I know that 49 - 53 Chevy spindles will work on Ford A front axle. But do the 48 and earlier spindles and brakes work on the Ford A axle?
Yes, but go to this link for information on Chevy spindles: http://www.droppedaxles.com/TECH_ARTICLES.html Keep in mind that beam axles and IFS have different KPI, so I would go with beam axle spindles.
I think Ford's are around 7 1/2 to 8, Chevy beam axle slightly more than 7. As long as you end up with about 1/2 degree of positive camber once the caster angle is set, it'll be fine. Camber will alter with caster, and caster could be anywhere from 5 to 9 degrees, although 7 is about where it should be.
You probably wouldn't want your certifier knowing that in this over regulated country of ours! I think they can be bent cold for small amounts.
I am not referring to heating the spindles. You heat the axle to change the kingpin angle [ this is a common method for alignments and repairs ] If you are heating the axle to drop it , it would be a good to do this correction. As for the over regulated country of ours...... you simply send the axle off to get heat treated afterwards [approx. $50] and it will probably be better than new. The rules are there to keep dangerous hackjob/redneck engineering off our roads! Do it properly and there isn't a problem.
Interesting! So besides a tweak to the axle to get the KPI correct, what other issues are there? Kingpin diameter? Distance between the kingpin lugs on the spindles etc? I have a couple of Ford axles (A and 39) and split bones I'd love to use on my Roadster...ESPECIALLY if I could reuse my Chevy spindles. I'm already really happy with my brakes, new kingpins etc but I'd like to use an I beam and bones for looks, suspension flexibility and additional strength...without requiring a redo of all the good stuff I mentioned.
Bent axle correction is done cold, at least in the professional frame & wheel shops since the '20s. General repair garages have been known to heat axles for repairs, but 'Heat and bend, then send out for Heat Treating'? Not hardly...nor practical. Chevrolet axles have more like 4 degrees KPI, a frame shop bent a dropped Ford axle to get neutral camber, and bent the 'smile' out of it, flat as a skinny underfed boy. Sure looked funny...
Chevy IFS KPI is about 4 degrees. Chevy beam axle spindles are the ones to use, about 7 degrees. If you use 50's truck spindles you get bendix brakes, and convert to 5 lug by swapping on p***enger car hubs. Trucks have steering arms with a nice deep drop. Bore the axle ends out to Chevy kingpin size, axle ends are sometimes flogged out. Also need a very thin thrust bearing.
Gofannon, Thanks for the link and the info. I don't know the nuances of the 30's -40's Chevy's, and if I understand this correctly what you are saying is that Chevy beam axle spindles from 38-48 would work best (other than the later 49-53 Spindles)?
NO,,,,Use the right stuff,Ford on Ford,not some mix to make **** junk that will end up costing more at some point anyway
The only car I know of with Model A axle, Chevy truck spindles, and huck brakes is Johnny Hartman's track roadster. As I said, better to go with truck spindles from about 52 through to 59 and get Bendix brakes, brake parts are cheaper than early Ford and plentiful. Use 37 on car or truck beam axle spindles if you want huck brakes, or want to fiddle around adapting later brakes.
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