I am looking to replace the bent / straightened axle in the Scout. My question is, does anyone make a sever duty unit (2" Chromoly or 2 1/4" steel) 5" drop axle that can withstand some abuse ? Not looking for a bridge girder but don't want it to fold on the first bounce either. I have seen the Speedway product and I like it, but I'm concerned about strength. Any recommendations / suggestions ? If there is nothing out there we will likely build our own but I would rather avoid that.
I got a '37 style tube that I could use to build a fixture and make you one 5 inches deep if those dims will work for you. I can make it as stout as you like.
Thanks for the compliment. I had waayyy too much fun at the meltdown... as the bent front end would indicate. I-beam better ... probably.... But I'm not considering that style as I want to keep the truck as much as it was when it was built in the early 70's. That would be a round tube axle. Thanks
Thank you for this... just not sure how it answers my question. I certainly don't want my front end any higher and the last thing I need is more weight transfer. The whole reason for the request is the fact I hooked too hard and bent the front axle upon re-entry. (And the wheelie bars going up) The Scout has had the 5" drop axle under it since the late 60's early 70's and that's the path I will continue to follow with it. Cheers
Could you build some type of brace an weld it to the bottom of the axle to strengthen it? You could probably drill some holes in it to make it look better. That way you could use your original parts. Just a thought
I saw you at the Meltdown Drags too... You DO need a bridge girder! Hell of a show you put on for the crowd man. Hell of a show. -Brad
I saw the video of you standing it up at the Meltdown. Not surprised that the axle got bent. I have a 4" drop Speedway axle on my Chevy II. The axle has a quarter inch wall thickness. It has held up well with my car doing 2 foot wheelstands. but if you're going to drag the rear bumper, you might need something stronger.
I make them from chromemoly tube, usuallly 1 3/8 (up to 1 5/8) or so with about a .250 wall. the problem with making a 5" drop is that the equipment is such that you can't do a double bend or an 's' shape. It is a single bend and you need enough clearance around the kingpin boss for the spindle so that limits the sharpness of the angle. To get a 5" drop you'll need quite a bit of space. I am wondering why you let it get so high that you bend an axle? Remember, when you are going up you are doing so at the expense of going forward - i know it looks sexy to the guys in the stands but it is the guy that gets to the finish line first that stands proud at the payout window. Even if you gussie the axle up so that it don't get bent then it'll be the spring shackes braking until you gussie them and then it'll be frame horns etcetc. I'd be limiting the height of the wheelie.
Saw your lil truck in Saskatoon many years ago, awesome then, awesome now! Is your axle the same one as back then? If so, it has taken a lot of abuse! Another one the same should last a decade or so if you strengthen the wheelie bars, I gather from your post that they bent first, allowing a moonshot. And I agree, you sure don't need any more weight transfer!!!
Even though the Scout has proven it can be very consistent and predictable it was never built to be a bracket / index car. It was always intended to be different, make me giggle like an idiot and make the fans go "Holy crap". To me it's all about the show. Besides, the Meltdown event where the carnage occurred was more about style points and not about getting there first. I fully understand the physics of a wheelstand and the effect it has on the ET. I've always explained that if I wanted to go fast then I hit it off idle or set the ladder bars up one hole. I've gone a best of 10.59 this way. If I want to show off I hit the trans brake and put it on the bumper (10.74 best). I like the wheel stands, the photo guys like em and so do the fans. Yes I am aware that strengthening the weak point will cause the next weakest point to be the next fail. I'm already on my second set of springs, third set of shocks, steering box.... you get the idea. The lesson here is not to set the bars lower, it's about realizing that a new day brings new track conditions. I should have backed off of the launch RPM and crept up on the set up in the same manner as I had on Saturday. Obviously the 5000 rpm chip was waayyy too much for the bite on Sunday. Cheers...
Same truck... different owner. Back in the Saskatoon days it was owned by Rich Bedford and it still had a hemi in it. Yes... same axle. In the video it was apparent that the Scout overloaded on the launch and went up one one wheel causing lateral stress on the bars, which promptly failed. I can easily get what I need from Speedway, I was just inquiring whether or not there was something else out there. This thread has generated at least 2 options that will look into (Thanks)
Thanks... Glad to be entertaining !! Made the entire trip worthwhile See you next year at Meltdown 2013
This attitude by a lot of the racers is EXACTLY what made the Meltdown Drags such a great show! Some racing is serious business. I get that. Vintage racing is serious entertainment. There were guys out there to run a number, which makes for a real good show. And there were guys out there doing smokey burnouts to mid-track and standing their cars on the bumper... which makes a show real good. I can only hope I get guys like you to the show I'm planning on Atlanta next spring. And yeah, I'll see you next year at the Meltdown Drags... this time in the Widow Wagon. -Brad
That axle is the old Magnum axle Borgason had them for some time and then resold them. The ends are cast or a forged part of some kind. I held the ends in my hand at a open house and my 2 cents they are not made for that. Build one like you got I think it will be safer. You should post the pic of your axle that is on the other thread it will help out.
The Jalopy Journal
