I have come to the point in my life that I want a straight axle installed on my 67 chevelle SS. Right now it is set up for the track. Back halfed and sitting low. 9 inch Moser banjo with coil overs and 4 link suspension. Torn between shaving the front frame at the firewall and going with boxed tubing to support the axle and motor, or fabricating the leafs to fit the existing frame. Thing is, once I cut the frame out I can't go back. Still, I can't stop envisioning this boy with a chrome drop tube set-up. Car is black with a fully blown and enderle injected stroked big block Chevy 498. Cam driven fuel pump feeds corn to a bird catcher scoop. I'm 68 and rule already, but want that killer stance and a tilt front end. Then I may be satisfied, but are we ever done?
arjenkinss2010
Speedway kits are decent, but if you buy one be sure to order one with the heavy duty thicker tube axle. They are also pretty spendy compared to donor axles you can find from mid 60's Ford or Chevy vans. I find the old van axles from Ford E100 vans for $75-$125 and then either leave them as drums, or convert them to disc brakes depending on how the cars will be used.
I built a '68 Nova for a friend and besides an engine swap, plus T56 trans swap, he wanted a straight axle too. I found an Econoline E100 axle for $60 and installed new kingpins, and swapped it to GM calipers, with Grande Cherokee rotors. I used the stock frame, and also the stock E100 leaf springs. Converted it to cross steer and used the stock Nova steering box, and stock frame. I made mounting plates up front to accommodate the different frame spacing at front and rear on the frame. Think it took me two days to install the axle, plus another day to swap it to disc brakes and do the drag link for steering.
He drives it everywhere, and even long highway trips, and loves the way it drives. I personally like them a little lower, but that's just my preference for my own straight axle builds.
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I built a '68 Nova for a friend and besides an engine swap, plus T56 trans swap, he wanted a straight axle too. I found an Econoline E100 axle for $60 and installed new kingpins, and swapped it to GM calipers, with Grande Cherokee rotors. I used the stock frame, and also the stock E100 leaf springs. Converted it to cross steer and used the stock Nova steering box, and stock frame. I made mounting plates up front to accommodate the different frame spacing at front and rear on the frame. Think it took me two days to install the axle, plus another day to swap it to disc brakes and do the drag link for steering.
He drives it everywhere, and even long highway trips, and loves the way it drives. I personally like them a little lower, but that's just my preference for my own straight axle builds.
I'm not to crazy about chrome critical components. Hydrogen embrittlement due to the chrome process can lead to failure. I've had it happen twice to chrome pulleys. Not a problem compared to an axle failure BUT I've never heard of a chrome axle fail. Just my input from a safety standpoint.
I have heard the remarks about chrome embrittlement, but have also seen thousands of chrome I beam and tube axles that never failed. Not saying it's not possible, but seems with so many being sold and in use we'd hear of failures.
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