I picked up a Ford V8-60 tube axle today. Must be 39-up with juice backing plates. Didn't really need it, but after tripping over it while junkyarding, I thought it should come home with me. My question is, does anyone no how strong(or thick) these are? Second question, with always hearing that you can't run split bones with a tube axle, can you use them with this factory Ford piece? Or just use them with unsplit bones or what? Thanks, Karl P.S. Doesn't this Stude look cool?!
The problem with the Ford tube axles is that they rust from the inside out.There is something odd about the king pin area if my memory is right, open area exposing the side of the pin. Glad you saved it. They ran them on sprints and early drag cars as well as rods.
Junkyard/Four Banger Triva:The rocker cover wing nuts on that Buick motor were standard wingnuts used on Cragar Overhead conversions for A & B Fords.
Splitting the bones forces the axle to twist or break shit. I beam axles twist. Tube axles break shit.
I realise that running an aftermarket tube axle w/split-bones is a no-no due to the torsional stresses, I was wondering how strong these were. 37kid, yes the kingpins are exposed on the spindle side. It actually looks pretty good. After I tripped on it, I had to dig it out of about 6 inches of pine needles just to see what the heck it was.
They are a great wall hanger if nothing else. I bought one at Hershey last year that was on an old rail at one time, had about ten 1 1/4 lightening holes drilled it it and chromed. Sold it on eBay, and I guess that guy sold it because a buddy had the same one at Stafford last Sunday!
Well, what do they say..."split bones on a tube will work till they don't". Budd Davidson is going to try this on his roadster restoration, a V-8 60 tube with split bones.It's on his website-http://www.airbum.com/NeatShtpix/Roadster.html But, remember that the original power behind these axles were 60hp engines, so... Best, Ralph Hey 37...my front end will be done soon, how's by you?
On that site, he says "conventional wisdom today says you arent supposed to use radius rods on a tube axle because the tube wont twist like an I-beam axle will on bumps and something is bound to break. Youre supposed to use four-bars." Is that right??? I plan on adjustable 4-bar, and if this is right, then I need a tube axle for my gasser ('40 Ford)!
For what it's worth, i ran one of them with split bones for over 10 yrs with nary a problem back in the 70's. glad i never heard of the problem till now, but would run one again , as they really look good on fender- less rigs.
If you decide not to use it, put me first on the list. I need one. Have a 33 beam to trade, if you would rather have that.
If your starting a list for potential buyer's on the axle put me down. Also what about the tranny that's on the Buick engine? Is it of the vintage that everyone looks for to use on a TRADITIONAL hot rod? I'm not an expert on these, but it seems I remember there was an early Buick stick tranny that was popular "back in the day" Frank
the mid to late thirtys Buick trans was an early hotrod piece for sure. Straight cut gears but no sync.
For what the info is worth: a friend races a 1936 Buick Indy car in vintage races and hill climbs. Straight 8 Buick into a mid 30's Ford gearbox.
Theres an article in the second Hot Rod book, the 49-59, with a dude who was mutating Buick Trannies back in the late fifties. It's a really cool article. FWIW, the T I'm buying has a tube axle, V8/60 out of a 37 Ford. Jay
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