I'm trying to identify the donor car/truck/year of the straight-axel set up in my Falcon gasser. Might save me some money if I can get a disk brake conversion for whatever model axel set-up this is, rather than buy an entire Speedway straight-axel kit just for the disks. Let me know if a better, closer pic would help
If anyone knows how to ID that axle, the guys at www.ford-truck.com will. I'm getting a lot of info from them on my F100 project.
More then likely if it is small ford pattern its from a early falcon/econoline pickup/van That being said id like to discourage the swap to disc it doesnt look correct on a axle car jmho
Well, there's period correct, then there's suicidal tendencies running full bore down a track with your life in the hands of 60-70 year-old brake technology! LOL
I'm narrowing it down. I found an ad for a 48-52 Ford F-1 axel, and found several similarities, but still some differences too..... whereas on most drop axle's the drop is curvy, almost "S" shaped, mine is more a straight angle down "\___/" and the 48-52 axle's is the closest I've found to it Similarities: A & B, the shock mount bolt and the bolt in the king pin shaft are exactly the same. Differences: C: The F-1 axel has a little more curve at the top end of the axel, and B: mine doesn't have the thick ridges at the top and bottom of the king pin shaft. And the biggest difference.... Mine slightly curves back at center of the axel where the F-1 is straight But, it's the closest I've found. I know I'm knit-picking a bit, but when it comes to getting disk brake conversions for the old 50's and 60's cars and trucks, I just want to make sure I save money and time by getting the right one.
I think the curve in the middle of your axle didn`t come from Ford.Looks bent to me.What is the bolt pattern for your wheels? That would help narrow it down.
The most important thing to order the disc brake kit would be the bolt pattern for the 4 bolts that hold the backing plate to the spindle, and the spindle dimensions where the bearings will ride. If you get those specs then a disc brake conversion company shoul dbe able to match your set up. Most of the older stuff used the same brakes and spindles. Just used different width I beams.
Standard 5X4.50 Ford bolt pattern. And the bend is perfectly centered and symetrical......it'd be awfully tough to bend an I-beam axel short of head-on into a steel telephone pole and then to get such a perfect bend with no visible damage to the front edges. Here's a pic of a 53-56 F-100 front axle that appears to have a bend, though it looks more a bend downward than back...or possibly both Here's two more of another 53-56 F-100 axle, also with an apparent bend in the center, but agian, can't quite tell if it's a bend down, or down and back.... but neither look quite as obvious as mine, so I wonder if mine might be off a later model, like a 57-60 or later, or like someone mentioned before, an early Econoline van, which might have the bend back for oil pan clearance for a van's altered motor position. Just guessing since I haven't been able to find any pics of '57-up or early van axles Who knows?, there might be different axles for straight-6's and V-8's
Good call, I think that's the answer. Here's a straight axle off a 50-53 Dodge 1/2 ton pick up.....looks like a match
