32 Heavy

How do you tell a 32' heavy axle?

 

Go Here and read. The first picture on the page has 32 and 33-36 axles shown side by side that have been dropped and polished. The top on is 33-36 the lower is the 32 (heavy axle as many call it). Notice the "I" at the area of the spring perch bolts, The "heavy has a much more defined "I" and also the areas on the top and bottom of the "I" is relieve machined as compared to the 33-36 axle does not have the relief maching.

 

There are several variations but these are the two most common ones you’ll find …. They don’t all have the pronounced “ I “

 

What were these axles from? I was told this weekend I might have a 32 Heavy on my 29. Not sure of the history but was an old hot rod back in the day.

 

All 1932 Ford passenger cars and pickup trucks. If a '32 has a different axle, it has been replaced.

 

So a 32 heavy came on all cars? does not sound right to me. So did they heat and drop the 32 heavy axles? Just trying to find out a little more about whats on my car.

 

29sportcoupe...yes, yours is a dropped 32 "heavy" axle. Note the pronounced "I" at the perch pin...

Neal

 

So are all 32 axles called 32 Heavy? For some reason I thought the Heavy was a version of the 32. If they are all like this wouldn't it just be a 32 axle? Whats the heavy mean?

 

As far as I know...all 32's came from the factory with a "heavy" axle...but some say that very late production 32's used the lighter 33-36 style axle. I do know that Ford only offered the 33-36 style axle as a replcement part...so if a 32 had a bent/damaged axle...it would then get a 33-36 style axle. I think that is where the light vs heavy thing came about. Saying 32 Heavy is kind of redundant...but that is what they have become known as...

Neal

 

Thanks Neil, I guess I figured wrong. Would have thought it would be called a 32 axle instead of a 32 heavy if they are all the same. Now I know.

 

Theres lots of debate over the what they came in, i believe all 32s came with that style of axle, some people call em a heavy axle, unless we all were around in 1932 and at the ford plant well never know!

your axle is a "dago" 32 heavy axle, as in ed axle stewart in san deigo droppped it.

i have a couple dago 32 axles and a couple mor-drop 32 heavy axles and a few ive dropped in my own jig.

JEFF

 

pick it up, if you go " shit, that's heavy " then you got one

 

actually they are only 2.5 pounds heavier than a 33-36 axle.

v8-60 17.5 lbs
33-36 20.5 lbs
32 heavy axle 23 lbs

I weight them myself when i did a post on the fordbarn about v8-60 axles

 

quote from the 60's....heavy...man...heavy...

 

Hey Titus...or anyone else that can help...

I have a stupid question...

Maybe then again the stupid question is the one not asked...

The axle in your jig is marked front...

I am assembling my axle / wishbone this weekend. I don't believe there are any markings on my so called '32 heavy axle that clearly mark front or back...

Does it matter which side I put towards the front???

Are these axles [for loss of a better word] unisex where they can be mounted either way and be correct or is there a definite front and back???

 

Titus, that is a nice looking axle you have in the jig, I really like the way the I keeps its shape in the drop.

 

The first thing that I check on an axle is the spring perch hole area. The 32 axle is the only one that the hole area is thinner than the surrounding axle. (recessed) It almost looks like the axle was milled top and bottom for the wish bone to fit. 33 up has a raised boss for the wishbone to slip over. Once you compare the difference from the above pictures you can spot one from 15 feet away.

 

That seems like good info there...
So let's see...of the 3 dropped axles on the left in this pic, the bottom one is a "heavy", the other 2 are not? (I see that they are lined up next to their stock versions)

Just asking because the heavy thing is all new to me...

 

Yes that's correct. Without a later axle to compare it to in a flea market, the perch hole can easily identify the 32 axle. Both of mine came from cars that were not previously altered. A sport coupe and a 2dr sedan.

I don't quite get the fascination with the Deuce axle. Both of my cars have later axles that were dropped back in the day. I could send my 32 axles out to be dropped but then they would be 2011 dropped axles. Not quite the same warm and fuzzy feeling I get when looking at my old dropped axle wondering who dropped them and when they were dropped. I know it was over 50 years ago. I guess I'm just too romantic.

 

yeah its very easy to tell the difference... they are a very good looking axle dropped. heres mine in my 32.

 

My fascination with them comes when they are stock, I think dropping a '32 axle kills the look of it completely. . . but that's just one man's opinion.

 

theres no front of the axle, thats just a paranoid friends writing!

jeff

 

For me when I see a hot rod with a undropped axle even if it sits low overall.
The big void between the axle and the ground looks odd …. like entire car is to high.

But i to like an undropped 32 axle .... for sale at a swap meet

 

Got it! That is the best advise I have heard on spotting 32 axles.

Thanks.

RGG

 

By the asking price!

 

Just came across this on ebay. Not a very good pic, but worth a look see. I don't want it.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1932-1936-F...t=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr

 

33-36 axle

 

Are '32 axles the same in passenger cars and trucks? I just found an I beam with wishbones, but it has old truck wheels and big brakes on it.

I'll go back and take some pics and measurements if there's a chance it's the "heavy" axle. But if the truck axles are different, I'll save the gas.

-Brad

 

Pickup yes - Truck no

 

surely the part number embossed into them identifies the year and model? ie B 3010 = model B axle