Drop spindles for early Fords.

[BigChief]

I'm looking to drop the front of my '48 fatty and right now it looks like I may not need to split the wishbone. I plan on using a SuperSlide front spring w/reverse eyes that'll get me about 3 inches of drop. I'd like a couple more inches....and since the rest of the steering is basically stock I'm looking to playing with the spindles. Anybody ever do the AMC Pacer bolt-on spindle trick and drop the early Ford spindles that way ala Tex Smith's Fat Fender book? Anybody got a line on dropped early spindles that are manufactured that way without modifications (forged one piece units)? I've heard they're out there but havn't been able to scare up any information.

Thanks in advance!!!

Bigchief

[Unkl Ian]

I've never seen any available commercially.This guy made his own: Dropped spindles (http://www.spots.ab.ca/~blanchas/54pontiac/machine.html)

[40Tudor]

There's a guy here in MN with a '41 Ford coupe that used the AMC spindle trick. Seemed pretty simple and didn't mess up anything else under the car (steering arms, etc...) It looked a little lightweight to me, though. I think he used 3/8" plate between the spindles and had a 3 or 4" drop.

[lakes modified]

been there and done that. have been running amc drum brakes on the front of my 48 merc. coupe for over 20 yrs.i had a round adapter plate made to fit the merc. spindle { you cut the merc.wheel bearing area off} and the amc spindle and dropped mine another 1 1/2" .i'm now looking to see if i can get amc disk brakes to bolt up to what i have without pushing the wheel out to far.
the drum brakes work ok , but i have over heated them a few times, due to not being big enough, that's why i'm looking at disk's now.more motor equals more brakes.if i can be of any help, let me know.

[enjenjo]

The AMC discs bolt on to the same spindle, and move the wheels out about 1/2" on each side. the only tough part is the brake line, it comes out right into the spindle. I used GM brake lines with a banjo fitting on the end, and made special bolts to hold them to the AMC caliper fitting. If you get the right bracket, you can use Ford calipers on the AMC bracket.

[Darwin]

Sounds like potential for a product here that would satisfy folks who would like to get an early car low without replacing the gennie axle or splitting the bones. Make it beefy enough and safety shouldn't be an issue. Are you listening Bob Wilson? Yeah like you don't have enough on your plate already.

[sawzall]

i've never heard of this trick! someone enlighten me. what parts do you need? chief

could you use a dropped axle instead? are you runnin the flatty? if not you could get a dropped crossmember from speedway. or modify your own.. also remember that you can do alot by changin the tire selection.

good luck
sawzall

[BigChief]

[ QUOTE ]
i've never heard of this trick! someone enlighten me. what parts do you need? chief

could you use a dropped axle instead? are you runnin the flatty? if not you could get a dropped crossmember from speedway. or modify your own.. also remember that you can do alot by changin the tire selection.

good luck
sawzall

[/ QUOTE ]

Take two AMC Pacer spindles, two early Ford spindles, place in pan, shake well. WhaM! Instant dropped spindles. Basically you weld material to the stock Ford spindle above the existing spindle post. You then lop off the Ford spindle post and have it and the new material milled/fly cut flat. You use the top two existing holes in the original spindle and two new holes you pop in the added material (transfered from the AMC spindle) and bolt (four bolts) the AMC spindle post to the Ford spindle. You get an easy 2+ inches of drop. Its not THE answer, but its another way to drop the car into the weeds.

Drop axle? Sure I could. Machine work is free or nearly free for me. The cost of the AMC spindles (or equivalent) is about what I'd have in them. .....then you gotta make caliper brackets or find AMC disks, etc, etc.....

The dropped crossmember won't work either. The truck Y-block I'm using sits 3/4 if an inch above the front cross-member.....otherwise, I'd just do that.

-Mike.