57 olds rear in the 30 Tudor

Would like to know before I start looking, if a 59 thru 64 olds axle can be shortened and resplined to fit my 57 housing and third member or are they stepped down after the spline and can not be done. I know I can order new, just looking to save a little and spend more time than money. In the end it will be more money and more time but that's the way I seem to do things.

Gary

 

I don't think you want to respline and axle and take the temper out of it.

is the third member from the 57 housing...thus, 29 spline?

either advertise for some used axles or buy new. Depends on the horsepower.

I may have some 1957-29 spline axles if that is what you need?

 

I have a 57 housing and a 64 safe t trac. So I need 31 spline axles to fit the posi and the length of the 57 housing. This is why I was asking about taking longer axles and making them shorter and re spline. I did not know that re splining takes the temper out. Guess new is the direction I need to go. Thanks

 

If you can find some axles from a 59, they are short enough that you can cut off the end, file the grooves and make them work. If memory serves me.

otherwise, contact Brad at Fabcraft

 

I have a 57 Olds rearend and at one time I took 31 spline Ford axles and had them shortened and resplined and they worked fine I just do not remember if I used Ford bearing cups on the ends of the housing....I did not have the axles re hardened but you could.

 

Moser in Portland, IN reworks axles all the time. They remachine new splines every day. Give them a call.

 

Iam pretty sure Moser machines them cold and as-received. No messing up the original heat treatment.

 

I used Dutchman axles in my '57 housing with later posi center,

no hassle and not too terrible expensive

 

I like the idea of the 59 axles. I may have access to them locally. I will bring my old 57 axles and look. Brad at IS a great resource on Olds rears and posi units. This is where I will get the new axles if all else fails. Like I said, I will spend more time and money trying to do it the hard way than just calling 800-hotrod and in the end may still call them. Thanks

 

My 57 Pontiac rear has a later posi with the fine splines. It has standard short side axles from a later Pontiac rear that have been cut down. No resplining was necessary.

 

Brad at Fabcraft sells his or does axle shortening. Also sells new ones on his ebay store.

 

Thanks BOBWOP

Just an update. I did get some 59/64 olds axles 31 spline for the 64 posi unit and they had new bearings on them, got lucky. Here is what I found. The 59/64 axle needs to be cut 7/8 inch to make it the same length as the 57 axle. The good is that the spline on the 59/64 axle is 2.0 inches long so I will have 1 to 1 1/8 inches of spline engagement. Talking to a couple axle manufacturers 7/8 to 1 inch on a street car is just fine. Not racing. the problem if it is, I did notice that the 57 axle has a relief after the spline and the 59 axle does not. I will have to add this relief as it is very close to bottoming out on the side gear. Should not be an issue to modify.

I know that new axles are the best way to go for strength, fit, all new and so on. I just eat up making things work using what is out there and building my hot rods the old school way. Thanks to the HAMB for some good ideas to work from.

Gary

 

All of the above is some GREAT info guys.Thanks.