Am in the planning stages of building a front engine dragster and have searched the forum but can't come up with a solid answer to a question. Is there a 'Standard' width for a rearend in these cars? I can build a rear however I want here in the shop, but would like to not end up with an oddball setup. Wheel mounting surface of the axle flange, outside to outside - 34 inches? 36 inches? I've seen both mentioned elsewhere. How about tire track width in the front? Thanks, Bud
There probably is a basic width but, still can vary on different things. Whoever is going to be driving it will be a factor as to how wide the frame rails in the cage area will be. On the front axle, it is your preference. In the older days, the front axles were much wider than the more modern slongshots built in the last 20 or so years as a more narrower design has been preferred. I had my Front motor Top Fueler built awhile back and got to make all these same choices. While discussing the front axle width with many drivers as well as my ch***is builder, I was told the narrower front axles are popular because it gives the driver more room in the lane if needed than a wider axle. Still, I liked the look of the wider axle. Unable to make up my mind, I had my builder make 3 different front axles for it in 3 different widths. Modern-vintage- and inbetween. Over the years though now using it, I have only used the narrow axle. Another side benefit of the narrower front axle I never even thought of is more room inside your trailer with the narrower car. A real plus in the real world. Hope this helps you. By the way, if you have not ordered your axles yet and are not going with a full floating rear, I have a very nice and barely used pair of MW 40 spline gun drilled axles with the big studs 5 on 5 pattern. I was forced to buy new ones after NHRA required full floating axles in Top Fuel. pm me if interested. Steve Pontiac Heaven Special AA/FD
Yeah, to second what Steve said, that's gonna depend on a lot of different variables.....what style of rear end you run (floater or not), width of the frame rails, etc.... Steve, ae you interested in parting with the vintage front axle? That's the last piece I need to make my '69 Woody chasis a roller.
as krate said above there are some variables to consider, what tires your going to run, what rim width? are you building a car your going to race? cackle? width of ch***is? 50s style car? 60s 70s? i built my car as a copy of a late 50s ch***is research ch***is. im planning on making some p***es just for the hell of it. let us know what your thinking and im sure you will get plenty of input.
I'll keep my axles, I may still want to change the car around sometime and try them. Another thing is wheelbase. from a visual standpoint, it seems IMO the sharter cars look better with a wider front axle.
Thanks for the offer of axles, but sounds like way overkill for what my plans are. I do have a set of Moser 35 spline axles that came from a FED when the guy updated, but they were in a 8 3/4 Mopar rear. I REALLY do not want to use a Mopar rear in this project, since we build 9" Ford housings here in the shop and are familiar with them and have parts. Also, I've fatmouthed Mopars so much over the years, I'd never hear the end of it from my friends!LOL If I cut the shortside axle down to use it in a Ford, I'm only going to end up with about 31" flange to flange outside. Pretty narrow, and doesn't allow for much wheel and tire options. I'm thinking I need more like 34-35" or so. I don't intend to try to go real fast, just an injected SBC on gas with a glide. I've always liked these cars, and think it would be a fun project when there's a spare minute in the shop, so I did buy a set of plans. Thinking of building in DOM tubing for simplicity. Thanks, Bud
you can beef up the mopar 8 3/4 housing by FISHMOUTHING the tubes into the housing ! give me your exact measurements , i might have a pair of summers axles laying around .
I have built three cars. 2 FEDs, one altered with 42 inch rear ends. It just seemed to be what it wanted for my design. Don
use a 1 x 6 pine board for wheel (off tire side wall) spacing off the side panel tin work,basically .750" Paul
My housing is 30 1/4" outside flange to flange. My ch***is had an inside width of 23". Like everyone above said, you have to nail down the width of your ch***is and back spacing of your wheel and tire combo. Strange Engineering has some great info for the brake spacing which also has to be considered.
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