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Technical Front axle wider than 48”

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by JT1930, Nov 13, 2018.

  1. JT1930
    Joined: Jul 1, 2018
    Posts: 207

    JT1930
    Member

    35A8805E-3C0C-4853-A1B3-E82935E8A7F6.jpeg View attachment 4094732 Don’t know if anybody makes them but I’ve got a 4” dropped Superbell 48” axle on the car currently. Looking at the front of the car it just looks so narrow now verses the stock model a axle. Does anyone make a dropped axle wider than the 48” ones ? Model a is 50” king to king I believe.
     
    catdad49 and thirtytwo like this.
  2. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    Hereabouts, (Atwater & Merced) some of the older guys built hot rods, in the '53-'58 era. One guy had a channeled '32 roadster, another a channeled Model A coupe. They both used '39 Lincoln front axles, which were 54"? (king pin to king pin thereabouts, at least)
    They looked hideous. My concern was the width was such that the front wheel was 'in harm's way', I drove the coupe once...Laughable, if it wasn't so dangerous...
    The 'call' for special width axles that was heard by the manufacturers was for a narrow dropped axle...that one was (is) 46". Be glad for what you have:
    Your coupe has a nice, gathered look about it: the word is 'sanitary', or 'San-eye'. Leave it.
     
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  3. blue 49
    Joined: Dec 24, 2006
    Posts: 1,820

    blue 49
    Member
    from Iowa

    I just bought a Super Bell from Speedway and I think I had to choose between a 48" or 50". I had to measure the one I was replacing (due to collision damage) and it was 50".

    Gary
     
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  4. Looks tucked in and racy to me.
     

  5. JT1930
    Joined: Jul 1, 2018
    Posts: 207

    JT1930
    Member

    Thank you mike. Maybe I am just not used to it.

    Gary a 50” would be ideal in my opinion if it can still have the 36.5” perch center to use stock wishbone. The rear width is 63.5” front is 53.5”. A 10” difference from front to back. I’d like that extra 2 inches. (Sounds bad but keep the minds out the gutter).
     
    Last edited: Nov 13, 2018
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  6. 41rodderz
    Joined: Sep 27, 2010
    Posts: 6,540

    41rodderz
    Member
    from Oregon

    57 posts and you caught on quick the way questions can and will be interpreted here.:D
     
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  7. 41rodderz
    Joined: Sep 27, 2010
    Posts: 6,540

    41rodderz
    Member
    from Oregon

    Someone is going to bust your nuts over that one anyway .:)
     
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  8. 6sally6
    Joined: Feb 16, 2014
    Posts: 2,459

    6sally6
    Member

    I think it looks purty sweeeeet, myself(but what eye-no!)
    No kidd'in .......Maybe the big headlights give the impression of axle being too short?!!?
    6sally6
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2018
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  9. Manager
    Joined: Mar 22, 2014
    Posts: 239

    Manager
    Member

    Have someone strech drop a model A axle for you. It looks like you are running mechanical brakes. Be aware i f you intend going to hydraulics it will move your wheels out about an inch each side.It looks good as is to me but if you intend putting fenders back on it will be too narrow.
     
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  10. JT1930
    Joined: Jul 1, 2018
    Posts: 207

    JT1930
    Member

    I am running mech brakes at the moment. But will be going to juice when the flatty goes in.

    So the juice backing plates/assembly will move the wheel outward a little more ?
     
  11. dan c
    Joined: Jan 30, 2012
    Posts: 2,520

    dan c
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    isn't a narrow front axle a bonneville deal?
     
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  12. Russco
    Joined: Nov 27, 2005
    Posts: 4,327

    Russco
    Member
    from Central IL

    I may be wrong but I think many of the dropped axles are narrowed a bit to help wheel to fender lip clearance while the wheels are turned.
     
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  13. JT1930
    Joined: Jul 1, 2018
    Posts: 207

    JT1930
    Member

    507487DC-A01E-45E0-920C-3B0683BF20DB.jpeg If keeping fenders you’d use a 46” axle. A 48” axle will not work on a fendered car. From what I’ve read. Fenders are never going back on the car but that’s why I went with the 48 to get as close to stock width. Little bit of a better picture
     
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  14. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 23,263

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Chop the roof 5-6" and it will look way wider.
     
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  15. 19Fordy
    Joined: May 17, 2003
    Posts: 8,025

    19Fordy
    Member

    Gee, I think it looks fine and dandy.
     
  16. Dirty Dug
    Joined: Jan 11, 2003
    Posts: 3,712

    Dirty Dug
    Member

    It sure looks right just the way it is. Go take a drive and quit looking at it.
     
  17. [QUOTE If keeping fenders you’d use a 46” axle. A 48” axle will not work on a fendered car. [/QUOTE]

    '29 Tudor running a dropped A axle, 49-1/2" kingpin centers, F-1 juice brakes, and 5-1/2"x 15" Ford truck wheels and everything fits under the fenders.
    grille.png
     
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  18. JT1930
    Joined: Jul 1, 2018
    Posts: 207

    JT1930
    Member

  19. LM14
    Joined: Dec 18, 2009
    Posts: 1,936

    LM14
    Member Emeritus
    from Iowa

    Superbells come in 46 or 47-3/4. 4 and 5" drops. Only one wider is the new "32 Heavy" but it's not dropped.

    SPark
     
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  20. thirtytwo
    Joined: Dec 19, 2003
    Posts: 2,639

    thirtytwo
    Member

    Your going to need to look for a dropped original axle they will be close to the dimensions you are looking for
     
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  21. blue 49
    Joined: Dec 24, 2006
    Posts: 1,820

    blue 49
    Member
    from Iowa

    I was thinking the choices were 48 and 50 but I just looked again and it looks like they have 46 and 48. I must have the 48 too.

    Gary
     
  22. Manager
    Joined: Mar 22, 2014
    Posts: 239

    Manager
    Member

    Yes they do. Just checked where I worked it out back when I did mine,1 1/8" each side .Have a look at he mechanical backing plates and you will see they wrap around the stub where they bolt on.
     
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  23. JT1930
    Joined: Jul 1, 2018
    Posts: 207

    JT1930
    Member

    Good to know ! Thanks
     
  24. sloppy jalopies
    Joined: Jun 29, 2015
    Posts: 5,256

    sloppy jalopies
    Member

    failing memory says the aftermarket dropped axles became narrower after THOM TAYLER started drawing the early fords where the front wheels fit way up into the fenders...
    looked cool but not going to happen in rear life without a skinny axle....
    … in the real old days when the stock axles were being stretched they became slightly narrower in the prosses ...
     
  25. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,132

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    Smaller headlights?
     
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  26. JT1930
    Joined: Jul 1, 2018
    Posts: 207

    JT1930
    Member

    I was thinking that but I think I’m going to try and move the headlights in further.
     
  27. Looks right to me,
    The scrub looks spot on too.
    You could use some bullshit parts that jack the scrub radius way out and it will look wider just like the many out there.

    What's the track width (center to center on the tire)
     
  28. JT1930
    Joined: Jul 1, 2018
    Posts: 207

    JT1930
    Member

    Front is 53.25” rear is 56.5”
     

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