Alright guys, I need some advice???? Im fixing to put a straight axle in my '53 belair and I have a early 60's econoline set up. I was wondering about should this work or should I pick one up from speedway???? Any suggestions? Thanks
I used the Econoline, worked great. I put in a Speedway kit in another car, also very nice. Why not use what you have? Freshen it up and put it in, it will work fine. Good Luck
The problem is you'll have ford spindles, and have to go through the re-drilling or running wheel adapters, etc.
Unless he has a Ford 9" rear end in it.... Speedway Front ends SUCK ASS, Saw one at Drag Fest fold up like tin foil when a guy in a Henry J Pulled a Big wheels stand.... Total Junk ! Econoline may be a bit Wide so just check track width. I used an old CAE/ Blairs Speed Shop Chrome Straght axle in my Build. I think if your gonna do it, Find the Right parts & DO IT ! Again, The Speedway Stuff is Cheezy Junk in my Opinion.
Speedway Front ends SUCK ASS, Saw one at Drag Fest fold up like tim foil when a guy in a Henry J Pulled a Big wheels stand.... Total Junk ! The Speedway axle or even the MAS Racing axle are pretty good on a light street car put if you put down some serious power and start doing wheel stands, it will bend. The Econoline axle is workable. If its too wide you can chop it to size. Its what I'm planning to use on my corvair project. Dale Snoke knows all about it. And he's got a How-to video the I highly recommend if it your first time doing the straight axle set-up. Go to TheFunnyCarFarm.com and order it because its worth every penny.
I used a 42-48 Ford axle, spindles. transverse leaf on my 49 Chevy, grafted in the Ford front cross member used all the stock Chevy cross member mounting holes. Fabed up the hairpin radius rods and mounts, used a Vega steering box and again using the stock steering box mount holes with a 1/2" thick steel adapter plate I made. The thing steers great and rides nice too
i have one out of a late 30's to late 40's chevy in my 53. its been in there for about 3 years. i love it. drives straight and no bump stear.
find one from an early 50's Chevy truck. Cheap, easy to rebuild and you can get modern spindles/brakes with 4.75" bolt pattern.
The one problem I have is I cant find disc brakes for the econoline set up. But I really wanna use it.
If I were you I would use a 47-54 chevy halfton. It is almost the perfect width and You are able to use your original backing plates hubs and drums off of the 53. We just finished one on my pops 53 and it seems fine so far.
find some rotors that will fit your spindle or get the spindles machined. if you have bearings that will fit the spindle and the spindle is just a little too long you can shim the races in the hub by grinding the tangs off large hardened snap rings. Anyway after you get the rotors to fit on the spindles see how far off the drum brake backing plate mounting part of the spindle the caliper needs to sit and draw up some brackets made out of 1/4 or 3/8 flat plate to bolt to the spindles and mount the calipers. it is a simple task. Not easy but simple.
Was your axle a lil to wide? One of my friends has a 50 chevy truck he is trying to sell for 300 bucks with a mean chop on it but all I would want is the front axle.
I agree with some of the other guys, I used a 55 Chevy 1/2 axle that fit perfect. I never changed anything and drove the wheels off the car for almost 3 years. This was back in 1968................
i have a 56 olds 88 2dr sedan that i've been toying with making it a gasser. i know that the oldsmobiles are wider then the tri-5's. what front axle would i use in this 56 of mine.
All the info you need on disc brakes for the econoline axle right here: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=247377
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