Thread: Need help with Track width

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Does anyone know the factory spec for track width on my 41 ford? The front is a 80's model Monte Carlo clip and seems a little too wide. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

56 1/2", which, not by coincidence, was the same track width as Roman chariots!!!! Just goes to show the influence the Romans had on the civilized world.

Thanks alot for the info. it will be of great help in correcting what I have currently got.

It's also the same as the standard U. S. railroad track gauge - 4' - 8 1/2". A fact that didn't go un-noticed by teenagers of my time. We would occasionally plop our cars on the inter-urban tracks and drive all the way through town without having to steer. My uncle, the police chief, took a dim view of that.

You didn't say what you plan to do, but narrowed control arms are available for your front setup. Doing it all with wheel offset makes it look kinda dorky..........of course so does the too wide look.

I had spoken with my brother and we were looking to either do a control arm change or update full suspension with a shortened S10 frame swap. The S10 would make it a little easier to fit the 4L60 trans behind my 350SB.

Which route would you guys say is the best vs. easiest to get done for a safe daily driver to be?

Don't tell me that nobody has an opinion on this stuff. I would like to end up with the '41 being a daily driver. I don't know if modifying the stock crossmember is feasible in this car.

To me, it would boil down to who put the Monte front on the car. Was it done by a pro shop or a really sharp rodder who knew what he was doing? If it was done by some yayhoo in the back yard, then I'd opt to change it out so I would absolutely know that it was done right. If it were mine, first I'd get the car flat and level on a level surface and I'd plumb bob it and see that the measurements are within 1/16" of each other, each side front to rear and diagonally. I'd make sure the lower control arm mounts are the same distance to the ground side to side. If all that was good, then I'd shop for narrower control arms. That's just my opinion.

Richard brings up a very good point. Buying someone elses half-finished project can be a great way to get a good deal, but you have to recheck everything done to make sure Mickey Mouse didn't have a hand in building it.

I think of all the areas that could be really screwed up it would be a front clip install, because it takes a fair degree of skill and engineering saavy to pull it off correctly. The things you are looking for are if it is attached properly and gusseted well, and if it was installed in the proper relationship to the road. You just don't take a donor front end and weld it on and hope it works well, it takes planning and execution to make that happen.

I have seen some horrible front clip jobs over the years, and very crude attempts to get the old and new frames to mate. If there is one area you really want right on a car it is the front suspension and steering. You might take it to a very good alignment shop first and ask their opinion on the install and geometry.

Don

Following Richards suggestion, for what you have now that is the "...best vs easiest....". As Don says, there are some good clip jobs out there, and many horrible ones. The same for frame changes. I'll post one of my file pictures to demonstrate a too often problem with S10 frame swaps. There are folks who can do these things well, then there are folks who should never try it. Don't know you well enough to say where you fall. As for "....best vs easiest..." I'm kind of a stick in the mud. The least "difficult" is something based on a stock frame. The width is dead on, the wheelbase is dead on, and the track is "right". And given the modern hot rodding supply market there are a bazillion options for modification to overcome any concerns for whatever level of technology appeals to you.

Thank for all of the input guys, before anything is done I am definately going to be checking the measurements with the frame level. We have just not gotten around to doing so yet. As for the picture that you posted Bob, I definately don't want anything to look like that one does. Because this is a 'clipped' car I have looked into getting a stock frame vs. having one built to original specs. I would love to take a trip back to 1941 and to get whatever I needed. So far, that is just not an option and finding this stuff can be quite frustrating as you guys already know. . . Thanks alot again for the opinions and input, will try to get started on all of the measuring over the weekend hopefully everything is spot on. Will have more questions in the future I am certain of that.
Peter

Originally Posted by streetrodder74

..... finding this stuff can be quite frustrating as you guys already know. . . Peter

Okay Peter, not trying to put you down, trap you, or hold you up for public ridicule in any way. But i gotta ask; Why do you think/say that? I hear this from time to time from folks and just can't identify with it.


As an example, in just a few minutes I found these;
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1941-...spagenameZWDVW
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1948-...spagenameZWDVW
Yeah, the second one has a truck front suspension stuck on, but just put up for the exercise.
I'm neither suggesting you buy one of them without checking what you've got first, nor saying they can't be found even closer, it's just to show what can be found through only one resource in short order.

Well, to be honest with you, I have been checking ebay here and there and have gotten some parts for the car there. I had not personally seen any full frames prior to this time, unless the asking price is too much for what is being offered vs. what I can afford to pay at the time (I pray for deeper pockets on a daily basis to make get the car I envision become a reality). I will continue to check ebay and other areas for things that I come to need. This car is my first 'old' car though there is a '27 tudor T, a 29 tudor A, and a '37 Ford coupe currently in my family. I have been big into cars from a young age but have not had the chance to fully immerse myself until recently. I always loved the '41s and knew somewhere deep that I would eventually get the chance to have what I really wanted.

Maybe all isn't lost. Why don't you post some pictures of what is currently on the front of your rod, and let's take a look.

Don