The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Dropped axle for my '49

I would like to drop the front axle 4" on my '49 3100. Plan to send it to someone like droppedaxles.com. I think everything is stock up front, except it has been converted to 5 lug.

Couple of questions, any other mods I need to do to pull this off? Spindles? Kingpins? The truck is an older resto and everything up front is in good shape now.

Thanks

Scott

I had mine dropped 4" by "MOR-DROP" in Oakland Calif. The ol guy's been doing axles since the late '50s.
I had him also fit the new king pins for me,,I think it was an xtra 90.00 or something like that.
Your 5 lug hubs and drums will fit right back on as before.
I DID have to turn the tie rod upside down to clear the oil pan,,other than that,,everything went back together no probs.

I just got my 3" dropped axle from Sid (droppedaxles.com) installed this week. A 4" drop with the 15' wheels I have would have put it below the scrub line. If your handy in the shop you can install your own kingpins and bushings. I also flipped my tie rods using new non-tapered ends I bought from Chev's of the 40's. The old balls are a bear to get out but there's some tech tips on that process here on the forums.

I got a 3 inch dropp from Sid as well. Three is perfect and everything goes back together perfectly. Axle came clean and painted. Agree with Waldo on the 4 inch, just too much!

Glad to hear you guys like my axles. 3" drop is a lot lower then people think. You got to be careful because you don't want to be plowing pavement with your axle if you have a blow out. If you are running tall wheels then that's a different story. To figure out your scrub line. With your truck setting normal
1. Measure from bottom of axle to ground.
2. Measure from bottom of rim to ground (tire side wall height)
3. Now subtract #1 measurement from #2 this Equal srub line clearance
4. Now subtract from #3 measurement the amount of dropped axle you want.
Answer equals amount of clearance you have if you blew out your tires going down the road. YOU WANT CLEARANCE!!
If you guys ever need any help please get a hold of me and I do my best to help you out....SID

Sid...we talked briefly last year at the HAMB drags at MoKan. I really want to get an axle shipped off to you for lowering. I think I am going to go with the 3" drop too. It sounds like the voice of experience is talking to me with the posts here. Can you send me any information I would need to get this process started. Like address, shipping methods, amd the costs you will need up front, PayPal address if used. Whatever you can think of will be appreciated. Gotta drop my Burb!

DO IT !!

Here is my info you asked for to send the dropped axle. http://www.droppedaxles.com/CONTACT_INFO.html You can also pay off this link. I'll be at the Wichita Kansas meet Feb 1st and 2nd and the Denver swap meet Feb 8th and 9th I could bring you a axle and pickup your core. Thanks Sid

OK, got the 4" dropped axle from Sid. Good guy to deal with. Put new kingpins in, not as bad as I've read in other searches.

Problem - tie rod is now above the leaf springs, passenger side is bolted in, driver side will not bolt in as the tierod is sitting on the leaf springs. Needs maybe a 1/2" to clear. Spindles, tierod, etc are all stock. Tie rod is bolted to top side of spindle.

Any trick to get this to work?

Thanks

Scott

I'm no expert, but I believe many people pop the ball joints off the steering arms and flip them over. I believe there is an issue however with a taper fit. Do a search, I am sure this has beem discussed many times.

That is the problem, if I flip them underneath, they will be going right through the spring pack.

I've read the tech tips and search. I'll try Sid next.

I've got a 3" dropped axle from Sid and I flipped the tie rod ends to ride underneath the steering arms. I have a little over 1" of clearance under the spring pack. Looks to me like you have 2 options here: 1. Do the tie rod flip AND heat and bend the steering arms down until you clear under the springs. OR -
2: Trade your 4" axle for a 3". You'll still need to do the flip but they will clear the springs.

I'd measure carefully before using option 1. You don't want your tie rod riding below the scrub line.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

I talked to Sid, he said I can flip below. In looking at it more, it may work, will be very close. I am going to upgrade the tie rod ends also to the 37-64 Ford truck type. Found a friend who already has the 7 degree reamer so I can ream the steering arms. It will all depend on how much misalignment there is in the rod ends. Another thing that may help is to grind off the end of one of the leafs in the spring pack right where the tie rod will go.

It will not be below the scrub line, I checked that.

BYW, nice truck waldo.