whats goinf on guys. I got the 1950 Austin a40 home finaly and picked up a 48' f1 front suspension. whats a good gear box to use for the steering? im planning on building a whole new box tube frame straight rails.
That front end isn't going to fit an Austin A 40 worth squat. The wheels will be clear to hell and gone outside of the fenders. The stock A 40 front track is 40.5 inches while an F 1 front track is between 58 and 60 inches depending on what site you read. That puts each front tire nine inches out past where it sits now.
Just spend the bucks and get a tube axle so it looks right. I can't believe building something with a feature that is that prominant and NOT making it right. Speed way sells straight tube axles for a couple hundred bucks.
Contact Don Waldron at rods west he has been building Austins for many years and knows exactly what you will need great guy.He helped me alot on mine.Hot rod did a huge artical on him last november or october Don knows how to set up the Austins,and big on gassers.
Sounds like you're plans are a high end build if you're tossing the stock frame. So I think I'd agree that it's better to spend the bucks for a tube axle, unless you like the I beam look.
I had Pete at Fast Times Rods make me a tube axle and I use a Flaming River Vega box with a cross steer set up.
A Crosley is more than that 40.5" ..A40 Austin is way wider, take a tape measure and see what it will look like, f1 K'Pins are at 50"..I think Speedway will have 48", don't remember if they will make a narrower..Guy on here from Torrington, CT makes axles.....
Speedway do a 44" - fits under Anglias and Model 77 Willys, both of which are narrow so should be narrow enough for the Austin....
That's pretty wide for an Anglia. My Specialty Cars Anglia axle for Ford Hubs is 37/38" between kingpins. Track width is 47". Stock Anglia axle is around 40" between kingpins. But that's for a LOT shorter spindle.
My Fast Times axle is 37" king pin to king pin. I know Mickeys' is wider, but I don't know why or by how much. I just got my Wilwood medium drag race Ford spindle brake kit today. Very well built and very expensive.
I like the look of the I Beam axle and plan to send it off to b shortened. im building a frame due to rust and having a good hook up at the steel shop.. I plan to keep the car rusty and do kind of a rat roddy feel to it. with the front end up in the air.
I also reccomend Pete at Fast Times. Great workmanship and easy to deal with. He did my axle on the front of my Anglia for Ford spindles. He can build anything. DC