Which front axles (factory) are most desireable for a street rod? What widths?

My '27 Essex front axle is ok, but I want to know if there are any factory front axles that might have more drop than others. Something that might be "fairly" easy to find. Also, what widths are the norm for most street rods/pickups. I've heard that Maverick rears are narrower than a 9" Ford but is there one better? I plan on running a RnP steering.

 

Early Ford axles aren't 'dropped', that's why we have them dropped. They are typically 48" from king pin to king pin, so 53"-54" with non-reversed wheels. (center of tread)
If you are dead-set on a 'stock' axle with some drop, you may have to settle for a Ford or Chevy pickup axle, but their spring configuration will be like your Essex, or like those on trucks: semi elliptic. (spring pads forged onto the axle for parallel springs) Truck axles are wider, usually by 4" +/-.
Fords can safely be narrowed and welded, provided it is done correctly: they are forged from Vanadium steel. GMs are also forged, but the material is softer. (to bend a Ford takes 6 tons at 24", a Chev takes 1.7 tons at 24")

There's a list of Ford rear axle widths and info. Google 'rear end widths'. Go down to the 4th entry, and it will tell you more than you want to know.

 

I would ask streetrod questions on a streetrod web site.
Like here: http://forums.streetrodderweb.com/index.html

 

http://quickperformance.com/Technical Info/sus_measure.htm

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=157008

 

Mustang II.....Duh!

 

Well I meant traditional. Haven't learned the jargon yet. At least I didn't say R-t Rod!

 

Yeah, thse guys will tar & feather you if you don't meet their standards!
Oh well, I still get a lot of info and inspiration from reading this site, in spite of some of those perfect posters.

 

I knew a teacher who never let me get away with giving less than my best and always corrected me when I said/did something wrong.

He was the best teacher I ever had- don't knock the guys that are trying to keep the terminology correct.

 

You will get a lot of varying opinions on this, but IMO rack and pinion steering doesn't work out well with a straight axle. If you mount it to the frame you can incur bump steer and if you mount it to the axle you get a lot of unsprung weight and need a slip joint on the input shaft to compensate for up and down movement as the car goes down the road. (and they look bad too, IMO)

One of the scariest cars I ever drove was a T bucket with r and p steering, it was all over the road, and I couldn't give it back to the owner fast enough.

But you will probably hear from some who love em.

Don

 

I thought essex were parallel front springs. If so, send it to OkieJoe (Joe's Speed Shop) and he can probably fix you up. No rack and pinion, get a steering box from a F100 ford pickup - 56ish.

 

for my money I would run a 33-36 ford front axle.

 

In a nice way?