Thread: What vehicles come from these axles on my FORD A Street Rod?

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Hello everyone;
I write to you from France, (so excuse me for language mistakes ..thanks Google Translate).
I'm new on the forum, I just bought a Ford A from 1931 "Street Rod" in Canada. I want to replace all rings, bushings and ball joints of front and back axles. Unfortunately I don't know which vehicles these axles come from!? I'll be very happy if a member can help me find the brand / model from attached photos

Thank you all

Jef

https://www.hebergeur-image.com/uplo...0d5908f587.jpg

https://www.hebergeur-image.com/uplo...0d59082d13.jpg

https://www.hebergeur-image.com/uplo...0d59086726.jpg

https://www.hebergeur-image.com/uplo...0d5908aa78.jpg

Front suspension looks like Chevrolet Corvair. Rear looks like modified mid '60s GM intermediate, like Chevelle, Tempest, Cutlass parts. I don't recognize the front brake components, but might be GM since looks like the rest of the stuff is. Before spending too much time and money trying to rebuild that bunch of stuff you might be ahead of the game driving it awhile to see if you really like the way it works. My guess is it's not going to be very satisfying and you might do better by getting a replacement chassis assembly that isn't as cobbled. Those parts were a popular (sort of) way to get independent suspension under an old Ford in the late '70s. They didn't work that well and were quickly supplanted by better, more readily available parts.

i second the replacement frame. a good tci or other brans frame would be money well spent. it was built in the 70's or earlier so i would not trust much about it . plus it will ride like a buggy with a bent wheel .

Thanks for your quick answers! The rings are in such bad condition that anyway driving is not pleasant or even dangerous! Ring, bushings and ball joints are not generally expensive on rockauto.com. (for example) However, if you think that changing the complet set to another model would be more interesting, please could you send me internet links on these types of axles? Thank you

For information, front brakes calipers are stamped : "Delco Moraine 499" ..!?

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Front suspension looks like Chevrolet Corvair. Rear looks like modified mid '60s GM intermediate, like Chevelle, Tempest, Cutlass parts. I don't recognize the front brake components, but might be GM since looks like the rest of the stuff is. Before spending too much time and money trying to rebuild that bunch of stuff you might be ahead of the game driving it awhile to see if you really like the way it works. My guess is it's not going to be very satisfying and you might do better by getting a replacement chassis assembly that isn't as cobbled. Those parts were a popular (sort of) way to get independent suspension under an old Ford in the late '70s. They didn't work that well and were quickly supplanted by better, more readily available parts.

Bingo Bob that's a front chevrolet Corvair on my car ! Thanks a lot... I searched for 2 days on the web without finding.. and you solved my problem in a few minutes! It is true that in France we have almost never seen a Chevrolet Corvair

This is one good example of a chassis that will perform well and be more pleasant to drive. https://www.peteandjakes.com/parts/p...del-a-chassis/

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

This is one good example of a chassis that will perform well and be more pleasant to drive. https://www.peteandjakes.com/parts/p...del-a-chassis/

Thanks Bob for this information, but at first i just want to change all bushings and rings and drive the car ! Maybe next year or later i'll change my axles when i'll get much money ;-)

Originally Posted by Jef43

Thanks Bob for this information, but at first i just want to change all bushings and rings and drive the car ! Maybe next year or later i'll change my axles when i'll get much money ;-)

Jef,
Welcome to CHR. When you say "rings" are you talking about the coil springs? If so, and considering that you're not interested in replacing the chassis you might be better off visiting an auto & truck spring shop and have them come up with new springs instead of trying to guess where those came from originally. They may be able to provide you with generic bushings that fit too.

OK Rsperars that's a good idea ! I’ll look on this side too because it seems that finding "coils springs" for an old corvair doesn’t have easy on the internet!

Originally Posted by Jef43

OK Rspears that's a good idea ! I’ll look on this side too because it seems that finding "coils springs" for an old corvair doesn’t have easy on the internet!

Here we have shops that will make coil springs based on the application, overall diameter and spring rate based on weight - search "custom coil springs for cars". I don't know if that's common in France or not. You might also check CorvairForum and search springs for ideas, as sagging springs on Corvairs was a common problem as they aged.

Yes i can found in France "custom coil springs" too. I saw on clark"s webside it's possible to order typical front coil spring for "hot rod with v8 small block".

Right now I’m having trouble finding the exact model of the rear axle. I know that it is a GM 8.5inch 10 bolts
but I don’t understand why I don’t finds no axle model with the arm brackets welded to the axle tube. My axle doesn’t have "mickey ears" at thetop like most of the ones I find on the net! I post here other photos including brakes that could help in the identification !?

http://fotoforum.fr/photos/2021/08/24.8.jpg

http://fotoforum.fr/photos/2021/08/24.9.jpg

http://fotoforum.fr/photos/2021/08/24.10.jpg

http://fotoforum.fr/photos/2021/08/24.11.jpg


Other problem is to find also the good "steering flector" (see pictures) because i don't know from wich véhicule the steering come from ( sure not from Corvair)


http://fotoforum.fr/photos/2021/08/24.12.jpg

http://fotoforum.fr/photos/2021/08/24.13.jpg

Thanks again !

Indeed, there is this possibility in France to manufacture custom helical springs.

Regarding the rear axle I know that mine is an 8.5 inch GM "10 bolts" but I can’t find any model pictured on the internet with arm brackets welded to the axle tube. Those with control arms have "mickey ears" at the top!
So I don’t know which rear bushings control arms suspension ordered !...

How about shopping for your bushings by size instead of by application? All you need is a decent dial caliper and some disassembly time. There are several listed if you scroll down the page - https://www.google.com/search?q=auto...hrome&ie=UTF-8

Yes it's a good idea think I will find my solution faster! Otherwise I’ll ask a local machining company to make Teflon.
thank you for your contribution rspear