Technical Dropped Axle

I want to put a dropped axle in my full fendered 29 pickup. It presently has what I think is a 37 axle, it is undropped and my 16 inch 40 ford tires and wheels rub my fenders when turning. My 29 full fendered roadster has a dropped axle and sits quite low yet never has any tire rub problems. can the axle drop guys duplicate what I have in my roadster width wise, or should I just try to order a new one that is close to what is in my roadster? If I decide to go with one of the axle drop guys, who do you guys recommend.? Also is it economical? or should I just buy one out of a catalog? Thanks guys Rich

 

post some pics of PU and roadster

 

You should be able to get about whatever you want when it comes to drop and kingpin to kingpin width depending on what axle you start with. I highly recommend Nostalgia Sid's www.droppedaxles.com, but he is also a good friend and I could be biased...

 

Most dropped axles get narrower after the drop.New made can be had in several widths.If you buy new make sure its forged.

 

This chart from Sids shows the different measurements on the A through 48 Ford axles.
https://www.droppedaxles.com/ford-dropped-axles-0
A tape measure and a bit of eyeballing should confirm what axle you have under it now.
I'd compare king pin center to king pin center between the two rigs you have sitting there while I had the tape out.

Somewhere on another thread, two or three there has been discussion on which width of dripped axle works best for Full Fendered Model A's to get the tire centered right so it doesn't hit.

 

Can’t help with the axle situation. But I want you to know your Roadster is in my Garage safe & sound. Let the fun continue. Later Lou


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How about a picture of your Model A. Hard to imagine a tire hitting a fender on a Model A with 16" wheels and tires and a non dropped axle. The fender should be setting about 4" above the tire.
Stock Model A axle has 1" factory drop and a 1937 has a 2 1/8" factory drop.
Here's a picture of a stock Model a with 16" wheels and tires, notice the height above the tire. A 37 axle would only reduce that height by 1 1/8" inch and still should be well above the tire. A stock 37 axle is 2" narrower than a Stock Model a axle and would reduce the chance of hitting the fender.

 

Hey lou, that was quick! Hope you enjoy the 32. This might sound like a dumb question, but where do you measure the kingpin and spring perch centers on a ford beam axle? I get almost a half inch difference between the top of the holes and the bottom.

 

https://droppedaxles.com/ford-dropped-axles-0

 

Most measure at the top center of the holes.

 

Haha...I clicked on your link to find the banner pic with my old 52 Chevy next to Sid’s 56 F100 and another buddies chopped 53 Chevy. Sorry for the derail...back to the regularly scheduled program.

 

I use a 47 inch So-Cal forged axle on my full fendered Model A customer chassis. I just checked the kingpin width on a dropped 33-36 axle and it's 48 inches. I've never had an A axle dropped.

 

46 caddy, remember there is quite a bit of difference between a 28-29 front fender and a 30-31. I will have to get someone to download a couple of pictures tomorrow. Rich

 

Your roadster sits nice and your truck sits like a truck. Copy the roadster specs into the truck.

 

I agree with alchemy. What are you running for front brakes, some of the disc brakes kits push the wheels out further.


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To me it looks like you’re front axle is pretty far forward in the truck.
Are you running the spring in front style suspension that goes with the 37 axle?
A few pics would end the guessing games here

 

The front tire on the coupe appears to be larger than the roadster's.
Did you ever measure your axle to make sure it is a 37? You need a special spring that is longer to mount a spring on top of a 37 axle.
This is a picture of my dropped and stretched to 48 1/2", 1937 axle with a Posie spring to mount over the axle. Model A axle's are 50 1/2" and when dropped, are 48 1/2". You can get after market axles that are narrower.

 

I swear, sometimes the HAMB is reading my mind: I'll be tackling the same thing here shortly.

 

Been away for a couple weeks walleye fishing. Back to my truck. Axle is in the correct position as the frame is basically a stock model A. Brakes are 40 ford hydraulics. I agree with Alchemy on duplicating the geometry of my roadster axle, where you measure is important and I think I got it now Thanks guys Rich

 

I have a '36 axle in my '28, it was lowered but not stretched. it will be full fendered.

 

Can you tell me what your hub to hub dimension is with that axle and wheel offset? I am looking at aftermarket dropped axles and trying to figure out what width I need, I am planning to go with aftermarket disc brakes on the front just due to parts availability so I know that will likely play into it as well. Here's a picture of the car mocked up just to figure how much I need to lower.

 

Bob, since you already have the wheels/tires, you should probably work backwards. Next buy the brake kit and spindles, and assemble them to the wheels. Then measure in between to find the axle width that will work. It will probably be a 46" axle. I think SoCal or Roadster Supply Company are the only vendors with a forged new 46" axle right now.

If you want an old axle dropped, I bet some of the guys (Andy Kohler) could narrow up a Ford as they do the drop. Might not be all the way to 46" but could get close. Call Andy.

 

Thanks for the input. just trying to cheat a bit.

 

I bought a dropped axel with 46" kingpin centers. Most are 48".
the 46" moves wheels 1" in on each side, This puts your wheels in the center of fender crown.

 

This is an old (1950?) dropped and stretched axle. They used to refer to this style as "taffy dropped".