I have been looking and the majority of people on this board run dropped axles. So who is running a stock front axle? I have a 40 i-beam front end that is stock. I want the low look, but was hoping not to spend the cash to drop it. I know my options are pretty simple with this: Channel, shrter shackles. Anyone got pics of their model A with a stock front end? Thanks Dima
I do plan on building my own frame for this car. Should I throw a descent sized Z in the front to make up for the lack of drop in the axle? dIma
The Track Car has a stock 47-48 Ford front axle and dogleg wishbones. The spring hangs between the wishbones on a "suicide" perch level with the top of the front tubular crossmember. A dropped axle or zee'd frame is not necessary to achieve the low look if you're talking about something sensible like 4-5" ground clearance at oil pan and no scrub line violations.
I started building a frame for the same front end you are using. I z'd it 16" in the back and 8" in the front. You just set up everything and build a front suicide crossmember to tie everything together. That should do the trick. I am no longer doing all that so i got the frame rails laying around collecing dust.
I'm running a 1942 p***enger axle on my truck with a 34-34 picup dearched revers eyes front spring with custom shackels, I am lookin to get the high boy look though.......Roach.
So "z"ing the frame is not a necessity for that look, but chances are that is what one of my options are. I start on the frame right after wrestling season is over. DIma
Me too, I'm using a '40 axle on my '33 pickup. I've narrowed a '40 frame and taken a pie cut out at the firewall and raised the front of the frame about 4 inches. The cab is then channeled over the frame rails 6 inches. I plan to mount the spring to the wishbones and use a piece of arched 1/2'' by 2" flat bar for the crossmember. I still have alot of details to work out (ie; steering and ?) and have spent alot of time on the HAMB researching and looking for ideas. There is plenty of nice work being done out there and it's great to see what other guys are doing.....Craig
We are using the stock A axle with a POSIES spring with as much stock stuff as we could. The over 6" "Z" in front was necessary to get the thing somewhat correct. It still could go much lower but Flower wants to be able to jump a curb if she has to.
I like an undropped axle on the right car. On the right car they are perfect. A two foot "Z" in front looks like dammit though. Sometimes it's just as good to spend the $200 with one of our fellow HAMBers & have that axle dropped. As with everything else, we have to choose our battles. JH
Here's mine, I had to do all my measuring and figure out where I wanted the frame to set and what wheels/tires and how tall they were before I could figure out where I needed to put my spring mounts and wishbone mounts. I think I've roughly got about 4" or so of ground clearance.
Didn't we just do this in another post a few weeks ago? Anway, here's my junk. It's what I think is a stock 42-47 front axle, which has a bit of a stock drop. Stock A frame, front axle machined to fit the econoline spindles, 14" steelies in front, and I have some 15" for the rear. Ranger axle in back. Posies has a spring (#1025) for this axle in a spring-over arrangement which is reverse eye. In the pics the frame is just sitting on the axles front and rear, but add a few inches of suspension, maybe some slightly bigger tires to get the stance just right..... I think it'll be great. And I got the axle for $10 at a swap meet, a whole econoline front axle with spindles and brakes for I think $75.... She'll be 5 on 4.5" wheels front and back. Seems to work out great. And, it's cheap. Good luck, Pete
8" front Z, 16" rear Z and i don't know about the cross member. I had a spring made to fit between the eyes. It ended up being cheaper than an aftermarket one. The front end is 46 Ford.
If you "Z" your frame, don't forget to figure for the radiator, so the grill isn't taller than the cowl. Like I did, Doh!
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