O.K. Ford purists turn away!!!! ( I understand...HONEST!!)........ A lot of Hot rodders, (at least it "seems" like a lot) use Chevy drive trains!!! And I am "assuming" they use Chevy rims??? MAYBE not, ANYWAYS, I have Chevy rims for my '23 T, I have a '36 ford axle and bones...and nothing else, SO instead of seeking out spindles, backing plates, hubs, drums and brakes, why can I not use a '49 Chevy king-pin front end that I have, spindle nut to spindle nut?!?!?!? The Chevy king pin is a .080 larger diameter than the Ford axle king pin. The space between the top and bottom bushing bosses on the inside of the Chevy spindles are .500 larger in space (The difference between the bottom of the top boss, and the top of the bottom boss) than the Ford spindles. Here is what I think can be done (by the way I work at a machine shop so ALL machining can be done accurately). Bore/hone out the Ford axle king pin hole to match the chevy king pin, make a bushing to insert between the axle and spindle, and instead of using the retaining pin from the ford, I would drill and tap the axle to use a set screw to hold the Chevy king pin in place. I now have a Chevy spindle, on a Ford axle with hubs, Brakes, EVERYTHING?!?!?!? Maybe this has been done, but it wasn't in a search I did, ANY ONE HAVE --ANY--CONCERNS OR TIPS FOR ME!??????!!! KEN
MAS racing builds a front axel to accept the chevy spindle.( as well as ford ) check with them and see what they have to say.It sounds like a good plan to me. Good luck!
Thats kinda what got me wondering about this, except by using everything that I have, without buying new parts, (other than brake shoes, hoses,etc.) for a huge cost savings. MY labor is FREE at work!!!
you are right, it has been done. In the late, late 60's and early 70's, it was a popular swap to get matching Chev wheels and self energizing Chev brakes onto early Ford spindles. There were tech articles in the early 70's rod magazines. Another advantage of the 49-53 Chev spindle was the removable steering arm that could be switched side to side, from top to bottom of the spindle or with the tie rod hole to the front or rear, which was helpful in repositioning the tie rod to get around any other front suspension components. It's a good idea and your machineing process is on the right track. Another popular 70's brake swap was the use of then current Volvo front disc brakes on early ford spindles.
There's a "how-To" in the tech section. Its from an old Rod Action mag from the 70's. the king-pin inclination angle is different, so you have to accomodate that too. good luck, and please post your how to tech showing the job being done, as I for one would like to see this.
Well, as far as the King pin angle, since I am splitting the bones, I am just going to put an angle finder in the spindle boss and adjust the axle for 7 degree of angle, and as far as a "tech post" I didn't think this was worthy of that?!?!? Gotta get pictures I guess!!! I have already machined out the axle boss and the chevy king pin ---it slides in - ever so smoothly---, I just need to make that spacer to fill in the gap between the spindle and axle. Here is a question, should shims be used between the bones and axle, and also the spindles and axle??? Valve spring spacers would fit in there and work perfectly..."I THINK???" Ken
It can be done and I'm glad you have access to a shop. I believe the kingpin inclination (not Caster) is different but the axle ends could be bored on a different centerline to make up the change. Or you could simply press bend the axle to make the change. ---In '65, Me and the "Stormin' Mormon" put some '40 Willys spindles on a straight tube Ford axle in our "two week wonder" ,'27 T altered roadster . He had a polished pair of Halibrands left over from his gasser and they wouldn't bolt on the Ford hub so we managed to "shade tree machine" the Ford bushings down to fit the Willys spindle bore . The kingpin inclination was about 3 degrees off but then so were we !! It ran 126 &129 at St. George International Raceway before killing the clutch. Good Luck on your project !
I think I understand Camber , caster, toe in/out, etc. and "thought" I knew king pin inclination, I was gonne use the --bend the axle-- method, but after a search, I am MORE confused on K/P Inclin. than before, Dick Spardo did a lot of explaining in the searches I did, but I didn't catch on?!?!? Is there a "general" explination for it?? ... HERE IS WHAT I HAVE>>>> 1936 Ford axle, spring (not using), wishbones, ... a new speedway spring, and all bolts, bushings/links, and flat top perch bolts, weld in bungs, and tie rod ends... 1949 Chevy Spindles with a new king pin kit, all bearings, seals nuts, etc. complete brakes. right now everything is "bolted and tacked together" what is my next step?? this looked and sounded so kool and easy on paper, steer me (pun intended) in the right direction...PLEASE!!! Ken
Mas axles .. i waited 2 months finnally got it, threads needed to be retapped, steering arms needed to ground. i wish i went elsewhere. not a big deal for most to fix. but hey if your going to produce somthing get it right... not everyone has the tools to retap threads ect..
They don't but since I had them I wanted to use them, I'll just do a tune up and adjust them at the same time I do my '49 fleetline. Everything is done as far as the machining and the spndles are mounted, Now I am witing for speedway to send the rest of my parts to mount the spring. ...Ken
I was wondering how this is working out for you? I have a donor 49 chevy axle and either going to use a 28 ford or late 30's beam with the wide 5 pattern that are missing the brake assemblies that I'd like to mate together for a project.
I believe the kingpin inclination is the angle of the kingpin as viewed from the front of the axle. I was just thinking of this swap last night and then saw this post. Any updates? r
Been researching this swap abit and was wondering why you didn't machine new bushing for the spindles and used ford kingpins you'd need to machine the kingpin shorter and make a few other parts, but would take the issue of trying to align the axle for boring out of the equation.
"update"... Car is on the back burner as of late.The wifes daily driver cost a bit to repair and tax time is here, for both property tax, and Uncle sam tax. When I get back on it I'll give another update, BUT the tires and rims are mounted and the inclination " looks " O.K., It will definately need to be aligned when I am all done...Ken
Hi not ago I wanted to do the same thing,..BUT....after heming and hawing I gave up,...to many changes all for what,???...What I did was buy a tube type axle for the chevy spindels from speedway motors...I still have the ford axle and the split bones which I may sell on ebay...I watched a ford axle and bones sell for just over $600 on ebay...I asked the same question as you ask on www.fordbarn.com and the replies I got help change my mind...The biggest problem I found was to get a king pin bushing from the makers to fit...I also purchased a reamer that is the size of the chevy king pin bushing...That I will sell on ebay 1st chance I get to list it I have no need for it...At this time I have chevy spindels,brakes,with a vega cross steer set up on my 31 ....Hope this helps...Miller
Back in the middle 1970's when I was real short on money and even shorter on brains, I actually grafted 1954 chevy king pin bosses to the end of the Model A Axle on my 1931 pickup. Can tell you that it worked!! Was welded by my uncle who was an iron worker by trade. Wish I would have taken a photo. Well thinking better of it, Im glad I didnt.
"for what" ? cheap juiced breaks, just by spending sometime and using what we have laying around is what. The stock chevy kingpin bushings will fit if you use the chevy kingpin in the ford axle. plus you don't need to buy a tube axle...if I was going to buy something I'd buy the reproduction brakes kit.
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