hey gasser guys, I need advice

[tensecsprint]

ok so I have bought a 56 150 utility sedan, this car was once a race car with some tall springs and a big block, I would like to tube axle the car and return it to the streets to reek some havoc, heres the advice I would like to have from you guys. do I stick with a stock style I beam axle, and fab my own front frame rails and set it up myself, or buy a kit from www.jimmeyerracing.com and weld the front stub in. does any one have any experiance with these front ends, looks like a fairly sound set up and tough, witch is important, this car is going to be raced, accually thats a understatment, this car is going to be raced alot, ive got a 14.5:1 E-85 496 that really needs a home, that with a th400 and 4000rpm stall, and the 5:13 gears in pontiac rear end the front end is gonna get beat on and slamed to ground quite a bit.
if I do build my own stuff, whats some of the tricks with front end to get the car to handle, I know it wont be a corner carver buy any means, and thats not what Im after, I just want the thing to drive nice and to go stait down the track, or at least make a good attempt at it. :eek:
Thanks, Dusty

[chevender]

Hey Dusty, You are a lucky man. Chevynut lives right in your back yard. He used to run a straight axle on his nomad. Being an engineer he can help you figure out the best thing to do. If he doesn't find this post and get ahold of you I would send him a PM if I was you.
The only help I can give you from here is to tell you that I used to run a van axle on my 55 with the stock frame. Make sure you've got good king pins and a fair amount of caster on the axle. The more caster, the straighter it goes. Too much caster and you loose your turning radius. On a street strip set up I like to run around 5 to 8 degrees of caster, but opinions will vary on this subject.
Rick

[fiftyfivegasser]

Dusty;

Here is some good information and instruction for the axle:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=230636

[TDWZ28]

Dusty...I am just finishing a 55 Nomad that I put the Jim Meyer sub frame under. Very good quality parts. I have found a couple of things that could be made different, like the front mount for the rad support should be different and the grease zerks in the spindles are very hard to get to. The motor mount stands are straight up and need to be bent at about a 5 degree angle. Nothing too hard to do. The car looks pretty good. I drove it for just a min down the road Sunday. It feels pretty good. I can email you a coule of pictures if you want.

[DuckusCrapus]

Tony,
I would be interested in seeing that front clip installed. I am pretty much finished with my straight axle in my '55, but went a different route. I have heard good things about the meyer front clip, just never saw one on a driving car.


e-mail addy is DuckusCrapus@hotmail.com



DuckusCrapus

[TDWZ28]

Tony,
I would be interested in seeing that front clip installed. I am pretty much finished with my straight axle in my '55, but went a different route. I have heard good things about the meyer front clip, just never saw one on a driving car.


e-mail addy is DuckusCrapus@hotmail.com



DuckusCrapus

I will send you some of it all together. They don't show much detail, but I have some more on the wifes computer. If you want some of them, I can send them later, after work tonight.

[TDWZ28]

Duckus and tensec...I sent you pictures. I think. Did they get to your computer?

[rodehu]

I just had a Jim Meyer Sub Frame installed. It is a very slick application. I agree about the Radiator mount problem. Cured very easy. I had mine installed by Salt City Speed shop in SLC, Ut. They did an incredible job. It looks very good. I can send picture if wanted.

[tensecsprint]

Duckus and tensec...I sent you pictures. I think. Did they get to your computer?
yep i go them, pretty amazing ride. lookes very good,
thanks
Dusty

[DuckusCrapus]

Duckus and tensec...I sent you pictures. I think. Did they get to your computer?



I got them too....thank you. Been offline for a bit. Nice thing going there. Wish mine was as clean as yours.



DuckusCrapus

[nitrouspro]

I really didn't have the heart to chop off the stock front clip on the 56 that I.m building, so instead I used a 12" piece of box tubing between the front shackle and the original frame to mount the tube axle assembly which I purchased from Speedway. There are pics on the progress forum under the title "56 gasser pics?
The assembly is pretty much done, just waiting on the steering link, that should arrive today./al