Hot Rods My 1ST Straight Axle/Gasser/Altered WB....I Don't Care What You Call It, I call it "STUBBY"

I've been running an Econoline axle on my car since the late sixties. I use a steering stabilizer like suggested above and some pos. caster. I have never experienced any "death wobble" in all my years of driving it. I have seen some cars that did that and some of them just had worn out suspension pieces.

 

Wasn't cutting up four doors to make stubby two doors a late seventies/early eighties thing?

 

No, the vast majority of "Tri-Fives" like this were done in the 60's when the A/FX class was popular at the track.

This one was originally done in the early 60's probably with a truck axle, but somewhere along the line it was updated with a stub kit with the aftermarket axle. Everything was then powder coated. You can tell a big difference in the quality of the welds from when it was originally done & then years later when the stub kit was added.

A friend just notified me that there is a FB group just for these cars, so I joined the group it is called "Shorty Aficianados. My friend Johnny Sweet had built 16 of these including this 64 that he put 90,000+ miles on!

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

U turns will be a breeze

 

The FX classes were developed in 1962 for the Factory's could produce limited production race cars, or take pieces from their Super Stockers and install them in smaller, lighter vehicles. It was closely related to the Super Stock classes in the beginning. They also allowed individuals to build cars using the same formula. Many of these big motor/small body cars became Match Racers and that's when the Altered Wheelbase cars started to show up ~ but the bodies remained standard size, the racers pushed the rear wheels forward for better weight transfer and the front wheels forward to keep the original wheelbase (more or less) to keep them from getting squirely. They continued to push the envelope and when the Chrisman Comet with the lack of top and the flop top body came along in '66, Ford & Chrysler (the only two OE's that supported the FX classes) decided to pull out as the cars no longer resembled anything you could buy, that was pretty much the end of the class. Those cars morphed pretty much into the beginning of Funny cars. There were no NHRA legal pre 62 FX class cars and never any "Shorty's". I honestly don't think there was ANY correlation between FX cars and Shorty's. Just two very different things.

 

For sure early 70's to early 80's, I can't seem to recall any shorties in my collection of 60's magazines, not saying there weren't some built in the 60's though.
Whatever whenever as long as he's happy and having fun, because if it isn't fun then you're missing the point of this old car hobby.

 

Thank you for this information, I was going strictly by the very limited info passed along from the guy I bought it from & he only had it one season. I do recall that pictures of the FX cars had the axles moved towards the front, but the bodies stayed pretty much the same size. I was born in '62, so my racing didn't start until '78 I would very much love to find out "Stubby's" history sometime down the road, but for today....After Thanksgiving dinner I will take Laura for her 1st blast down the road in him, Gucci can't go though as there is no back seat

God Bless & Happy Thanksgiving
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

I actually just missed out on a cut down 4dr 55 wagon.
Straight axle/327/4spd.
Sitting less than a mile from me since 1971.
Guess I will have to focus on the 49 Pontiac sedan delivery a half mile in the other direction.

 

In high school, my pal drove a '57 Bel Air wagon. We thought cutting out the rear door area, what, 31'' IIRC, would be cool. Never tried, though. It got sold when he enrolled in college, and I bought my 210 from his dad. Have a great ride today, keep it between the lines! Happy Thanksgiving to you and Laura. Same for all the other HAMBers out there!

 

@Bill's Auto Works, at the drink and sink last night I talked to Troy who owns the '49 referenced earlier. He bought a shim kit online and can't remember if they put in 2 or 3 degrees. It then went to an independent alignment shop, an old timey place that deals with race and specialty cars. After that they put on a dampener from Pete and Jakes. He said it had a nasty death wobble, when I rode with him it didn't do it, now it is gone.

I bet that thing hauls the mail.

 

Thank you so much Sir,

I appreciate the effort & the information! This is my 1st straight axle car, so even though I am well versed in alignments...This straight axle stuff is all new to me.

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

You should be able to put an angle finder ( I have a app on my phone) on the axle where the king pin is. Then shim to the desired angle.
You will want the car on the ground.

 

That is a mean looking ride,,,,,I especially like the engine,,,,it looks strong !

Tommy

 

Thanks @Budget36 ,

Yes, I will definitely do that. The front end is the most important fix on Stubby & will do it before driving it much. Just off the road from Transporting as of last Sunday until the 1st of March or so & am doing a bunch of stuff around the shop, house & property to get ready for the snow to fly Then on to being able to work on the cars!

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

YOU GO BILL Tom Gormley

 

That’s a cool little car!

I have an old Jeep that is raised up a few inches. The most common cause of death wobble on those is the outer tie rods are too much lower than the rest of the steering joints, causing bump steer which can lead to death wobble. Some people run a custom pitman arm to lower the drag link joint, some do a spindle swap to raise the tie rods. The more you can line level the steering joints the better off you’ll be.

Enjoy the ride

 

Thank You Sir,

I did notice that the Pittman Arm does look to be longer/ lower than what I am used to seeing. Excited to tear into it in the upcoming weeks. I just yesterday ordered an 8 point cage & a set of pedal pads from Summit for it!

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

Ok that car is freaking awesome! I've chased death wobble problems in solid axle 4x4's a fair bit. Super common with lifted big tire coil spring front ends. Gasser front ends I'm less familiar with. Steering stabilizers usually just mask the real problem and never solve it. Look for any loose bushings, king pins etc. it's usually a loose bushing that sets off the motion that the springs then multiply and can turn into a terrifying experience. Something is allowing some movement in there. It doesn't take much. Post more pictures of that car!!!!

 

Death wobble has nothing to do with wheelbase, and it can happen with 89" or 116" wheelbase if things aren't set up correctly. It happens with not enough caster, but also with not enough toe in also. Get both wrong and it can shake so bad it will make the driver want to park it immediately!
Where wheelbase length does matter is how much caster you put into the front axle. A long wheelbase car like my '39 Chev coupe at 115" is fine with 5-7 degrees, but my 89" wheelbase Austin gasser I have 11 degrees into. The more caster on a short wheelbase car makes it want to go straighter. It may take a slight more effort to turn, but if you let go of the wheel the front tires want to straighten themselves out and go straight. So at high speeds the steeper angle is great. Ever notice nitro rails and funny cars front axle setups? They run from 22 degrees to around 30 degrees, because of the high speeds those car run on very skinny tires. The steep angle helps make them go straight at extremely high speeds, but they sure don't turn easy.
My '39 at 6 degrees tracks straight, and drives great at any speed, but long wheelbases are more forgiving.
Toe in for any wheeelbase solid front axle is always between 1/8"-1/4" and if you go closer to 1/4" it will help more with any death wobble. I have seen wider axles get some wobble from too small a diameter tie rod. When an axle is a wider 48" or more kingpin to kingpin width, then a small diameter 1" tie rod can flex when hitting a bump, and the flexing induces death wobble. I make all mine of 1.25" tubing when it's a full sized car. But having the right kingpin angle, and the right toe in, nothing should contribute to death wobble if the rest of the kingpins, and steering is tight.

 

Have fun, that's what its about.... many gassers
in Ohio to get ideas from.

 

Thank You Sir,

You are very good at explaining things for folks with a wide range of experience! Never thought about that much caster because of the shorter wheelbase, until you mentioned it. I was going to start at 6, but now will go more.

With all the great info & encouragement from everyone I am getting, I am excited to get going on it. I have some other commitments till probably the end of next week (Parents, Mother in Law, prepping houses & properties for winter, etc), but anxious to get on it! The cage won't be here until Dec. 20th anyway.

@blackdog ....More pictures once I start tearing into it.

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

Haven't started doing the needed fixes on "Stubby" yet since I have been madly cleaning & working on the building, but one of his Christmas Presents came yesterday.....Training Wheels

God Bless & Merry Christmas
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

Long delayed update :

Finally got Stubby on the lift to see what was going on with the front end. Turns out the bolts holding the steering to the passenger spindle were loose. This was caused I believe by the fact that the kingpin on that side has some play in it. I will do kingpins on it, but not right now.

While I had it on the lift I installed the steering dampener, the training wheels, cleaned the inside, different shifter handle & new pedal pads. I also spent almost 6 hours polishing the wheels, because the guy I bought it from cleaned the tires with something akin to acid, etching the aluminum!

The next few days will be high 40's/low 50's & sunny, so I am anxious to take it for a good blast now that I know it is a little safer (as in hopefully no death wobble now)

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

Bill, that looks great!! I’d really enjoy a ride in Stubby!

 

That car just looks bad ass! Probably gonna need the training wheels if it gets a good bite!

 

Looks very nice Bill. Time well spent.

 

Bill, I’m not a big fan of that tall stand-off from the steering arm to the cross steer rod. I have seen a bolt snap and I have seen a steering arm break from metal fatigue. Not sure what I would do to correct it but I would look seriously at doing something. Maybe boxing the arm so you could use 2 shorter bolts?

 

Wheelie shot soon I hope!

 

Thanks Guys!

@Truckdoctor Andy ...That could probably be arranged at Lloydfest 2024

@chevy57dude ....Hey Steve I am not going to ask Laura to stand out in the cold taking pictures & with that short wheelbase I don't see myself making a video holding the steering wheel & my phone in one hand & the shifter in the other Hopefully all you would see is road to sky! We will definitely do it when it gets warmer.

@SS327 ...I thought the exact same thing! This is the 1st opportunity to see the front suspension in the air with the wheels off. That stand will stay on my mind & will try to fabricate something better as you advised. The roll cage will probably have to wait until next winter as I only have 3 weeks left before I get back out on the road & I want to finish up the Nash + get the GP done enough to drive it over for the out of state inspection, so I can transfer the title, etc.

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

What year GP? I had a 65 maroon with a parchment interior.