While on a drive out in the country over the weekend, I saw that a Farmer had a nearly complete Ford straight axle & Wishbone set up in the weeds along the road. I stopped to inquire if it was for sale. The Old Gentleman said it has set out there for years in the hope that someone might offer him some money for it. Now he just wanted to get rid of it to clean up his property. I was thrilled to get new parts for FREE! My beloved 1920 Model "T" Jalopy project started with only an axle, so, I had great hope that this new piece might be the "seed" to grow another Hot Rod. I have been planning a Model "T" Huckster Truck in my mind for quite some time. Once I got it home I found that some time in the past the spindles & axle were welded together. I ***ume this was done with intent to build a trailer out of these parts. I believe I may be able to carefully grind away the weld to separate the spindles & axle. The grinding may sacrafice the spindles but that is okay if the axle itself can be spared. Has any one out there done a similar salvage??? Are the tolerances on these axles where the king pins go thru so critical that I am wasting my time? Any ideas of a better way to sepated the spindles from the axle with out damage? I pressed out the king pins with out trouble... Do you think that is a good sign that they will come apart? Any input or suggestion would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! 2$ Bill
If the kin pins came out with out to much trouble than you should be fine take your time to remove the weld, the spindles should be usable more than likely they will need new bushings in them. the perch pin is what will give you the biggest fit let them soak long and hard in some Pb blaster you might need to heat the axle up to drive them out, or even drill the out but it will be worth it to have a real Ford axle for your T. Joe Casto in OK does a great job of dropping them axles and straighten them if you need it done.
Exactly, Rex. A die grinder with a few 2-1/2" thin cutoff wheels (I'd be surprised if you used two of them up) and TAKE YOUR TIME! Like cutting hair, cut less than you think. Save the spindles, they're the round ones. And about drilling the perch pins: Do it on a drill press, making sure you have the drill bit centered perfectly. You won't have to drill them out all the way: 60% of the diameter of the pin is sufficient. Press the pin out rather than driving it. And use plenty of PB Blaster. (or diesel/WD40, 50/50) Great find, hope you bought the farmer some chew! (chaw?)
I would try to save those spindles more so than the axle. If the bearing surfaces are good on the spindles they are more valuable than the axle. I have a bunch of rusty axles that i can barely give away, but those spindles are 37-41 roundbacks and they are always worth saving. Can't tell if the axle is a 33-6 or a 37-41 from the angle. Looks like it might be a 37-41. Still worth saving if possible. Also can't tell, but have the steering arms been cut off of the spindles? I see they cut the spring mounts off of the wishbone. Still a good wishbone to split for a spring over or spring behind setup. It is either a 35-6 or a 37-40 wishbone. Measure the height of the axle where the wishbone mounts to it. 2" would be 33-6, 2 1/4" would be 37-41. Chances are that it may all be 37-9 as it has wide five wheels/hubs and roundback spindles.
If everything on this setup was from the same vehicle, it would be '37 to '39. Carefull use of a zip disc in a die grinder on that weld will free up those spindles. Do a bead blast on those spindles, AND then a thorough magaflux. No point in spending money and time on spindles that have the beginnings of a fracture.
Agree with Carter. Save the spindles and hubs. Junk the axle. Wide 5 drums in serviceable condition are hard to find. If they can be resurfaced within specs (12.060) then they are worth saving, The best axles for hot rods are the 28 through 36 versions. They provide more tire clearance when used with split bones and they look a lot better when dropped. A 28-31 Model A axle will work with your wishbones. 32-36 will require 1/4" spacers. I have 2 37-40 and 1 48 Ford front axles in my swap meet merchandise stash. I get $50 for them. Spindles go for $100 to $150 depending on condition (when I have them). Serviceable 37-39 wide five drums are worth $75 each. You did good.
If you split the bones, cut the original weld where the tube was originally welded to the forging and leave the knob with the Y on it, can come in handy. I don't s**** anything learned the hard way.
most of the time people never ever chamfered the items they just welded them, so just grind them flush and take out the kingpin and the bearing, then bang on it some with a hammer and a chisel if you got patients it will bust free. heres a car club friend of mine did. just had to buy the bolt on arms, where are you located in the midwest?
Thanks every one for sharing your knowlege! Johnny Bondo, The pics you have attached are exactly what I am facing! I'll follow your friend's example. Maybe if I am careful I can save both components. 2$ Bill
As a matter of fact, the welds on mine are not near so extensive as the ones shown in the photos. I'm confident they'll be okay. Thanks again!
i asked him this morning what the deal was, he said that he had to get the axle pretty hot because the kingpins were pretty stuck. and he said that once the kingpin was out (after takin the set screws out) the bearing came out pretty easy. then he put a long sawsall blade between the axle and the spindle and cut the weld there. then once he had all of that done he chiseled and hammered on the spindle till it just snapped the rest of what was left of the weld.
You HAMB Guys are the BEST! I always get the straight poop from you. I got the welds carefully ground off and I believe both the axle and spindles are perfectly serviceable. Here's a look of how the first one came out: The Wishbones are looking very nice as well. Now the treasure hunt has to continue for everything else to build the rest of the car!
Good work. I'm glad you were able to save the spindles and the axle. So now that you have them what are you going to build?
Bib Overalls, As you can see by my avatar, I am a big time Model "T" Guy. I am going to use this axle & spindles as the genisis of a Model "T" Huckster Truck. Hopefully I can replicate something like this...
hey! if ya need a frame for a "t" i have one! its a 27 frame i think, also have block parts and ****** for a "t" contact me, im in upstate n.y.
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