This is largely a problem of terminology...in the olde days, rodders were dropping existing Fords, and advertised drop was the drop over stock. A 2-1/2" dropped deuce axle put your deuce that much lower than stock, and that number was about the limit for standard catalog drops. The very same axle now would be called a 4 or 5" drop, noting the amount of drop over a hypothetical straight piece of pipe connecting the wheels. That kinda makes sense, since current market is to people assembling streetrods from parts they have never seen or driven as a complete car before the modification. So, a streetrodder asking for a 4" drop really wants a 2 1/2...or something like that.
You probably got it there Bruce. This post needs to resurface from time to time. Talking of axles, this is my dropped and filled one. Most likely an Okie Adams. RFemember the brakes Bruce???? Kinda strange huhh, that the axle one of the more beloved parts on a hot rod. Perhaps 'cause it's so important to stance and so easily visible on a fenderless car. Paul.
Hey, I still have the patinad chrome one if you want it...it may be too damn patinad for you though: Dropped early V8, nicely chromed, some idiot heated it at both ends and bent it for Chevy (??!?) spindles, causing great chunks of chrome to die...would need re-bending, preferably cold, and then...oh, the patina.
great info. hope you don't mind, but i added the years to the above picture of axles. i did this to keep on hand as a quick "visual".
If someone needs translation of the Dutch article let me know. The 1933 models that were showed by the Ford dealers were English body type deuces (with suiside doors)
Here's a good pic that I ripped off somewhere and a deuce heavy I did 2 weeks ago, just before it went to its new home. Some people think that the heavy axle has a little drop over the standard 32 to 36 axle. Not true, there shaped different but the stock drop is the same.
Every chart I see is different. Maybe my tape measure is different too cause my 30 Model A front axle is 50-1/2 between kingpins. Or maybe we measure at a different pont....
On the post-32 deuces...the English built ones and ones built elsewhere from British parts were not Model 18's; their model designation had a 4 in it, cannot remember total designation. There were also American Model 18 or B type '32's assembled from stock for several years after '32...the smaller European assembly plants were little more than garages assembling shipped-in kit cars, and of course the market for big import cars shrank with the depression. Different countries got their Fordage from the actual source factories, which were USA, Britain, and Canada. Small neutral European countries often had lots of both North American and British Fords. All the Ford sources produced both LHD and RHD cars for the different local markets, by the way.
Ahh I see it's axle time again Here is some more axle trivia for you hot rodders to chew on. Bought an old California buildt (Redwood City) T Touring this summer. Hopped up in 1953 with the drivetrain off of a 40 60HP Pick Up. The front axle though is a heavy beam. It has a drop I have certanly not seen before. It's quite flat and "thin" on the neck. Not the best pictures fer sure but I guess you get the idea. Anyone knowing what, Where, who this comes from? I'd love to know. Paul
I think some were stretched a bit when they were dropped. Thats when they got a little thin. Some were heated and hammered bakinthe day.
That one has been shaped about like the hammered ones...but perfectly smoothly and uniformly. I don't have any idea of how, but this was done mechanically with maybe soem kinfd of rolling or pressig?? There had to be some kind of gigantic machine replacing the guy with the hammer.
Great thread. Needs to come back. It helped me. Thanks especially Dave and Bruce for the "Instant ID" of a 32 Heavy.
Great thread, but I'm blind. Can I get an ID for these? Rear is 42-48? Hydraulic breaks and Shock mounts with panhard mount. Front is 37? 2' perch bosses with wide fives
Can someone help me identify this axle? I have measured and remeasured again, but this axle is not matching the specs that have been listed. All of the measurements start at the outside diameter of the other hole (perch or kingpin). It is also stamped with EE-1. Here are the pictures - 1. From other outside kingpin diameter to kingpin hole 2. From other outside perch diameter to perch hole 3. Perch thickness 4. Overall Axle Thanks. RGG
Like a AA? I thought they were the same, just a heavier spring? I have one I personally cut out of a AA, I'll measure it.
To All, I think now that this is an AA axle as the kingpin holes are larger than for an A. Thanks to everyone for their input! RGG
Hey guys this thread was about as close as I could find to info needed on my question. Here goes! I have a 47 ford with a 4" dropped axle, flatty t5 to an open drive banjo truck rear. I'm thinking of putting this drivetrain on a 32 chassis with a model a coupe body. Obviously splitting the wishbones, but would the widths be too far off????
Is that anything like my big black binder of doom? Which is where this is going after I print it out. Good info Bruce, thanks for posting it.
The kingpin centerline to centerline measurement on my original 1940 Ford axle is 48 1/2 in. when measured on the top of the axle removed from the car. I measured it several times to be sure. Perch centerline distance is 38 1/2 in.
Your numbers (and my 30 axle) agree with those here http://droppedaxles.com/FORD_AXLES.html Your 40 and my 30 disagree with those in post #1 -- I wonder where Bruce (and the others that are similar) got their numbers --- and why they don't agree.
Fenders: I don't know, perhaps they made a "typo" or are talking about wheel mounting surface distance. In any case, 58 1/2 is obviously incorrect when you actually get out a tape measure and measure out 58 1/2 in. under a 1940 Ford car. Not even close. I too checked that site. http://droppedaxles.com/FORD_AXLES.html
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