42-48 ford slammed with straight axle

If you need one, i have a 47 2 door frame for sale in the classifieds.

 

my 47 has the bent wishbone. I'm almost positive the straight style 41 ford bones will work, they are just missing the provision for the front panhard bar.

 

pie pie - What year is your car? Can make a difference with amount of leafs used. Do a search here for: 40 Ford Front Suspension Options. In one of the responses there is info that the spring location and use of four bar indicates that the 40 axle will not work. Use the info already given here to lower your car. A big problem will be fender clearance for turning. I had a '47 Ford Coupe with a small block Ford/4 speed set up. Had dearched/reversed eye springs with two leaves removed. Think it was second from top and fourth from top. Had 205/65/15 tires on steel rims. Used Tokico tube shocks (listed for use on early Corvette rearend). My frontend had the stock panhard bar and another stock stabilizing bar. Did not split the wishbones. Was as low as it would go and still be able to turn all the way and not hit or bottom out on fenders.
Used a vega steering box with a stainless steel aftermarket pitman arm. Had to get arm slightly bent to work properly. Just take your time. As you have done, don't be afraid to ask for help from here or local hot rodders. You likely will want to lower the rear too, another subject. Up grade of front brakes not a bad idea either.

 

its a 47 coupe, not sure of manufacture date( early or late). thanks everyone for your advice. sounds like sticking with a straight axle is pretty complicated and thought out. i just wasnt wanting to go the easier way and go ifs. it will get disc brakes but not until all test fitting is finished and its blown apart for pain. for the rear i think paralel leaves is what i will use for simplisity. how did your vega box work out for you?

 

A strait axle would be the easiest, it'll bolt right in!

 

im hoping, i have a 9 inch out of a 58 ford truck as soon as i get the kit bought to put it in

 

Pie, your car is a late 47, early 47's have the ribbed trim, and are just basically a 46. Weber still has that rear kit. I'm tellin you it can be made to work. Also if you want your car slammed on the cheap, revered main leaf, dropped front cross member (which I can help you build) 1 inch longer shackles, and a few leaves removed, and you WILL be impressed with the drop you'll get. Last time I'm telling you!

 

ok when can we start?

 

this is my project

 

I lowered my 48 with a Posie revered eye,didnt sit low enough so i put in the Speedway raised crossmember. it laid it down over the tires. took out four leafs in the back replaced them with a spacer

 

i think i may have enough stuff to start on it soon i hope

 

This is a shot with the posies "in da weeds" kit. Drop axle plus reversed eye spring.

 

Wasnt low enough so I modified the crossmember.

 

Wish I had a photo with the fender on but it is extremely low. Wheel tucked under the fender nicely.

 

sweet thanks thats #1 on my list is to shorten the crossmember. its looking real nice

 

this is after i put a dropped axle with split wishbones, reverse eye spring and leaves taken out and longer shackles without engine and small tires.

 

Justin looks like you are getting it together. Thanks again for the hood haven't done anything with it yet. Probably going to cut out the louvers in panels and put them on my hood. Keep at it it'll be running in no time.

 

your welcome. thanks, i want to see it when you get it done, it will look sweet. it does look lower in person that was a bad picture

 

This is my pal's 46 as it sits today.





It was too low when he first got it.
Looked good, but a pain in the ass to drive.

At the time it ran a 3" dropped axle, stock front spring that was virtually flat due to removed leafs.

Now it's running the same 3" dropped axle and a Posie's Super Slide with reversed eyes and some curvature to the spring so the car is well supported and has more suspension travel than it did.

Smaller tires than stock up front, but I don't know the size.

Out back it ran a pair of what look like Dodge van or pickup parallel rear leafs and 4" lowering blocks.

The same springs are still there, but the lowering blocks are now home-made (an easy project) 2" lowering blocks.

This summer it'll get a pair of replacement parallel leafs and rear spring front spring mounts made so there's added clearance at the front of the rear parallel leafs.
The present front mount is overly large and hangs down too far.

He's looking at power steering, but may settle for a larger manual steering box than the Vega that's now in there.

This car was typical of a shoddy build with nice paint and upholstery.

Other major thing done was a new trans crossmember and mount.

The body appears to have no rust problems and the car as a whole is getting better every day.

Power is a 302 Ford.

 

what trans does it have? are the wish bones split? its a nice looking car

 

Crossmember

 

Old Thread I know. but mine is a 4 " dropped axle. and stock "looking" spring and is still to high in front, posies says mine is flat, and theirs is 3 '' drop but the arch will make it sit the same as a worn out stock spring, is he correct?
By The the way that 41" sedan sits perfect, I want that, but a nice new spring?
also, when the spring is flat, or lower, do you need to heat, and bend the pan-hard, cause my shackle angles are uneven
Thanks Rick ]

 

mine is channeled.

 

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I love your 41. That is what I want mine to look like. Did you have any problems with the tires rubbing when turning?

 

Check out his albums. yes, he made one!

 

No, never rubbed. I just got my 46 lowered up front with an original stretched axle and new Posi spring

 

My 46 Ford convertible has a dropped axle, 11" front disc brakes, GM 605 power steering, 350/350 combo, split wish bones 10 bolt rear with Chassis Engineering springs. It is by far one of the best driving cars I've ever owned that includes several with Mustang ll IFS. The only drawback I can think of is that maybe some buyers were turned off by the dropped axle when I had it for sale. When someone came to see and drive it they bought it immediately.

Gary

 

I don't think this is true. I have a 46 ford and parted out one very early 46 and a 46 and they all had the dogleg wishbone.

 

Be carful of those drop crossmembers if you are going to run flathead. it may hit. thought they say in ads for them not for flatheads. like others said you could cut yours cheaper too.