buddy of mine just bought this 29 dodge... anyone know if using the stock front susupesion with a small block is gonna be a option or should we go with all aftermarket stuff or whatelse will fit??? plans are to maybe shorten it down to a 2 door chop it a few inches and find some cool guy wheels and skinny bias wide whites. here are some pics...
Is that a parallel leafe spring set up? If it is I think it'd be fairly easy to adapt an aftermarket drop axle to it so you can get service parts. There may be a width consideration to watch out for. Most stuff is Ford based and may be narrower or wider that the Dodge axle. I don't know of any readily available suspension and /or brake parts for upgrading that car but they may exist. You can do the usual things to lower it: Have the axle dropped (Mor-Drop in CA can handle this I'm sure) Buy a dropped axle. Get lowering springs made. Z the frame. Smaller wheels. All these are pretty universal ways to lower it. Brakes would be my concern. The problem you may encounter is finding parts that'll allow you to run better brakes. Servicing brakes that are 76 years old can be problematic and then you still have 76 year old technology. Rear-ending another vehicle in your rod is not the way to spend the day. Whatever you do to the front suspension, it'll probably be fine with a small block set up but do take that into account when you talk to suppliers. Don't cut it down to a two door. It looks fine just as it is and there are lots of cool 4 doors out there. Look around for ideas and see what you think. Chop it, yes - Bob it, no. Besides, you can't pile all your friends into a coupe. If you're with your gal, well that rear seat looks pretty roomy to me.
That chassis is going to be more heavyduty that a Ford. Start looking at 1950's Ford and checy truck axles. I think the Ford stepside guys offer dropped axles.
There's a sparce article in Tex Smith's Mopar Hot Rod book.on a 29 Dodge. They used a stock axle with spindles machined to take Aspen discs, used a Mustang steering box. Used stock rear springs with the "removing 1/2 the leaves" trick. They added a couple crossmembers to the beefy fot its time frame. 318/904
he wants to go fenderless also.. he also is using his 88 trans am gta as a parts car for the rearend and the motor and tranny... it already has had the fuel injection taken off so that part is done.... but does have rear disk brakes and a 3:73 posi... we just have to figure out the front end.
I'm soon to be in the same boat as your friend as I just recently purchased a 1927 and 1928 dodge brothers sedan. I don't have the cars up in Alaska yet but hope to get them by April. I look forward to hearing more about the build of this 1929 sedan so keep the pictures and info coming. I also Agree with Mike put a nice chop to it and keep it a sedan.
I have never messed with any straight axle cars... so im lost on steering and everything about the front end... i am too used to subframing stuff cause of doin alot of 40s and 50s stuff.... and im not even thinkin of a indep. suspension on the front of this thing....
Lets start the Dodge talk. I'll have my 27 home within A month and i need susupesion. I'd like to channel abuot 3 and Z thr frame. Any ideas? Oh the boat anchor will be going in it (337 flathead)
Neat Dodge; that'll make a cool project. I put my altered on a '27 or so Dodge frame. Kept the stock front springs but used a Speedway dropped tube axle. As far as width goes, I don't recall the measurements between the framerails, but a 46" or 48" wide axle fits fine. Here's a link to some pics of the frame w/ the tube axle installed: http://www.hanksvillehotrods.com/gui/content.asp?w=pages&r=183&pid=199 Hank
I have a 31' dodge 4 door sedan that im running stock parallel leafs and running a 47-early 53' chevy truck axle so you can have disc brakes
The Jalopy Journal
