It will require heating and bending the spindle arms too, but that’s not a big deal. Then you won’t ever have bolt on arms that come loose.

    I’d recommend letting the axle dropper narrow up the axle as it drops. Some guys say to have it stretched out to stock width, but I don’t. You will need extra tire clearance when those fenders are down lower over the rubber.
     
  11. deathrowdave
    Joined: May 27, 2014
    Posts: 5,519

    deathrowdave
    Member
    from NKy

    The 35-36 3 window is a nice body style to have .
     
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  12. 55styleliner
    Joined: May 11, 2015
    Posts: 577

    55styleliner
    Member

    The brakes are Boling Brothers Lincoln style. I think I’m going to put the Speedway disc kit on it though. You can’t see the brakes or any of the suspension as low as it sits. I don’t know the axle part number. But it’s the one that matched the original axles perch bolt hole width so I could use the original spring. I would consider having your original axle dropped as others have suggested. It’s the best option honestly.
     
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  13. 55styleliner
    Joined: May 11, 2015
    Posts: 577

    55styleliner
    Member

    The hardest part of the ‘35+ front suspension is splitting the bones. As part of that you have to heat and bend the front spring mount. It’s not hard really, just tricky to get the spring mount holes aligned properly during the process.
     
  14. 31Apickup
    Joined: Nov 8, 2005
    Posts: 3,768

    31Apickup
    Member

    If he’s keeping the flathead and early trans then you don’t need to split the bones.
     
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  15. 55styleliner
    Joined: May 11, 2015
    Posts: 577

    55styleliner
    Member

    Man, my 425 Nailhead and TKO transmission make the car!! I have Flathead cars, this one cruises effortlessly at 80+. It is way more fun.
     
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  16. ***Area-51***
    Joined: Mar 25, 2005
    Posts: 1,026

    ***Area-51***
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Ohio

    Do you have more pics available?
     
  17. 55styleliner
    Joined: May 11, 2015
    Posts: 577

    55styleliner
    Member

  18. 55styleliner
    Joined: May 11, 2015
    Posts: 577

    55styleliner
    Member

  19. nobby
    Joined: Jan 8, 2006
    Posts: 1,410

    nobby
    Member

    so-cal axle.jpg you have a stock 35 36 wishbone
    your stock axle to the king pins is 50.5 inchrs
    yopur perch distance is 36.5 inches
    you have fitted model 78 37-40 spindles
    the axle the spindles comes from is 48.5 inches to the king pins
    you have fitted the stock 35 36 drag link
    now, 36 spindles move the steering arms inboard 1''
    difficult to understand BUT clearly visible in your photographs as the tie rods are only threaded in three threads, most dnagerous.
    you need an aftermarket axle that has the 2'' perch boss with 36.5 inch perch distanmce and a 48 inch king pin distance
    they are made by so-cal and are called a heavy 32 droipped axle
    take note, you need to drop the steering arms on your spindles exactly two inches 50mm, you can get away with 37 mm
    yout wheel come in 1 1/4 inch each side
    the drop of the 48 inch axle is LESS than the socal 47.25'' axle with teh perch of 34'' that you cannot use in a 35-40 frame.

    its why the axle exists.
    get another pair of spindles - -drop them 47mm and straight down
    buy a 48 inch wide axle from so cal with the 2'' boss
    find another 36 wishbone
    buy new flat head perch pins - -its important to get the version with the floating washers,



    ---------------------------------

    after all that note, the 36 and 40 share the same 112'' wheel base
    you are basically reverting your incorrect front end back to correct by way of whilst using the 40 spindle going with a 40 king p[in distance - -your geometry will revert to stock - -- your scrub will be messed up


    bonus is now you can just BUY a 40 tie rod and wind your tie rods in an extra 1./4'' each side andit will look stock.

    not it all adds up to TOO MUCH lowering
    you have a whole 2'' of axle plus 2'' at the spring - -all told as your spring is reversed eyed
    =1''
    has a less parabolic arc = 2
    totalk 5'' drop

    before you do anything work out how you will drop the back because

    CASTOR

    you only start with 4 degrees
    for every 1.4 inches of drop over 112 inches you will remove 1 degree of castor
    you will end up with 1 degree of castor if you leave the rear stock
    it will be undriveable.
    perch pins.jpg View attachment 6782460
     
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2026
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  20. nobby
    Joined: Jan 8, 2006
    Posts: 1,410

    nobby
    Member

    THIS is a so-cal 48 inch wide axle with a 2 inch perch boss, it is 48 inches to the king pins, it is the one to have IF YOU ARE NOT SPLITTING THE BONE!!!! -= =i am not as i am using a mt75 manual gearbox that is real small
    henyguays - -this axle has 1./2 inch LESS drop than their 47.25 axle with 34 perch and 2 1/4 boss - -the axle pictured fits the stock unsplit wishbone and is DESIOGNED to run the 40 spindle on a 36 bone in a 40 frame - if you like IF you took a STOCK OEM FORD heavy 32 axle, it would have a 36.5'' perch distance, have a 2'' boss and be 50.5 inches wide, when you droipped it 2'' you would need to come in 1 . 1/4 inch each side - -they 'so-cal' narrowed it another 1/4'' each side to make it bettrererererererer!!! only £550.00 pounds from mr southend!!
    Screenshot 2026-08-03 225328.png
    that is an unsplit 36 wishbone - -not the SHAPE as because it is DIFFERENT from a 37 38 39 40 bone - - it means you do not have to drop the steering arms as much
    these are dropped exactly 2 inches, do not do any less as it is the drag link that will get you as the steering box is fixed and it is that that gets closer than the tie rods......

    Screenshot 2026-08-03 225352.png

    you just come stright down with the steering arms as the 40 spindle is in the stock location as if it were on a 48.5 inch wide 40 axle!!!!
    steering geometry is stock BUT you get a 2'' drop!!

    Screenshot 2026-08-03 225248.png
     
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2026
  21. nobby
    Joined: Jan 8, 2006
    Posts: 1,410

    nobby
    Member

    [​IMG]
    look at your image of a 40 wheel on a 40 hub with a 40 tyre and a 40 spindle with a 40 king-pin, - now project the
    king pin centre down through the wheel to the ground - - - you have stock ford scrub
    now imaging the king pin at the top there, that circle comes inboard 1 1/4 inches or even 31.8mm , when this happens your 35-40 ford jumps back to oem factory ackermann as the 40 steering arm wants to sit on an axzle of 48.5'' wide
    so thats nice, AND also your tie rods end there will get wound in the same amout, in effect going in a further 1. 1/4 inch to make it have EVEN more thread purchase - -which is nice.
    so the king pin comes over 1 1/4 inch and the axle gets dropped a whole 2 inches
    the 47 inch wide axle they sell is for model a and 32's with a 29.25'' over hung spring as they ahave 34'' perch distances, 47.25 widths - -you do not want thenm on a 35-40 frame as the axles are just that bit too narrow!! - -when you roll the tyre around the king pin to hiot the stops with a 195 75 16 tyre you will be 5mm away from the rail on a factory spindle stop with washer - -I>E- its all factory again but dropped

    note - -dive and castor and all that - -you can drop the central ball mount to gain castor.
    you will add it if you lower the front and keep the rear stockish

    again, what i would do is find a mint 36 bone, buy a 32 heavy from roadseter supplky and the pictrured pins BECAUSE they need the extra 1/4 inch of upside down cake as the boss is only 2'' not 2 1/4

    so if you didnt remove the spring, whip the whole lot oput and compress the spring on a bench and steady the ball of the bone on a stool.
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2026

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