Has anyone ever used an early GM I-beam with parallel front springs? I'm mulling over how I would like to build a fenderless '30 Pontiac sedan and after a lot of searching I really haven't come up with much. I'm strongly leaning toward 1/4 elliptical springs bracketed to the stock perch flats of the GM axle but more wondering about spindle choices for juice brakes. If anyone's gone down this road I'd really like to hear what your experiences were. Rick (rarerodder)
You may want to look at a website, www.droppedaxles.com, hosted by HAMBer 55Mercury. He has info on several types of straight axles on there, including Chevy axles from '30-'31. I don't know how close they are to the Pontiac's; grab a tape measure. There is also a reprint on there of an R&C article by Pat Ganahl on swapping Chevy spindles and brakes. I was looking at getting better brakes by swapping out a '39 Chevy axle for my '29 (maybe close to yours), but I found the spring pad spacing is a little different. Early '50's Chevy trucks have a better brake design than the '39 brakes, but the kingpin size and spindle inclination is different from my '29 axle. But, the early '50's truck axle has the same spring pad spacing and width as the '29 unit, which makes it a direct bolt in replacement, with six lugs and better brakes! Look around on there, you might find something that'll help you out. *****6
X2 on what *****6 says !!! You can probably use a 1954 (1st Gen AD) axle and 54 Bel Air brakes and backing plates. All of the info at www.droppedaxles.com will give you proper axle dimensions for a comparison. I am using the 54 axle as mentioned above and it appears that the ***embly is a direct bolt in fit for my 32 Chevy springs and frame. Later a disc brake kit from ECI Brakes will be added.............................................. Jeff
Check out my posts. '29 Chev with a '52 pickup front axle and spindles, '52-54 car drums. '39 pickup front springs rearched with the axle mounted on top of the springs. Search for a post on an Es*** or Chev coupe on this site, some great photo's of the front end. This is an old bolt in I first did back in the early 70's but was done a lot in the 50's and 60's.
Pretty sure Pontiac and Chevy are same back in 30-31. Built my 31 Chevy 2dr sedan in 73' with 51' Chevy truck axle and 54 Chevy car drum brakes (still using parallel leaf with vega strng box). The Car brakes will give you a 4 3/4 inch bolt pattern and you use the bearings, seals, and races from the car...............The truck spindles are different from car so you will need to use the truck spindle to make it work correctly........from time to time, you can find NOS truck spindles on internet if you need one........Sent the axle to MOr-Drop (way back when) and had them bend it as far as was practical. It has about a 6 1/2 inch drop but spring pads stay in same location. I wanted it a little lower so I flipped the main leaf on the stock springs and ran them reverse-eye for a while. Only problem with reverse eye is the reduced rebound. About 10 years ago I found a spring shop here in Houston and had them make me a new set (front and rear) with front reverse eye. Not much front end travel but it is low and looks pretty good with 215r tires on front. A couple years ago i found a tapered bearing conversion for the 54 brake hub (Speedway maybe?). If you need the info, let me know and i will see if i can find my paperwork on the kit. Still drive the 31 every chance i get and it stops as good as my other hot rod with power brakes........The two pics are with new springs.......
The 41-54 Chevy 3100 pickup axle will bolt right into a 28-32 Chevy car. If you have a 33-36 or a 37-40 straight axle car I bore out kingpin holes from .734 to .866 dia and install 41-59 Chevy pickup spindles on them. I have also changes the axles inclination and installed car spindles on the axles. Only problem there you have to figure out steering arms. If you guys would like give me a call and I'll help you out. www.droppedaxles.com
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