Front Axle

7-26-2014  Deron and I have often talked about the options we might have for the front axle.  Because I would like self-activating drum brakes on the front and have already purchased finned Buick drums, a relatively simple option might be to install a 1940 Ford front axle on the car.  Parts are readily available and this is a commonly-used hot rod option.  There is a fundamental difference in the design of the 1932 Plymouth axle that prevents me from simply adapting Ford brake drums and hubs to the 

stock axle.  The king pin joint in a 1930's car consists of a central bushing surrounded on each end by the "knuckles" of the opposing part.  The king pin connects the whole assembly.  In the Ford axles of the period, the knuckles are part of the wheel hub assembly as shown here:

Note that the knuckles rotate and the central bushing remains stationary as the wheel is turned by the steering mechanism.   In the 1932 Chrysler products, the design was the reverse, as shown in this photograph of a Model PB Plymouth steering joint:

On this joint, the central bushing rotates with the hub and wheel, while the knuckles remain stationary with the axle -- the exact opposite of the Ford design in 1940.  (Interestingly, the Model T Ford was designed like the 1932 Plymouth in this respect,  Go figure...)

One surprising drawback I have learned is that the Ford axle, while 8 years newer than the car, is about 4 inches narrower in the track (the distance between the hubs).  Another option is to substitute a tubular, rather than a forged, axle.  These are common in 1950's era hotrods, so it would be authentic to the period I'm trying to achieve.  In fact, the 1933 and '34 Plymouths used a tubular front axle that had a design similar to the 1940 Ford axle.  I have looked for one of these tubular axles for several years, to no avail.  Until today...

I saw the following ad on eBay:

The Tubular Axle as shown on eBay

“FOR SALE.........VINTAGE...... TUBULAR DOUBLE DIP  FRONT AXLE......1933 PLYMOUTH ( CHECK AND MAKE SURE)....WITH RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT SPINDLES........NO HARDWARE FOR THE SPINDLES....NO BUSHINGS,KING PINS OR GREASE FITTINGS........MY FATHER USED THESE FRONT AXLES ON HIS 1933 WILLYS   A/GASSER.........AXLE IS IN GOOD CONDITION......SOLD AS IS.................AXLE IS 50 INCHES FROM, SPINDLE HOLE TO SPINDLE HOLE.....WILL SHIP GROUND FREIGHT.......PLEASE ASK ANY QUESTIONS.;.........GREAT AXLE FOR A/GASSER........HOT ROD OR RAT ROD.”  The pictures that accompanied the ad were promising.  It should arrive late this week.  Unfortunately, I'll be out of town on business, but as soon as I return, the "new" axle shall be delivered to the Shady shop.