The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 47-54 front axle question

I acquired a few junked trucks and kept EVERYTHING off of them that wasn't rusted. So frame pcs and front axle etc. I have enough stuff to make my own home made side by side.

If I can narrow the front axel, narrow the rear end and put it all on a smaller frame (c-channel) then I'd be able to use my spare 4 speeds/and extra motor (248) on a power-house "mule) that would fit on a 5x10 trailer. and putting smallest possible tires on it would gear it down even lower.

My question: Is it possible to cut and weld those straight front axles? I know it'll be weak at the weld so I could brace it, but I have to ask if anyone has done this with those old axles? Or if they ever narrowed a rear end? My great-granddad did, but he is passed on. Any advice is appreciated!

Check with Sids. he has worked a lot of these and has some dropped versions that must require at least heat and bending. Might be able to tell you what to use and what to avoid?

http://www.droppedaxles.com/

Not completely clear but it sounds like you want to make a home
made Gator? If that's the case and you're not thinking of putting
something on the highway the yes, you can weld the front axle.
It's forged steel and will take to fabricating like any low carbon
steel section. Same thing with the rear housing. Don't know how
your going to get things aligned for welding or how you going to
shorten the axles but what ever you do, KEEP IT OFF THE PUBLIC ROADS.

DG

denny-- that's the plan. I have 30 acres and am tired of getting in and out of my pick up to do chores. If I had a gator type vehicle here just on the dirt/hay it would be handy and fun. I have the alignment parts figured out, but don't think I can weld the axles themselves strong enough. I dont' want to pay for a re-spline on those rear axels...