What do you do if a buddy barters you a fairly rotten cut down Ford '26t touring, a late '20s Chevy frame, 31 Ford front and rear, and a late '30s Mopar flattie and gearbox? Why, you slap together a modified! Here's what I got so far: More to come...
That's close to the recipe I used on my current project. A crusty '26 touring front half, late 20's Chevy frame, and early Ford running gear. Looking forward to watching your build.
So far, I'm mocking everything up to get the stance just right. I've flipped the perches and de-arched the front spring, split the bones and started de-arching the rear spring Here's a rear view, prior to splitting the bones and working the springs: Flipped front perches and de-arched: Starting on the rear spring:
alchemy, yours looks a hell of a lot better than mine ever will: But that's alright. I'm a run-what-you-brung kinda guy.
YES! I actually saw the old Chevy frames and modeled my frame after it for my modified! Looking forward to this!
I used new metal. It's what I could do with the tools and knowledge I had at the time. The sad part is that the corners don't have a matching radius. They are squared off. I couldn't find any clean frames. I would have loved to do a 3-springer. Maybe next time.
Mine's gonna be a 3-springer too. I'm moving the front springs to the outside of the frame to lower it more. Using a Mopar double-dip tube axle. A real mis-match of parts.
I'm not sure how I'll handle the front stance yet. I might go ahead and drop the axle myself. Seems a lot of work, but I have all the gear to do it. Be easier to lift the front cross member. I do like the gentle sweep of a stock axle, but I don't like how that obscures the grill. Decisions, decisions...
Ya gotta finish that baby up for the "Race of Gentlemen" 2014- Looks like a WINNER. Nice job. Mike from Mass.
Man, I'd lift that front crossmember and notch, or use a perch like a T Bucket to get lower than that would allow. That will damn-sure get you on the road quicker, cheaper, and with less frustration. Could you move the grill up in front of a perch and not look wonky? I wouldn't try to drop the axle unless you've got a spare on hand if it doesn't work out. And have you considered quarter elliptic springs? Seems like those could give you the look.
All ideas I've considered. Especially quarter elliptic. I don't mind trying my own drop, though. There's a few A axles around town I can use for backup. I have a decent shop here at the house. But, more importantly, I'm good friends with the local propeller shop - you know, your friendly folks who straighten, rebuild and manufacture tugboat-and ship-sized propellers and shafts? They have lots of very cool, big-ass toys they let me use! The alignment table and press they use for straightening large (up to12") diameter stainless prop shafts will make quick work of an axle drop. And since the HAMB is such an awesome resource, I've already got some great ideas for fabricating a sturdy jig.
Well if you've got access to gear like that, it's a different story for sure! There's at least one good thread on here somewhere on dropping axles yourself. Go for it!
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