[427v8]

I'm going to put a Ford I beam front axle under my 29 Dodge 4 door.
I need the axle, perches and 4 bar, I also need steering arms, tie rods.
I don't need a spring or spindles as I am going to use air in front and have spindles.

I want a 48" forged axle that will take a 31" spring, and just plain jane steel bars.

Where is the best place to buy all of this?
I've been looking around and am getting overwhelmed.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
Keith

[flynbrian48]

Easy to get overwhelmed. There are hundreds of suppliers. Don't know what your priorities are, but Speedway has excellent prices. Be advised that some of their less expensive axles are not suitable for heavier cars. Your Dodge is probably right at the limits.

I'm wondering why you want to ditch the MOPAR's parallel leaves and front axle? It's pretty, rebuildable, will ride and drive better than Ford's single spring, and looks appropriate under your car. For the cost of a Ford style aftermarket front end, you could rebuild yours, add disk brakes, a single rack and pinion, and have money left over for something else. Just curious...

Brian

I'll add that it's gonna be WAY easier to add bags, as the main leaves from the original suspension will be what locates your axle, and mounts for the air bags. Why reinvent the wheel?

[powerrodsmike]

As previously mentioned, Speedway has the best prices on name brand stuff.

Magnum axles are good stuff.

And you can buy individual parts.

Later, mikey

[Dugg]

Super Bell and Magnum axles are cast. Chassis Engineering (West Branch, Iowa) axles are forged.

In airplane drawing school we learned, No Castings, No Weldments. Sure the guys at NASA can do it, but even Bell Jet Rangers have castings - they just don't hold up well when hitting pot holes and curbs or much of anything tougher than air.

[427v8]

Chassis engineering eh? I guess thats the place then!
I don't like cast axles either.

Thanks
Keith

[speedydeedy]

Speedway has good prices and products as stated,If you are going to a 4 inch drop and your steering arms are one piece with spindles you may run in to clearance issues.I had this problem on my model A and had to buy spindles with bolt on steering arms to be able to turn without arms hitting axle.

[Notorious]

Originally Posted by Dugg

Super Bell and Magnum axles are cast. Chassis Engineering (West Branch, Iowa) axles are forged.

In airplane drawing school we learned, No Castings, No Weldments. Sure the guys at NASA can do it, but even Bell Jet Rangers have castings - they just don't hold up well when hitting pot holes and curbs or much of anything tougher than air.

The CE is the only aftermarket beam axle that I'd consider because as far as I know it's the only forged one out there. All original Ford axles were forged, why settle for less?

[powerrodsmike]

Originally Posted by Dugg

Super Bell and Magnum axles are cast. Chassis Engineering (West Branch, Iowa) axles are forged.

In airplane drawing school we learned, No Castings, No Weldments. Sure the guys at NASA can do it, but even Bell Jet Rangers have castings - they just don't hold up well when hitting pot holes and curbs or much of anything tougher than air.

Air, huh?

How many of those Super Bell and Magnum axles have you seen break?

Later, mikey

[427v8]

Originally Posted by powerrodsmike

Air, huh?

How many of those Super Bell and Magnum axles have you seen break?

Later, mikey

Well it's not like the cast ones are any cheaper, why NOT go forged??

[powerrodsmike]

You did ask for a forged axle. I shouldn't have posted Speedway as a source for them .


You can use a forged axle, they are certainly stronger..of that there is no doubt.

I was addressing the statement that the Magnum or Superbell cast axle is unable to withstand being put under a car. I see thousands of those axles under cars, and personally never heard of one breaking.

Later, mikey

[Dugg]

Mikey,

(In airplane drawing school we learned, No Castings, No Weldments. Sure the guys at NASA can do it, but even Bell Jet Rangers have castings - they just don't hold up well when hitting pot holes and curbs or much of anything tougher than air.)

My intent was to say that helicopters don't hold up well when hitting pot holes and curbs and things tougher than air. A Bell Jet Ranger is a helicopter.

I missed the statement; "I was addressing the statement that the Magnum or Superbell cast axle is unable to withstand being put under a car". Where was that said?

[powerrodsmike]

Originally Posted by Dugg

Mikey,

(In airplane drawing school we learned, No Castings, No Weldments. Sure the guys at NASA can do it, but even Bell Jet Rangers have castings - they just don't hold up well when hitting pot holes and curbs or much of anything tougher than air.)

My intent was to say that helicopters don't hold up well when hitting pot holes and curbs and things tougher than air. A Bell Jet Ranger is a helicopter.

I missed the statement; "I was addressing the statement that the Magnum or Superbell cast axle is unable to withstand being put under a car". Where was that said?

Being as how this is a forum that deals with cars, and not helicopters. ( I know what a Bell Jet Ranger is),
the statement about hitting curbs and potholes seemed to have every implication that the Superbell and Magnum were unsuitable for use as a front axle.

You did preface your post with the statement that those brands were cast, and then proceeded to draw a comparison between what you were taught and how it applied to this thread.


Front axles hit curbs and potholes, which are obstacles normally associated with front axles, not helicopters, the addition of "air" as an obstacle just seemed to me to be a sarcastic exaggeration of Magnums and Superbell's quality. (or lack of quality, which seems to be your opinion, which is shared by many, but not all.)


Maybe your posts are as hard for me to fully comprehend as mine are for you. I know I'm misunderstood by many.

It's hard to try to be witty, sarcastic and intelligent and not get misunderstood every once in a while.

But that's part of the fun

Later, mikey

[427v8]

So back to the topic ;-)

Mike,
you wouldn't hesitate to put a cast axle under a decent sized 4 door car?
I just found out the CE axles are only 47" I'd really like 48".


I could make up the difference with wheel offset, or just not worry about it I suppose.

Keith

[powerrodsmike]

Superbell has been in business for a long time, and I have used their axles and seen them used in many cars.

Not all things that are cast are junk. Chances are, your car might have a cast crankshaft in it....forged are stronger, but is it necessary?

The annealed ductile iron Superbell uses has a 65000 psi tensile strength, which is probably stronger than the original Ford forging. It also has a 12% elongation rating. So it will bend before it breaks.

Keith @ Superbell axle (I called him, my dime ) told me this morning that he has seen axles break at the first drilled hole after a wreck, , but not before a significant amount of bending. Also, he has seen them bend 90* and stay together.

Keith did say that CE does have the only forged axle, and that it is stronger, but he has seen those bend as well.

Anything will break given enough force.


You are going to be riding in a car with a 78 year old set of frame rails...and possibly an upgraded engine and drivetrain that will be possibly 10 or more times more powerful than the original motor. You will more than likely drive that car at speeds faster than what it was designed for. You may box and reinforce that frame, but the old stuff will still be the base.

That old frame would be a greater cause for concern to me than using an axle made by a reputable company.
I see folks still use mor-drop axles and have their stock axles dropped by guys like Dave Mann....what happens when someone heats up a 50 or 60 or 70 or 80 year old stock axle forged out of the low quality steel that was available back then and stretches it over 100% in it's length?

Hmmm.

I'd run whatever makes you feel the safest.

I'm not trying to do anything here other than put things in a realistic perspective.

Later, mikey

[427v8]

Thats some good info Mike.
We may disagree on Wilwood, but I do repect your opinions.
( btw I won't be running wilwood in the '29 dodge ;-) )


If a cast axle can bend 90 degrees, I'm not worried!
It's a little nerve wracking to be spending a bunch or $$ and not really knowing what is good enough and what isn't.

Too many dang decisions.

Keith