Projects Chevy axle question

I'm looking to put a dropped and drilled axle under my 32 Chevy coupe. Is there any out there? I see dropped ones but not drilled. Can they be safely drilled? Looking for a bolt on operation. Wondering what options I have.

 

If I remember correctly, use a 47-early 55 Chevy pickup axle. Also allows later brakes. You can get them dropped. Don’t know about drilling them.

 

The Chevy I beam axles are easy to drill, and are very safe when drilled, as long as you don't drill outside the spring perches. I've drilled many of them using a Milwaukie or Lennox 1/2" EMT holesaw that makes a 7/8" hole. Usually space holes at 2"-2.5" centers. Using plenty of cutting fluid I pre-drill 1/4" holes at each center, then use the holesaw in my hand drill to cut the holes halfway through. Then turn the axle over and drill through from the other side. You can drill clear through from one side, but going each way eliminates the burr on the other side.
'58 Chev truck axle I used for my '39 Chev coupe.

 

'47 to '55 first series the axle springs are not parallel & axles are narrower than '55-'59, '55-'59 axle springs are parallel. Might make a diff. in your search. Once you throw disk brakes on both get wider unless someone knows a supplier that does not.

 

Spring bolt holes on 47/55.1 Chevy trucks is 26-13/16. Previous research says that goes back to at least 37 trucks as I have an axle for a late 20's earl y30's chevy frame roadster project that is off a late 30's truck that a friend gave me. The springs not being exactly parallel doesn't mean much at the axle but they also aren't parallel on my early frame.
Since Sid is no longer dropping axles to order and may not have one in stock to sell one will probably have to hunt for someone else to drop one or find one someone is pulling out.

55.2 to 59 spring bolt spacing is 31.88 That can be a tad wide for early frames. Good for a lot of "gasser" conversions though.

 

Forged axles can be drilled, outside the springs.

 

Ian, Are you sure about this, my life depends on it? Thinking of drilling a '57 Chevy truck axle past the perches.

 

He may be correct, but consider where all the weight is on the axle, especially forces when turning.

 

That's where all the weight, and stresses are outside the perches, so I've never had the urge to drill them out past the spring perches. Also the I beam narrows down at the perch so it would require a smaller holesaw to drill holes out past the perches. I like the looks of the 7/8" holes, and didn't want to have two different sized holes. Really don't think it makes them look better drilled out any further.

 

^^^^ My thoughts as well.