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Technical 35 - 40 Ford X Member in 1932 Rails

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by The37Kid, Jun 25, 2020.

  1. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 30,627

    The37Kid
    Member

    Looking for Tips and Opinions on installing a 35-40 Ford X member in 1932 Ford rails. Photos would be great. My plan is to use JW Rod Shop rails with the stock X member. Guess there is a lot of room for optional locations. I'll have split bones in the front so that ball socket location doesn't matter, stock '40 pedals and master cylinder location do come into the mix. Thanks. Bob
     
  2. I could be totally off on this, but I think the '35 x-member has a taller profile than '32 rails.
     
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  3. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 30,627

    The37Kid
    Member

    I have the X but no rails yet, think it will fit fine. If not Mr. Sawzall can fix it. Bob DSCF9065.JPG DSCF9066.JPG
     
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  4. Budget36
    Joined: Nov 29, 2014
    Posts: 13,173

    Budget36
    Member

    I do lead a sheltered life, but never heard of this.

    Does JR Rod shop say it's a go?
     

  5. ENUF 41
    Joined: Dec 24, 2016
    Posts: 205

    ENUF 41
    Member

    37, a good friend of mind did many of these x members in 32 rails, in fact His roadster sits in the Henry Ford museum
     
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  6. el Scotto
    Joined: Mar 3, 2004
    Posts: 4,698

    el Scotto
    Member
    from Tracy, CA

    I did one in my '32 rails. Fits good once trimmed. I'm even using the '40 Ford pedals and rear cross member. Body is a '29 roadster.

    Old pictures...

    IMG_3388.JPG

    IMG_3548.JPG

    IMG_3386.JPG aprilupdate_001.JPG
     
  7. el Scotto
    Joined: Mar 3, 2004
    Posts: 4,698

    el Scotto
    Member
    from Tracy, CA

  8. Dago 88
    Joined: Mar 4, 2006
    Posts: 2,310

    Dago 88
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I put a '36 X member in my deuce rails, not hard to do. I had the tie bars in place & simply sat the X member on top & trimmed it to size. They fitted perfectly in the rails. :) more 001.jpg more 003.jpg
     
  9. Dago 88
    Joined: Mar 4, 2006
    Posts: 2,310

    Dago 88
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I have also used a '48 X member in '34 rails. 10891748_10203844472406170_7024343154657516002_n.jpg 1898134_10203852872216160_5168303309293714088_n.jpg 1898134_10203852872216160_5168303309293714088_n.jpg
     
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  10. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 30,627

    The37Kid
    Member

    el Scotto, Thank you, that link has the stuff I'm looking for. Bob
     
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  11. rusty valley
    Joined: Oct 25, 2014
    Posts: 3,883

    rusty valley
    Member

    in the old floyd clymer v8 book from the 50's he said to use a 34 frame x member to get rid of the k member so the tranny is not trapped in there. i always like the ideal myself
     
  12. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 30,627

    The37Kid
    Member

    My X member came out of a 1937 Ford and doesn't have as many lightening holes, are the multi hole ones earlier or later? Bob
     
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  13. If I can put one in a Model A set of rails doing a pair of 32's should be a little easier. Just a little wedge cut to get the tails inside the A rails. I used the stock 39 pedals and a 40 steering box with cross steer. I got the idea from remembering what a friend of my Dad's did in about 1955. I don't think he was the first one to do this.
    Test fit #1 004.jpg 02-15-12 003.jpg
     
  14. sloppy jalopies
    Joined: Jun 29, 2015
    Posts: 5,256

    sloppy jalopies
    Member

    If you are going to use a '35 to '40 x member and haven't got it yet, get a '39 or '40 they have the bolt in juice brake pedal mounts... '35 to '38 had mechanical or cable brakes...
     
  15. DrJekyllMrHyde
    Joined: Dec 23, 2016
    Posts: 55

    DrJekyllMrHyde
    Member

    Do you still have the ‘40 rails? :)


    Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
     
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  16. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,405

    alchemy
    Member

    If a guy was precise he could position them front-to-back so that the stock transmission mount would put the engine in the right spacing. Do some careful mocking up of the rails to the body, with the engine/trans on some wood blocks to find a sweet spot.
     
  17. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 30,627

    The37Kid
    Member

    What body is going on this chassis? The V8 axle is ahead of the crossmember and the wheel well won't match the wheel. Nice work. Bob [​IMG]
     
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  18. When I did my chassis pictured above I vice clamped the X member flanges to the rails and installed my floor and toe boards. Then when I liked how the Clutch and Brake pedals matched up to the Toe Board that was the Sweet Spot for me. I didn't care where the Motor was located being I could still move mounts around if needed. As it worked out the stock location for the Trans did not need to be moved and was able to use the 39 Clutch rod in stock form. As luck would have it the Motor to Firewall was better than I could have asked. With a Ford manual fan it has 1" space to the back side of Rad. That's a 1' piece of hard board between them.
    Some times the Stars just fall into alignment for ya.
    P1010249.JPG
     
  19. Well, your Right and Wrong. Ya just gotta know how to do what ya want done to make things work out. When done this will be full fendered with stock location of fenders and Stock Model A wheelbase.
     

    Attached Files:

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  20. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 30,627

    The37Kid
    Member

    This is the overall problem, getting everything to line up, and I don't have all the pieces yet. Figure on setting the rear axle in the center of the '32 rails kickup, rear crossmember is then placed were the 35-36 bones line it up. '30 Roadster body is set on the frame and V8 X member it fitted were the '40 pedals wind up feeling conformable. I'll deal with engine & transmission location later. Bob
     
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  21. It also has a spring in front of front Axle. Just gotta be able to read a tape measure while doing your fab work. And then what to do to get what ya want.
    Test fit #1 001.jpg
    P.S. This chassis has been covered countless time since I started it and and I've already been told it can't be. Let's just not go there again okay.
     
  22. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    My friend Ramsay's Dad did this in '52, '30 Model A rails. '38 'X' member with 21 stud engine, '38 pedals. Ramsay traded his Dad a stock 'A' running chassis so Dad could restore, and Ramsay got the hot rod chassis. I had to fabricate brackets for a master cylinder, but rest was duck soup.
     
  23. 37 kid; my advice is if you don't have all the chassis parts don't start anything till you do. So you know, my rails are longer end to end to take in the extra length to locate the crossmembers new location and keep the wheel base Stock. I spliced rails from 2 different frames so I had stock front frame horns and used an AA front crossmember so I could use the stock 39 front spring. The A rear crossmember is mounted on the end of second rails to push it back needed length. This photo might help a little. By the way this project is built totally out of Customers cast off parts from many years of doing this for a full time job. It's really simple but easy to get into trouble if not well thought through.
    Nov 2011 x 3 002.jpg
     
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  24. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 30,627

    The37Kid
    Member

    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Great photo, the old stretched chassis trick, I forgot about that option. :rolleyes: Bob
     
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  25. 42merc
    Joined: Dec 19, 2010
    Posts: 894

    42merc
    Member

    Do some Google history on the Doane Spencer '32.
    Lots of photos of a V8 X member in his '32 way back when.
     
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  26. kidcampbell71 likes this.
  27. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 30,627

    The37Kid
    Member

    ^^^^^^^^^^^^ Looks fine to me. '31 or '32 Vicky? My Roadster is a 1962 build, will have a 9 inch Ford rear & 354 HEMI.

    Bob
     
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