I am getting ready to pull a chassis apart and one of the guys in the shop wants the front axle assembly. It is the ford tube and I can't remember what year those were on. '37? Also , the owner may want to keep the axle assembly but with the right price he may let it go. I told my co-worker to offer up 600.00 and see if he sells. It's the axle, '40 spindles, finned buick drums, panhard bar, wishbones & shocks. It was driving fine so all the components are working and ready to bolt on. Anyway, the year on the front axle is bugging me now Iv'e seen one again.
$600- would be a steal for that set up! Jim, PM me- I have a SO-CAL franchise now- I'm sure you have some stuff I should sell- and could get you a good deal on any SO-CAL stuff you might need. Thanks Jim
I think "37 only" for this axle is another hot rod myth. Probably fits somewhere between Divco milk trucks having desirable wheels and Zephyr gears being "stronger". I've read that the tube axle was used through 1940 in the V8-60 models... and some cars with the V8-60 motor did come with beam axles.
My brother in law had a 40 deluxe coupe that he got from the origional owner back in 58.It had a tube axle and the owner insisted that it came with the car from Ford new
37-40, V8 60 ONLY....OR in my rafters....Is it my turn to call or yours? Just boiling the Jug for my Cuppa Tea at the moment....
A friend recently sold a 39 std V8 60 coupe that was obviously never molested or altered. It had an I beam. I was bummed.
The tube axle was a feature of 37-40 V8-60 cars and pickups, BUT, not all of them had this feature. I have never found any solid information about the whats and whys but I would guess that the tube axle may well have been a feature that was to be used at each assembly plant on V8-60 until supply was gone, then using the standard I-beam or solid(as Ford called them) axles. This would explain the spotty record of finding them on cars from 37-40, various assembly plants would have run out of the tubular axles at different times over the 37-40 period.
It was used in limited productio (in the hundreds) at least 1938-40, mostly in 85's, according to the Ford production letters--see the '38-39 book from the V8 club, which contains production change orders. I assume the limited production release was just field testing of a possible alternate production method--"Well, it passed engineering, now let's see if the customers can break'em"... They were absolutely definitely used on 85's '38-39, from both Ford records and from production line pictures of cars with them. In 1940, leftover ones were supposedly used on the few '40 60's sold--undocumented but verified from cars. I have yet to see any mention of other use on 60's or any documentation of 1937 use, but all agree that surviving Ford records are nowhere near complete. All original pictures I have seen have been on 85's... From the numbers given in the surviving records, I would venture a flying guess that only a few hundred of the USA version actually ever existed--and I'd bet that most were grabbed from junkyards by sprint car and dragster builders long, long ago. It looks to me like the tube axle was never STANDARD for anything--it was released in very small batches mixed in with use of the regular forging. I think the letters say Rouge plant only, I guess keeping them close to Ford so engineers could check out use and problems easily. I think overseas, a slightly different version may have been used on Model 62 Fords, British-European only v860 cars.
My 37 has a tube axle that has been modified to be lower. I always thought it was an aftermarket but was too Ford looking! Learn something everyday. So a 60 was in my car originally huh? Interesting.
What kind of serial number does your '37 have?? It would be interesting to verify if the legendary '37-V8-60 use existed! Your serial should be 54-small number (60) or 18-realbig number (85)
Petejoe, what you may have there is the ultra-rare "original", but not "Super", Bell aftermarket axle which looks just like a Ford axle but is dropped. The construction of the Ford tubular axle does not lend itself to any dropping modification.
You guys always suck me in.. I'll check the serial tonight and even take a picture pasadena....are you pulling my leg???
The outer ends of this axle, the forged parts, are indeed very short, and any bending would be steeply angled and very limited...I think I do remember seeing something a long time ago about dropping at maybe old Mordrop, and a note that the drop achieved was not much. Most rod and racecar use was on chassis on which height could be set by spring location, and so dropping wasn't needed to get low.
yes, before the Superbell axle there was a Bell axle.....Bell as in Bell Auto Parts i'd like to see a picture of your axle
My original Ford tube axle is not a round tube. It is slightly flattened on the front and back sides. Plus it has cutouts on the ends exposing the kingpins. I think the old Bell axles were actually round and didn't have the cutouts.
This is the one on my '39 Standard, is this the one you guys are talking about? I thought I had read that the old Bell axle looked like this one but I forgot where I read it and cant find the article again to confirm. BTW those lame radials are no longer on the car.
I will get a picture of mine tonight too. I believe mine is similar or the same as yours Mutley. If I remember correctly.... there is a weld at this area... or at least it looks like a weld.
That's a "Super Bell" axle". A super Bell axle is 30 years old now!! The weld is the give away. An original Bell axle or a Ford tube axle won't have the drop between the perch hole and the kingpin hole. It's a gentle grin and not a big smile. Isn't that a chromed Ford tube axle on that 50's show winner 27 black track nosed roadster with the E&J headlights? It's a famous car but I don't remember names. It might have been a most beautiful roadster winner.
Are you sure about that? Arent the Super Bells round? The axle on my car is shaped just like a V-8 60 but with dropped ends. I'm pretty sure I remember reading that you could buy the dropped ends and weld them on or send it away to Bell (or maybe it was somewhere else) and they would do it for you.
Well I just crawled under the car and there are no visable signs of welding/grinding and this car hasnt been touched underneath since the very early '60's which would be way to early for a Super Bell would it not?
Interesting picture. Check frontal views of the Pierson Bros. car or Niekamp Roadster for comparisson of axle. Can't think of others offhand. Wait... the Eliminator now owned by Brock Yates ran one too.
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