I've got a line on a '49 chevy fleetline front steering and suspension. Does anyone have one of these that could give me a backing plate to backing plate measurment? Thanks!
What exactly are you gonna do with it? I am hoping this is for a 49-52 Chevy? Most guys don't like these front ends. Mine drives ok......
Looks like about 52" from backing plate to backing plate...give or take one or two! (Laying on ground with uncooperative tape measure and a half flat rear tire! )
Hey Hack, Thanks for getting out there on the ground for me. Early no less! This is hopefully for my '33 Buick lo-budget project. It's free and if it will get my tires between the fenders just right, it will be the one. Adapting it to fit will be an acceptable headache. I'm going this route as no one makes a disc brake kit for the Buick front axle (if that is indeed what is currently wired to my front springs). Fatman makes an IFS kit for it but is a little out of budget at $2500. And a little unsightly too. So I'm looking at options. If this one works, I'll put it on lowered springs, or on top of the springs (?). And have it lowered at MorDrop. I'm planning to maybe use a BMW IRS out back. The dimensions are right and they've got a ton of them at PickNPull for about $120, plus they have the chevy bolt pattern and are disc brakes. Cool! Hopefully this will all come together. I've got a hell of a lot to do on this car for the paltry $5k budget.
Thanks man! That's only an inch or two narrower than the stocker and should work just right for me. I want this thing LOW so if the tires are set inboard a little it might help with fender clearance. Another question, can these early cast iron spring perches be safely repaired? One of mine is broken.
Ha Ha...you've got a $5K budget??? I'm working on about a $500 budget! They make bolt-on disc brake kits for the 49 Chevy stock spindles if you go that route...but that'll leave you with huck-type rear drums and a closed driveline if you use a 49 rear. A 55 or so Chevy rear axle, or even newer Camaro/Nova rears are about the same width and have 'modern' drums and open drivelines.
The '49 chevy fleetline is IFS? If so, that wouldn't work for me. Looking to use a straight axle. Bummer.
Yep, first year for it. 48 back I think are the straight axles... unless you're talking trucks... 49 Chevy trucks had straight axles... I think. Jay
Umm..yeah...the 49 Chevy uses an A-arm IFS with coils. I think Chevy went to that basic design in 1939? But, you can get straight axles from Speedway and others in different widths that will accept 49-54 Chevy spindles...if you get the 49 front end and rob the spindles from it, you got something to hang disc brakes on, and you just need to order an axle in the width you need with the drop you want.
D'oh! I am thinking it was the first year for Ford IFS... Leave me alone, it's early and I'm hung over! Hacks right, the spindles are able to be used on Speedway straight axles... that's what I was gonna do for my bucket, if I'da parted out the 49. Jay
Speedway sells a Mr Roadster dropped tube axle with spring brackets already welded on, 48" (from spindle mounting tube to spindle mounting tube) in either a 4" or 6" drop to accept the 49 Chevy spindles. You can get it with the spring mounts behind or over the axle... Plain steel, chrome available for more. 913-35111 4" drop, Chevy spindles, rear bracket $219 913-35211 6" drop, Chevy spindles, rear bracket $279 913-35113 4" drop, Chevy spindles, top bracket $219 913-35213 6" drop, Chevy spindles, top bracket $279 (Spindles not included, of course!) You can also get a generic Mr Roadster tube axle with a 3" drop and 48" spindle to spindle width: 910-35121 plain steel (no brackets) $174
I got a buddy that really did use a 49-54 chevy p***enger car front clip under his 35 buick 3 window. When anybody asks him what kind it is, he tells 'em it's a 62 corvette which used the same damn front end. He didn't want his to sit real low but I'm sure you could adjust ride height with crossmember placement and dropped spindles.
Wow! You guys are a wealth of info! Living alone in the mountains like I do, I don't know what I would do for tech advice without the internet and great folks like you all. Hack, thanks for all of that Speedway info. Sounds like a great way to go. I'll go ahead and pick up the front suspension stuff and just see what I can put together out of it. Hell, maybe I can use the IFS. If it worked in a '35 Buick, it should work in a '33. I just don't really want to subframe this car as this frame has a nice aesthetic. Same problem with using the Fatman ifs kit. This front end will be on display with those fenders up high like that so I want it to look nice. The rear won't matter as it will be hidden. Thanks for all the info fellas! As for the $5k budget, my goal is to come in well under that if possible. Whatever I don't need for this one I can spend on my '29 101 Scout bobber money pit.
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