i remember a thread on here where people were discussing what worked and why but i just can't seem to find it. i think i remember people saying to use the 58.5 inch wide nine inch from an early model bronco without any modifications. someone even had part a number for a pete & jakes parallel leaf kit to use. moving to the front, someone suggested using the chassis engineering forged drop axle because it tucked the tires in for more clearance with the drop. i can't remember if they said to use the original wishbone, stock or split and whether to keep the spring out front or go over the axle. it seems like there was a lot of useful information in the thread. i don't have a 39 or 40 but i do have all the parts and wheels, trying to decide if it's time to let them go or hang on to them a little while. i know i could use them on other projects too, just wondering if they would also work well in a 39-40.
Keep the spring in front, whether you split the wishbone depends upon what transmission you use. Some use 32-36 front axle and 35-36 wishbone for better turning radius. Check with Weedeater also he is on the HAMB.
I did quite a few customer 35-40 repro chassis and I always used a 58 inch outside width 9 inch rear. I used to get mine from John's Industries. I did both IFS which were Heidt's and straight axles. I got the front crossmember from Chassis Engineering, used a 47 inch P&J's axle, Posie spring, 37-40 bones which I always split using the P&J's trans mount. Usually used repro forged front spindles with thru bolt forged dropped steering arms, GM 525 steering box, Super Bell Power Stoppers on the front, 11X2.25 new Ford drum brakes on the rear with an 8 inch power booster. The rear suspension was mostly the parallel rear leaf kit from CE mixed in with a few coilover suspensions with triangulated or parallel 4 bars. I always used proven components from the best US companies. No Chinese parts if I could help it but I'm sure there were a few?
I used the Magnum (now SuperBell) axle for a 40. A 57 inch rear end works better than a 58. I had a 58 in my delivery and narrowed it to 57 to keep the tires off the fenders. Of course I always use our parallel leaf rear kit, front shock kit, sway bar and steering components.
never had any complaints about the 58 inch rear but Weedburner's forgot more about Fat chassis than I know.
@Weedburner 40 and @krylon32 I’m planning on running a Saginaw 525 box on my 39. Do you guys recommend the Borgeson box only?
Since most 40's don't have room for a wide tire without squaring up the inner wheel well, a centered 7" wheel works quite well and I have 215/75-15 tires on my delivery. Yes, Borgeson box is a good one. You might be able to get rebuilt OEMs from your local parts store also.
Forgot to mention I also have a V8 Maverick 8 inch rear under my 40. When I got the car it had a buggy spring suspended Maverick rear with stretched 36 bones that had started to bow. I found another very low mile V8 rear and mounted it on a CE parallel rear spring kit from Heidt's. I can't remember the width. I have 7 inch rear rims and Diamond back radial whitewalls.
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