Projects Took the plunge- 1931 Roadster

I am in the parts gathering process and I have a question on which dropped axle I need.

This will be an AV8 build using a '32 cross member and a '39 tans setup.

I plan on using a 4" drop and have a '40 complete front axle with drum brakes as a brake and drum donor. I will be running 6"x16" Firestone Deluxe Champions up front on '40 style 4.5"x 16" steel rims I plan to run without fenders. What is the appropriate size/year axle that I need? I see there are axles with different center to center spacing between the kingpins. I plan to use a one piece wishbone.

I am looking at the following and want to make sure that this is the correct axle. It states it is for 1937-1941.

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/1937-1941-Ford-4-Inch-Drop-I-Beam-Axle-Plain,1140.html

Thanks in advance for the help and I apologize in advance if this is a silly question. I searched the forum for answers, but didn't find the information I was looking for.

Brian

 

You need a 28-36 axle. They measure 50 1/2 king pin center to center, and 36 1/2 spring perch center to center. Your 37-41 axle uses a longer spring that is 38 1/2 inches.

 

Just use a dropped Model A axle or get yours dropped. I have a Okie Joe dropped model a axle that I picked up from him a few years back at LARS. I think last year he was asking about $275 with out a core. Not sure if you still need a radiator but I live not far from you and recently got my radiator from Rick's Radiator in Azusa. It is a US Radiator built to order brass/copper 32 radiator chopped 2" and was way cheaper then a Walker. Rick's Radiator is usually at the Pomona Swap as well.

 

What ever you do " DO NOT" use the axle from Speedway you linked to. That is a CAST axle not Forged. There are more than a few threads here on the HAMB about this subject, do yourself a favor and read some of them.

Also check into Okie Joe as is mentioned above. Since you have a core axle one of his Henry Ford axle's will run you right around $200 money well spent...

 

Thank you for the information on the axle I need. I appreciate it!!

Thank you for the information on the axle and the radiator. I'm down the road from you and get through Azusa often. I'll check out Rick's the next time I am driving through there.

 

Thank you for the additional information on the cast axle. It looks like a forged one.

I'll check out Okie Joe's!!

 

Brian, If you are talking about the way it appears, yes it does "look" like a forged axle, but don't let looks fool you. I read the description and it says it is cast that was the only way I could tell. Speedway does have a Forged axle somewhere on there site, but the question that I personally feel we all must ask is why use one of those after market axles when a Real Ford forged axle is so readily available?

 

Excellent points!! I will most likely have my axle dropped or send in mine as a core. Any thoughts on dropped and stretched vs. just dropped?

Thanks,

Brian B

 

If you are planning on a Fenderless car then it doesn't make any difference about the stretch. If you intend to run fenders then I still don't think it makes any difference . I did a full fendered modl A and used one of Okie Joe's axles and it fit and worked just fine without the stretch. I have a couple of pictures, these are all after the Okie Joe axle install.

 

4" dropped axle, reverse eye spring, 6.00"x16" tires

Sent from my E6810 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Nice !

 

Hombre & Wheeldog57,

Thank you very much for the pictures!! Great looking rides!!

Brian B

 

Mike, don't give up, I started with a front axel and a transmission. I built it twice the first time it was a stocker, then when I retired I tore it all apart and built a nice driver.

 

I finally got around to starting a build thread. If you would like to follow along, here is the link:

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1931-av8-roadster-subassembly-build.1219875/

Thanks,

So Cal Brian B

 

Great thread, Brian. I've subscribed to the build thread. I'm in the same process with my '29 roadster. I'm going AV8 with a '51 Merc. I'm sure I'll learn something here for my build.