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Gasser Axle???

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Txkahuna, May 9, 2013.

  1. Txkahuna
    Joined: Apr 24, 2011
    Posts: 184

    Txkahuna
    Member
    from Texas

    What's a good width for a fat fendered gasser front axle?
    I have a 1956 Chevy 1/2 ton axle I want to use on a 41
    Ford Gasser, the stock Ford axle is 48" king pin to king pin.
    The Chevy is 54" pin to pin should I narrow the Chevy axle?

    How wide is your gasser's front axle???


    KJ
    [email protected]
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2013
  2. seb fontana
    Joined: Sep 1, 2005
    Posts: 8,444

    seb fontana
    Member
    from ct

    Put wheels and tires on the axle ,roll it under the car and see how it looks? You want dual eliptic springs?
     
  3. black 62
    Joined: Jul 12, 2012
    Posts: 1,895

    black 62
    Member
    from arkansas

    good advice---you can cut them ,but it takes a real welder to weld one...
     
  4. carkiller
    Joined: Jun 12, 2002
    Posts: 849

    carkiller
    Member

    My rule of thumb is measure center of headlights and center of thread. Use something brake frendly.
     

  5. Pete Eastwood
    Joined: Jul 27, 2011
    Posts: 1,324

    Pete Eastwood
    Member
    from california

    That '41 Ford came with a perfectly good "gasses axle" Why not use it !
     
  6. Txkahuna
    Joined: Apr 24, 2011
    Posts: 184

    Txkahuna
    Member
    from Texas

    I don't have the 41 axle anymore! I bought the Chevy axle setup with new 3500lb trailer
    springs, Chevy rotors, Speedway caliper mounts and a set of Chevy calipers!

    55-59 Chevy Truck Original Axle Measurements

    54" Kingpin Center to Center
    31-7/8" Spring Pad Center to Center
    4-1/2" Factory Drop
    .866 dia. Kingpin
    2-1/8" or 2-1/2" Kingpin Boss




    37-41 Ford Car Original Axle Measurements

    48-1/2" Kingpin Center to Center (top)
    38-1/2" Spring perch Center to Center
    2-1/4 Spring Perch Boss
    2-1/8" Factory drop
    .8125 Kingpin dia.
     
  7. Pete Eastwood
    Joined: Jul 27, 2011
    Posts: 1,324

    Pete Eastwood
    Member
    from california


    I can give you a long list of good reasons to use the Ford front end parts.
    One of which is, the Ford spindles have a much better king pin inclination that the Chevy's, which leads to fewer problems.
    Just 40 years of experience speaking here.
     
  8. 1971BB427
    Joined: Mar 6, 2010
    Posts: 8,719

    1971BB427
    Member
    from Oregon

    I've used that same '55-'59 Chevy 1/2 ton axle on 5-6 different gassers, and it's an excellent choice. I don't know how it will fit your '41, but a little quick measuring will answer your questions.
    Measure the width of your front fenders outside to outside, and then figure out what tires and wheels you'll run on the front. It really doesn't matter much what the original width was, as you're going higher, and a narrow front axle will look weird once it's up higher.
    You can usually figure about 12" more width to the outside edge of the tires from kingpin centers, (with skinny front tires/wheels) so that will end up around 66" total. I don't have any data on your overall width, so you'll have to add that measurement to see if you're in the ballpark.
     
  9. 33sporttruck
    Joined: Jun 5, 2012
    Posts: 530

    33sporttruck
    Member

  10. Larry T
    Joined: Nov 24, 2004
    Posts: 7,875

    Larry T
    Member

    You might check Mr. Eastwood's credentials before you blow off his suggestions.
     
  11. 1971BB427
    Joined: Mar 6, 2010
    Posts: 8,719

    1971BB427
    Member
    from Oregon

    I've read about Pete, and know who he is. Wasn't blowing off his post, just suggesting the Chevy truck axle works. They've been used for decades in straight axle gassers and Chevy trucks.
    The poster said he doesn't have the original axle, so he needs some advice and help with what he's got. Hope that's OK with you?
     
  12. badshifter
    Joined: Apr 28, 2006
    Posts: 3,535

    badshifter
    Member

    Fuckin A right.
     
  13. Larry T
    Joined: Nov 24, 2004
    Posts: 7,875

    Larry T
    Member

    Sometimes the best advise is to swap what you've got for what you need. But I'm not saying that's the case here. If you consider all the options, you can pick the one that's best for you.

    And as far as being ok with me, I was just making a suggestion like everyone else on the thread.
     
  14. henry's57bbwagon
    Joined: Sep 12, 2008
    Posts: 680

    henry's57bbwagon
    Member

     
  15. Txkahuna
    Joined: Apr 24, 2011
    Posts: 184

    Txkahuna
    Member
    from Texas

    That's close to the one's Speedway sells with their gasser axle
    their's are 2500lb!
     
  16. PandorasBox99
    Joined: Dec 1, 2012
    Posts: 186

    PandorasBox99
    Member

    49-54 chevy truck axles i think is 94.5 back to back I know they are differint from 55 to 58 i used 49 axle under my 54 chevy post car> dont hold me to it but check into. buildit pondit loveit
     
  17. PandorasBox99
    Joined: Dec 1, 2012
    Posts: 186

    PandorasBox99
    Member

  18. 1971BB427
    Joined: Mar 6, 2010
    Posts: 8,719

    1971BB427
    Member
    from Oregon

    Just didn't want you to think I was "blowing off" Pete's suggestion. I respect his vast knowledge, and history, and know he's got a lot more experience than most of us. He really doesn't need anyone to point that out, unless someone's been under a rock most of their life.
     
  19. black 62
    Joined: Jul 12, 2012
    Posts: 1,895

    black 62
    Member
    from arkansas

    that little episode stinks ---don't apologize for own experienced opinion ...
     
  20. Larry T
    Joined: Nov 24, 2004
    Posts: 7,875

    Larry T
    Member

    Believe me, I wasn't jumping on you. I was actually resonding to the original posters post instead of yours. It looks like you've had experience and good results using the same basic setup that the OP is thinking about. I was just suggesting that he consider a suggestion from someone else with experience.

    Some times you can spend a lot of time modifying stuff that worked better before you started. Been there done that. My old Anglia went 120+, straight as a string with the stock front suspension under it.

    As far as living under a rock, I've seen folks building "gassers" who have never heard of Chuck Finders, Don Long, Blair's Speed Shop, etc. and could care less who they are. It doesn't hurt to listen to folks with experience, even if you don't agree with what they have to say.
     
  21. Txkahuna
    Joined: Apr 24, 2011
    Posts: 184

    Txkahuna
    Member
    from Texas

    I guess i'm going to have to mount the springs and center it on the springs to see how
    much I have to chop out of the middle! I would like to keep it 48" to 49" pin to pin! I
    have build a couple of 50's Ford gasser's but never an older Ford! Thanks for the information!! KJ
     
  22. black 62
    Joined: Jul 12, 2012
    Posts: 1,895

    black 62
    Member
    from arkansas

    lots of gassers were built 50 years ago by people who never heard of local california racers and shops---The state of Ohio comes to mind...
     
  23. 1971BB427
    Joined: Mar 6, 2010
    Posts: 8,719

    1971BB427
    Member
    from Oregon

    Built my first gasser in 1967, and 7-8 since then, along with a bunch of other non gasser style cars. Back when it wasn't a fad, and I'm still building them. When people see my Austin they often say, "it's neat that you're building a copy of the old gassers" But I think of it as just building another one again. I've always enjoyed the building part of having a gasser as much as the owning/driving part. Guess that's why I'm deep in the middle of another gasser style car now. ;) They're just my kind of car, whether they're in style or not.
    Nobody will ever know of me. Just a guy who enjoys building cars for himself. :)
     
  24. Txkahuna
    Joined: Apr 24, 2011
    Posts: 184

    Txkahuna
    Member
    from Texas

    Tore down and time to get out the tape measure! KJ


    [​IMG]
     

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