austin gasser straight axle

im gunna b building this Austin gasser alittle on the rat rod side of thing due to losing my job so buying a new front suspension from speedway is out of my budget does any have a good idea for a front straight axle to swap in? im gunna keep searching but I thought id ask the knowledgeable people on here to make it alittle easier

 

I'm going to assume you've got a A40 Austin, since they seem to be the most common. The narrow body width will really restrict what factory truck axle you could use. I think the A40 is about 58" wide overall, so even with skinny front tires you need a axle that's no more than 52" face to face on the hubs.
You might try to find a late 40's Ford truck straight axle, and measure it. It's probably the narrowest yoou could find. The other option is to have a truck axle narrowed, but that might get costly if you have to pay someone to do it. I know a couple guys who have cut down truck axles and tacked them together, then took them to a certified welder to have them welded up right.

 

I had Pete at Fast Times Rods build my axle for my Austin and its great. I think its 39" eye to eye.

 

2 wheel drive Jeeps use a straight axle, probably the last vehicle to do so other than heavy trucks.

They are heavy duty, come with disc brakes, cheap to buy in wrecking yards. They look easy to narrow too.

If you want to narrow one the trick is to find 2 long straight pieces of pipe that fit through the ball joint holes. Cut the end of the axle off at the weld, shorten the tube, stick the end back in, and line up the 2 ends by making the pipes exactly even, you can eyeball this from the side. Then weld the end back in. Basically the same principle used to shorten a driveshaft.

 

The Axle i used on my Austin was 38" king pin to king pin center.

 

The Cherokee 2wd front axle is a cheap option, and you don't need to cut off both ends to narrow it, or get a new tube. Simply cut all the stock brackets off, then cut one end off at the weld, and shorten the axle; then align and reweld the one end back on.
Then you can weld on perches with the correct kingpin angle and it's ready to go. I see them at local wrecking yards for about $100-$125 complete.

 

thanks for all the good info. ya its a a40 devon. my brother is a certified welder so I guess if I have to shorten and axle I could do it.. bt I guess If I really have too I can go thru the couch cushions every week and save the change up for a speed way kit.. I got a 9in rear end to b shorten and go in it and a BBF 400 that im gunna build and go in it. I don't see many 2wd jeeps around my area.

 

If Pete built your A40 axle the same as mine and Mike Kallinowskis', it's 37" king pin to king pin. That's if you used ford spindles.

 

That maybe it, I did put Ford spindles on it.

 

Craig Micky's is a bit wider 3-4 "

 

Thanks John, I didn't know that.

 

Me either

 

Anyone have a pic of the original austin straight axle? Im trying to id an axle with salisbury 12297 i need one for a micro midget project thanks

 

The A40 Austins had independent front suspension.

 

Did any have straght axles?

 

Anglias had a nice little transverse spring mounted beam axle. The spindles were cast and should be magnafluxed if you decide to go that way. It may be possible to adapt aftermarket Anglia spindles from Mark Williams and other dragster parts suppliers.

 

Yes, my 1946 was the last year for a straight axle. It had mechanical brakes also. Can't help you with numbers, as mine is long gone, but it was a very fragile looking little axle. I would never consider using it for anything with even a small V8 engine. The main beam wasn't much bigger than my thumb.
If it helps, this is the only picture I could find when mine was original:

 

Thats different from mine a pic of mine is posted on my profile on the bronze colored car or on hamb @id axle salisbury 12297 thanks

 

Im building my Devon on a stretched '70 Jeep CJ frame with a DJ front axle. BBC/4spd