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Technical Magnum axles

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by RODIST, Dec 29, 2016.

  1. falcongeorge
    Joined: Aug 26, 2010
    Posts: 18,341

    falcongeorge
    Member
    from BC

    thanks Moriarty. So the Magnum gives you 1" more drop than you can practically get out of a '37/'41 Ford axle.
     
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  2. 97
    Joined: May 18, 2005
    Posts: 1,982

    97
    Member

    Maybe more drop but you get no more effective lowering, if you are using the stock intact wisbone than is attainable with a dropped Ford axle and spring work. The total lowering is limited by the wishbone hitting the chassis. I guess it doesn't matter if the car is never driven further than in and out of a trailer/show venue, but for a real driven car ........ Also from Chassis Engineering's website they do forged axles with both widths between perch bolts, whether they still make them or buy them in now isn't stated.
     
  3. thunderbirdesq
    Joined: Feb 15, 2006
    Posts: 7,092

    thunderbirdesq
    Member

    What year stock axle? Magnum makes a 5" axle too.
     
  4. thunderbirdesq
    Joined: Feb 15, 2006
    Posts: 7,092

    thunderbirdesq
    Member

    The wishbone doesn't get closer to the frame with a dropped axle, only with spring mods and longer shackles, so that is one benefit to a deeper dropped axle. I like a slighter drop on an original axle and a few suspension tweaks but that's just me.

    I've got nothing against magnum or any other manufacturers, having options is a good thing. I just opt for ford.
     
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  5. Torana68
    Joined: Jan 28, 2008
    Posts: 1,415

    Torana68
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Australia

    yep but then you didn't have one from the bad batch as posted, if you have one of those or you dont know when it was made you should be nervous and have it checked :)
     
  6. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 30,778

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member


    my avatar, 1940 ford. My Magnum axle is a 4"[​IMG]
     
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  7. 97
    Joined: May 18, 2005
    Posts: 1,982

    97
    Member

    OK ya forced me to look at their website.
    They have no 4" 28-36 axles (sold out) the 5" axle is butt ugly , it has an extra boss cast into the dropped area, it only fits Model A to 34 and even then it does not fit directly , you have to buy a narrow spring, and no doubt a bunch of other new stuff . The narrow spring will stiffen up your suspension, change the roll center and spring rate, and force you to use split bones or hairpins, which will be too close to the chassis at the front ( probably leaving no room for lever shocks) and IMHO look horrible. Might be alright on a fendered car , but they are vintage cars , not HOT rods aren't they?:D
    The only 37-41 I beam axle they list has a 4" drop, so that is only 2" (or less) more drop than stock .
     
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  8. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 30,778

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    Ok, I guess nobody believes me when I said I measured 3" difference so here are pics. Please excuse the dirt and grease as my car is driven and not trailered. I laid a strait edge across the top of the perch boss and measured to the top of the king pin boss. I started at 1" on the tape. The stock axle measured at 3 inches less than the Magnum axle.[​IMG][​IMG]


    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
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  9. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    I did some work on a guy's '40, he had a "dropped '32 Heavy" axle to trade me for fixing his brake and steering problems.
    When he dropped back by to 'pay' me, the '32 Heavy turned out to be a "four inch Magnum"... I said, "That's no '32 Ford 'heavy'..." so he says, "Hey, it's BETTER, it's new! You're money ahead..."
    I let him know if he took me to the ATM and paid me CASH, he'd be teeth ahead. I got money, and HE got to keep the NEW MAGNUM!
    Think he was the 'last customer' I wanted.

    A note here: My bud that owns Early Auto Restoration in Santa Clara went to a Mopar specialist shop with a customer for some Dodge stuff...when they got the Mopar parts, my bud sees an axle standing behind the front door. "This axle for sale?"
    The Mopar proprietor said, "Yeah...Give me $20?"
    Larry gave him a #20 bill. It was a '32 heavy, with a FoMoCo tag wired thru a pin boss. N.O.S.!!!
     
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  10. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 23,264

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I do not think that I could have kept a straight face.
     
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  11. thunderbirdesq
    Joined: Feb 15, 2006
    Posts: 7,092

    thunderbirdesq
    Member

    I wasn't asking because I didn't believe you, I just didn't catch what stock axle you were talking about. Your car sits great, btw!
     
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  12. falcongeorge
    Joined: Aug 26, 2010
    Posts: 18,341

    falcongeorge
    Member
    from BC

    IIRC, when we were talking off-forum about a year ago, you mentioned that you haven't reversed the front spring eyes, right? So if I drop my '39 axle 2", and reverse the front spring eyes, I should be about an 1" higher than this, right? Everything on my car is circa 1957-62, so I really want to avoid using a modern aftermarket axle if I can.
     
  13. Yes I am sure - the early twin I-Beams, from 65 to 79 were Forged and then Ford switched to Cast in 1980 on the F-Series (I'm not positive on the year the Ranger's switched, I think it was '89) In fact if you look at a later model set they have Do Not Heat, Bend or Weld cast right into them!
     
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  14. third_edition
    Joined: Jun 24, 2016
    Posts: 65

    third_edition
    Member

    I know that this thread died back in January, but I was reading it in the archives and I need to make a decision on a dropped axle for my 39 P/U. If I were to drop the stock axle 2", which would be about where I would like it, the wishbones become a lot closer to the Kingpins and I assume the steering lock to lock would be reduced by interference with the wishbones (I need to split them for my trans but only by about 4"-5"). Anyone using a dropped stock '39 axle have steering issues like this?

    George
     
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  15. third_edition
    Joined: Jun 24, 2016
    Posts: 65

    third_edition
    Member

    It may even be more of a problem with the Spring Shackle as you can see in this picture...

    DSCN0189.JPG
     
  16. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 23,264

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Courtesy of Nostalgia Sid:
    [​IMG]
    Stock in the middle.
    Dropped on the top.
    Stretch-drop on the bottom.
    http://www.droppedaxles.com/FORD_AXLES.html

    Sid can get you set up right.
     
  17. The king pin location can be adjusted on a properly dropped axle. Contact someone like Sid who actually does it and does it well.
     
  18. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 23,264

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Yup.

    When Marty from Mor-Drop passed, I started using Sid/Okie Joe for my axles. That should tell you something.
     
  19. third_edition
    Joined: Jun 24, 2016
    Posts: 65

    third_edition
    Member

    I will send Sid an email with my question, but I can't see how this can work with the spring shackle attached to the end of the wishbone like it is in the picture. I have checked some of the aftermarket axles for a '39 and most of them move the wishbone attaching points inwards by a few inches... ie. the C.E. axle has KP centre to centre of 47" with the perches moved in to 34" centre to centre. With the stock axle dropped, the perches will still be at 38-1/2" centre to centre.
     
  20. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 23,264

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    If you spit the wishbones, it will indeed move the spring perchs. You would need to heat them up, and bent them back to where they would need to be.

    Ford River Rouge forgings are incredibly tough. They can be manipulated with a torch without fear of damage.
     
  21. goboy33
    Joined: Mar 10, 2011
    Posts: 836

    goboy33
    Member
    from Florida

    I believe this axel was a give away axel at the 1933 Chicago worlds fair you can look it up on line. View attachment 5634301
     

    Attached Files:

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  22. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,407

    alchemy
    Member

    Is that your twisty axle? I saw one of those at the Speedway Museum about twenty years ago.
     
  23. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    Bill Perry ('34 Store/All Ford Parts) in Campbell, CA. has one of those twists in his glass counter case in the showroom. There was a gold chain wearing street rodder trying to bid on it. Wanted it for his '32!
     
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  24. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,144

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    For his "Mancave", you gotta have one of those you know!
     

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