Nothing wrong with a straight axle. They usually have more "unsprung weight" then a properly setup IFS (independent front suspension), which for most passenger vehicles the IFS offers a softer and quieter ride. There are other advantages for the hi performance IFS, like the Corvette, we won't go there, but for guys like us, a properly set up solid front axle is not a problem for an everyday driver. I've had many trucks in the past with solid front axles, and they all drove just great! The big trucks use 'em I think because they take the abuse of daily driving on the freeways and the heavy weight better than an IFS setup. They are solid.
+1... Don't use junk, if you want to race. It costs money either way, you can get around a lot of it, IF you really know certain aspects INSIDE and OUT. AND if you have access to the right equipment/tools...or have folks in your corner that do...I'm very lucky to have some of them! I let them know their value constantly. I cross-reference them, by each other, and by myself, by here, by everywhere. If you don't...110+ mph could be more than a little frightening. I am putting together a Drag truck right now...its, well...Gasser inspired, but, its not by any means "period correct"( though it DOES, however, meet the regs for a late 60's B or C class car, as soon as I re-install the headlights! lol...)...I could have built it out of ALL old, period parts...but, have you ever had the opportunity to look at some of the "real" early drag cars...? People talk a lot, a LOT...about the "rat rod" fabrication skills, ( or lack thereof...) going on around today, but, a lot of the cars you and I admire in old pix, would look WAY different in person, close up, than through the rose-colored glasses of history. Dying in an unsafe race car is very "period correct"... But I'll pass... BTW, my truck may not fit into everyones idea of what a gasser is...and I don't call it such...but, one thing it should do: RUN LIKE HELL!!! And reasonably safely, if you want to enjoy it...
Check out our club site, we've built a couple and for the larger tri-fives used '49-'54 Chev truck springs and axles, almost a perfect fit and no cutting. They also handled great and we drove a few 500 mile round trip and a 1000 mile round trip car show raod trips in them and they handled great, a little bouncy, but straight as an arrow. On my latest Nova project I did spring for the Speedway axle only because I wanted a axle with no drop for a more nose in the air look. Anyways, we documented two builds, my old '56 Chev and my friend's old '55 Chev, here's a link: http://www.gassersinc.com
I know my 55 may not be a true gasser, but has the look. I have 63 chev full size springs in the front. When I was building the car I got a couple off olds/pountiac diffs, one will a LSD 5.25, I pulled these out of an old gasser. I did decide to go with a ford 9" full floater, has I like to though the car around a bit. And parts are harder to get for the olds. I have restored a couple of tri fives for other people that had been gassers with striaght axles. I have found the axles to be alot heaver, than the factory wish bones.
The Jalopy Journal
