Technical Chevy Truck Front Axle Widths??????

Having a hard time getting used to a '57 Chevy truck axle under a '57 Chevy 2dr. gasser, seems a little wide looking to me even if I had 3"-4" wide front wheels which I don't. Thinking of using a '49-'55 first series but don't know the width difference between the two. What is the width diff. between the 1st. series and the '57 front truck axle? Thanks!

 

3.5" according the Chevy documented front tread width being 57 then 60.5" when they made the change. The spindles and hubs and wheels stayed the same, as far as I know

spring spacing will also change. And the springs were angled on the earlier trucks, I think?

 

Yes, they were angled, hoping to "fudge" that a little. An 1 3/4" diff on each side doesn't sound like much but maybe to my eye it will. Than you gotta add disc brake's putting it outboard a bit more. Thanks for the info!

 

you could use drum brakes, or different disc brakes that don't move it out more

 

Front tread of a 48 Chev or 48/55.1 pickup is 56-9/16 with 16 inch wheels and 57-11/16 with 15 inch wheels. Spring bolt centers are 26-13/16.

On a 56 3100 stock tread width 60.52 and spring bolt center to center is 30.88

57 Chevy car front tread width is 58 inches
All of those per the GM heritage center vehicle information kit pfds. https://www.gm.com/heritage/archive/vehicle-information-kits

 

Jim, Thought of that but being a shop rat I lost track of who makes disc that don't move it out. Scarebird? Scarbird? We used to adapt Volvo disc to alot "things"................................

 

Thank you 48, I will print that out!

 

I had the move-out discs on my 55 when I built it (almost 30 years ago), and then later got wilwoods, which put it back to stock width. Lighter, look kind of modern, and $$$$ if you can't find a set of used ones

 

WMS to WMS on the AD truck axle I have out here is 58-1/4.

 

Just called Wilwood. they still make a kit Wilwood Disc Brakes - Front Brake Kit Description
that only moves it out a 1/4" each side, but like you said, modern looking & a grand + to buy!

 

I believe too the front springs are angled on AD's.

 

^^^^^^^^ Some say it's not enough to worry about but you need to be aware of it^^^^^^

 

On AD trucks a ball park measurement for spring centers front and rear are 24 front and 28 rear. 26-13/16 on the axle line puts those springs way in from the 57 car frame rails if memory would serve right.
Springs are 38 inches center of eye to center of eye and 1-3/4 wide. My thought is that it isn't going to fit a 57 frame well at all. It probably wouldn't be a hassle to run the springs straight front to rear but spring centers at 26-13/16 at the rear is going to be inside the 57 frame rails a bit.
Either way it is a lot of trouble to make a poser car that doesn't ride, drive or handle worth a damn.

 

I don't remember saying I was building a "poser" car, just gathering all info before I dive in a direction that fits what I will be doing with the '57.

 

Just curious... What is a poser car?

 

To me it's a "wanna be" car guy that has a lot of money and can afford to buy whatever he wants without laying a hand on a tool!

 

To me it's a car that looks like it should be fast, but isn't

 

I agree on both. The term poser to me always referred to being a fraud or fake. Was just wondering why your 57 straight axle gasser build brigrat, would be considered a poser car by someone? Does that mean a 32 Ford with Ardun heads and a blower is a poser car, since it wasn't built from the factory that way?
Straight axle cars and trucks ride and handle pretty darn well to 99% of the people I know. It won't handle like a new Lexus... But if that is the ride quality your looking for, buy a Lexus.

 

I believe the "poser" part is building a gasser drag car looking car that will never actually go down a dragstrip

 

Every straight axle “gasser” look car doesn’t have to have 600HP to impress.
It just has to make the owner happy.

 

"57 Chevy, 150, Utility, BBC 396 671 blower, ETlll rear wheels, looking for appropriate skinny fronts. '57 seamless frame, '57 truck axle, 9" Ford rear. Muncey 4 speed, Hurst linkage, Ansen Tri5 Scatter Shield. Hoping to pull the front off the ground, no Moon gas tank in front of grill! Tilt front Sheetmetal. Taking the BBC blown 396 out of my Sanger V-Drive. Saved parts for a long time for this!

 

He can't take it down the dragstrip... If he hasn't built it yet.
That would be like calling his kid a flunky, if it hasn't been born yet.

 

I may have under estimated the HP

 

I did the same thing. Took me 12 years to build mine. Collecting parts, planning the build, and priorities in life were the reason it took so long. Plus, I keep what I build... So I make it right the first time.

 

I have the makings of a couple 301-302's SBC, but think the last build should be "go big", I know 396 isn't big buts it's a start, anything after that should be a BBC bolt in if needed.

 

I need me some kidney Bean's!

 

I was going to use my spare 396 block for my build... Found a 4 bolt 427 block before I was ready to build my engine. Again... I took my time. Glad to see you are building your dream car.

 

Times is not on my side BUT everything else is!
Here's a 4 bolt 427 long block BUT maybe for later.....................

 

In reference to your original question... Have you considered a tube axle kit? I went with a 4 inch drop tube so I could set my own caster and space the leaf springs where I didn't have to butcher the frame, and not have to use a periscope to see over the hood scoop.
If you are dead set on the beam axle look, I totally understand. Just spitballing an idea for your track width issue.

 

That intake is wicked looking! Me like very much!