Why do gassers get a straight axle? As I typed, I think I figured it out. Is it just so it can be raised much higher than stock suspension?
55 Tony
Front suspension total weight reduction as well. I've read that the main reason to raise the front was for better weight transfer to rear tires for traction.
Of course, today, there are more advanced options for traction without the barn door wind resistance effect.
Of course, today, there are more advanced options for traction without the barn door wind resistance effect.
I wondered about the weight reduction but don't know if it really would be much of a difference? there are two leaf springs aren't there? The raised front I knew was for weight transfer, but just didn't understand the straight axle until I was typing the question. I knew one kid in school who was into racing had his car raised a lot in the front when everyone else was putting air shocks in the rear and raising it up that way. Rough ride to say the least, but it was the 70's and that's what was cool. Now lowered is cool. Mine is about stock in the rear and just a little high in the front with coil springs. Wouldn't have minded if it were another 1" to 1 1/2" higher but I don't know how the rest of the suspension would like that.
A side benefit of raised front end and overall high stance is ease of under car maintenance and inspection. I rarely have to use a jack on my gasser or raise it on the 2 post lift.
There is definitely a weight reduction, but only if you do a frame stub on a Tri Five. Without stubbing the frame rails the swap is pretty much a wash, and not much weight savings once you remove coils, control arms, and add a axle and leaf springs.
But the biggest reason they went to solid axles was not just weight savings. The tires available back in the days of nose higher frontends were pretty poor compared to later 1960's when tire companies made huge developments in tire structure, and compounds. So a higher front stance was required to help plant the rear tires, and give a better weight advantage over the rear axle.
Once M&H developed their first true slicks the frontends began to come down. And once wrinkle wall slicks became available, they were such a huge advance in traction that nobody used a high front stance, even if they still used a solid front axle.
But today a Gasser type build, or clone, is about emulating the earlier cars with solid front axle. So you can indeed build a gasser and not put an axle up front, but if you want to take it to a step higher build, you'll swap in a solid axle. How high you make it will determine how correct your build is. Too high is always worse than too low with an axle. Too high screams "street freak", as it's just wrong. But too low usually will get more attention from those who know what they're looking at, and appreciate the builder's choice to keep it lower and still do an axle swap. It's much harder to install a solid axle and keep the frontend down, but it will be a great driver if it's not street freak high.
But the biggest reason they went to solid axles was not just weight savings. The tires available back in the days of nose higher frontends were pretty poor compared to later 1960's when tire companies made huge developments in tire structure, and compounds. So a higher front stance was required to help plant the rear tires, and give a better weight advantage over the rear axle.
Once M&H developed their first true slicks the frontends began to come down. And once wrinkle wall slicks became available, they were such a huge advance in traction that nobody used a high front stance, even if they still used a solid front axle.
But today a Gasser type build, or clone, is about emulating the earlier cars with solid front axle. So you can indeed build a gasser and not put an axle up front, but if you want to take it to a step higher build, you'll swap in a solid axle. How high you make it will determine how correct your build is. Too high is always worse than too low with an axle. Too high screams "street freak", as it's just wrong. But too low usually will get more attention from those who know what they're looking at, and appreciate the builder's choice to keep it lower and still do an axle swap. It's much harder to install a solid axle and keep the frontend down, but it will be a great driver if it's not street freak high.
I never had a straight axle car but sure have stuffed 409 station wagon springs with ball joint spacers in a few tri fives back then along with adding leafs to the rear springs they actually left pretty hard. I didn't like cars slammed on the ground & really still don't dropped 2" in front with just a slight rake is the way I like mine to look but to each they're own I do like the look of a well done straight axle gasser
I wanted to add that what 1971BB427 said is totally on the money. If you're looking to build a gasser, listen to his advice.
You don't need a straight axle when building a gasser, and indeed many gassers back in the day didn't run them. Most of what you see today isn't true to the period or the NHRA rule books. Super cool cars, but not spec gassers. When I built my car, I used the NHRA rulebook from 1965 to keep it as period looking as possible, while also retaining the a arm front suspension. The term gasser has a pretty broad definition today, which is fine, everything evolves. People will say it's not a gasser without a straight axle. They're just plain wrong.
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You don't need a straight axle when building a gasser, and indeed many gassers back in the day didn't run them. Most of what you see today isn't true to the period or the NHRA rule books. Super cool cars, but not spec gassers. When I built my car, I used the NHRA rulebook from 1965 to keep it as period looking as possible, while also retaining the a arm front suspension. The term gasser has a pretty broad definition today, which is fine, everything evolves. People will say it's not a gasser without a straight axle. They're just plain wrong.
Raising the rear was about weight transfer too for the most part. It also allowed bigger tires on cars with a sufficient wheel cutout, which doesn't include trifives unless you cut on the quarter panels which was often done.
As said, the advancement of tires and suspensions negated the raised cars by around 1970 or just later. By then, the typical best performing gas class cars were C1 or C2 Corvettes and Camaros which were more or less stock height, though the basic rules never changed.
As said, the advancement of tires and suspensions negated the raised cars by around 1970 or just later. By then, the typical best performing gas class cars were C1 or C2 Corvettes and Camaros which were more or less stock height, though the basic rules never changed.
The great thing about the leafs is the fact that you can lift the car and go off-road in style when you feel the need
I'm torn between auto & manual when I first put the Ls in it had a 4l70e that we built after the first year I pulled the auto & swapped in a T56 my son gripped at me saying i'd be sorry unfortunately he was right my wore out knee popped & cracked every time i would push the clutch pedal down finally gave up & sold the manual set up & built another 4l65e with a good converter it leaves good probably should have fixed the knee instead of the trans
One of the things that always caught my attention is that they just looked so damn cool. Two identical cars, one with an axle and one not, the axle car would have me drooling. The other, not so much. At the strip back in those days I would always be hanging around the axle cars....and dreaming of having one on the street. Still am too.
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What a lot of folks consider the penultimate gasser look would consist of a straight axle swap (ala Blair's speed shop and countless other shops and home garages) and the installation of a one piece fiberglass front end. Less sprung weight on the front end, and if the car was set up high, it changed the center of gravity by raising the front, and thus sort of planting the rear tires a little harder to make up for the poor traction of the tires in those days. There were really two types of straight axle swaps that were done. One was a ford based set up that used a single transverse front spring (see this Hot Rod Magazine Cover for example http://st.hotrod.com/uploads/sites/.../03/hot-rod-magazine-1967-cover-gasser-55-1955-chevy-belair-150-210-wheelie.jpg) and then the parallel chevy style dual leaf springs that I think were the more common of the two set ups. If you ever get the chance to drive one, and I did a few years back, they drive like a truck and can be a little bit of a handful on the street if you are not use to the sort of trucky handling, lol. So if you are at the nationals watching the gassers run down the track, believe me, those guys are driving those cars!
I'd say that in many cases of today's Street Freak extreme high stance that they are less a gasser than any A arm car done up in Gasser style.
That said, I'd want a tube or I beam axle in any Gasser style build I did, just because it makes a statement in my mind that can't be made without an axle in front.
I was growing up during the hayday of the Gas Classes, so as a teenager in the early 60's there was no other car at the drags that got my attention like a gasser did. In 1968, my senior year of high school, I tore all the suspension out of my '57 Belair, and swapped in a '55-'59 Chevy pickup front axle. I had no idea what I was doing, but I knew what I wanted. I stumbled through it, and got some help setting it up correctly after messing up kingpin angles, and toe in. But I still remember the first day I drove it to high school, and the reaction from all the car guys!
We had a lot of Tri 5 cars in school, and a bunch of other muscle cars too. But even the guy with the fairly new SS396 Chevelle was going nuts looking at my '57 Chev, which he ignored before.
I've almost always had a gasser, even when the fad seemed to be for pro street, or other cars. They just were my favorite type car, and still are. I prefer more traditional style, but with some improvements to make them run or drive better.
The many decades I had my 427 Camaro it barely got a 2nd look at car shows. But if I drove my gasser it got a lot of attention, regardless of whether it was painted yet, or still in primer. They just grab people's attention for whatever reason. My gassers wont carve corners like my Camaro did, but they handle nicely in corners. And the ride is a little firmer, but the Camaro was set up fairly stiff too, so the gasser isn't much stiffer. They're all fun to drive, but driving my gassers is more fun.
That said, I'd want a tube or I beam axle in any Gasser style build I did, just because it makes a statement in my mind that can't be made without an axle in front.
I was growing up during the hayday of the Gas Classes, so as a teenager in the early 60's there was no other car at the drags that got my attention like a gasser did. In 1968, my senior year of high school, I tore all the suspension out of my '57 Belair, and swapped in a '55-'59 Chevy pickup front axle. I had no idea what I was doing, but I knew what I wanted. I stumbled through it, and got some help setting it up correctly after messing up kingpin angles, and toe in. But I still remember the first day I drove it to high school, and the reaction from all the car guys!
We had a lot of Tri 5 cars in school, and a bunch of other muscle cars too. But even the guy with the fairly new SS396 Chevelle was going nuts looking at my '57 Chev, which he ignored before.
I've almost always had a gasser, even when the fad seemed to be for pro street, or other cars. They just were my favorite type car, and still are. I prefer more traditional style, but with some improvements to make them run or drive better.
The many decades I had my 427 Camaro it barely got a 2nd look at car shows. But if I drove my gasser it got a lot of attention, regardless of whether it was painted yet, or still in primer. They just grab people's attention for whatever reason. My gassers wont carve corners like my Camaro did, but they handle nicely in corners. And the ride is a little firmer, but the Camaro was set up fairly stiff too, so the gasser isn't much stiffer. They're all fun to drive, but driving my gassers is more fun.
I had to school some millennial farm kids when they were using the word Gasser for their 6.0 ltr trucks , I calmly sat them both down and went through several videos and still frames then told them if I ever herd them use the word other than intended I would fire them on the spot!
By the end of it they had a better understanding and were able to keep Their jobs. I had no authority but it was fun to pretend! It worked and they learned something
By the end of it they had a better understanding and were able to keep Their jobs. I had no authority but it was fun to pretend! It worked and they learned something
If they were free I would have to think about it.....call me snobby with my nose up I’m with you I’d have to pass As well
I’m with you I’d have to pass As well
Just the dropped stance.....i look at it like the flat bill thing with hats, not for me is all
I couldn't agree more on Shakey Puddin. It's about as good as a modern day gasser clone gets. I know if I had owned and built such a car I'd never have sold it.
One of the guys in my car club just bought a '55 gasser this weekend! It's a 427 4 speed car that was built 30 years ago, and the owner passed away. His son finished putting the car back together recently to sell it. It's about as perfect in stance and drivetrain as they get for me. He's planning to change tires, and wheels, but nothing else on it. He already removed the front bumper, which I think helped the look too. Interior is fairly stock except for 60's Chevelle buckets, and a cut down Chevelle back seat.
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One of the guys in my car club just bought a '55 gasser this weekend! It's a 427 4 speed car that was built 30 years ago, and the owner passed away. His son finished putting the car back together recently to sell it. It's about as perfect in stance and drivetrain as they get for me. He's planning to change tires, and wheels, but nothing else on it. He already removed the front bumper, which I think helped the look too. Interior is fairly stock except for 60's Chevelle buckets, and a cut down Chevelle back seat.
Have had both,Gassers look cool and draw attention but ain't much of a car in regards to actually driving compared to a proper set up car at normal ride height and a proper size front tire. If you want to build a car that looks better then it drives, a gasser is the ticket.
Cool, I have 8 inches of rubber on the ground with Wilwood 11 inch rotors up front with coil overs on all 4 corners
When I was a kid late 60s early 70s, shrunken heads, tiki, big daddy roth, wacky ads, all of that sort of thing was the rage. Heads and skulls on rear view mirrors, stickers, shirts, all over the place. Anyone remember the plastic module you could build of a skull with a German WWI helmet and a pair of john Lennon round yellow tint glasses?
We had neighbors who belonged to one of the local churches. The church ran a two week "vacation bible school" in the summer. They were not particular in any way shape or form as to who attended. They were pretty progressive that way so all of the Presbyterians, Lutherans, Roman Catholics, Methodists, you name it, all the neighborhood kids would attend. My entire neighborhood would attend every summer. Summer after getting out of 7th grade, they had a missionary from Africa in to give a little talk about his work and the people he had encountered. This had to be summer of 73 or 74 I forget now. Pretty interesting stuff, some humorous stories about the indigenous people not knowing that you eat peanut butter as opposed to spreading it around as a sealer, that kind of thing. After he was finished, they dismissed the younger children and the older kids were told they could stick around for a more intimate discussion of his work.
After he finished, lo and behold, out comes a box and darn, if there was not a shrunken head inside. The story was that one of the chiefs or warriors or someone important had taken this head (i did not inquire further on that) in 1959 and gave it to this missionary as a gift of some sort for his missionary efforts. I guess for convincing him to give up his heathen ways, lol. I have never seen another and I never ever forgot that day.
We had neighbors who belonged to one of the local churches. The church ran a two week "vacation bible school" in the summer. They were not particular in any way shape or form as to who attended. They were pretty progressive that way so all of the Presbyterians, Lutherans, Roman Catholics, Methodists, you name it, all the neighborhood kids would attend. My entire neighborhood would attend every summer. Summer after getting out of 7th grade, they had a missionary from Africa in to give a little talk about his work and the people he had encountered. This had to be summer of 73 or 74 I forget now. Pretty interesting stuff, some humorous stories about the indigenous people not knowing that you eat peanut butter as opposed to spreading it around as a sealer, that kind of thing. After he was finished, they dismissed the younger children and the older kids were told they could stick around for a more intimate discussion of his work.
After he finished, lo and behold, out comes a box and darn, if there was not a shrunken head inside. The story was that one of the chiefs or warriors or someone important had taken this head (i did not inquire further on that) in 1959 and gave it to this missionary as a gift of some sort for his missionary efforts. I guess for convincing him to give up his heathen ways, lol. I have never seen another and I never ever forgot that day.
I was introduced to gassers as a kid. My dads buddy had a 56 oldsgassed. I always wanted one. 45yrs later.
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I built and raced this '55 from '64 to '67. $125. East LA wrecking yard find. Raced at all the local strips, Lions, Irwindale, Fontana, Carlsbad, etc. Straight tube axle with a transverse spring, Muncie 4-speed, '57 Pontiac rear with 5.57 gears and Henry's axles. Built as a bracket car so wheelbase was stretched in front. Always went straight even with a spool. Ran 11.21 @ 121 with a 327 and carburetors and 10.80 @ 129 with a 427 and 5.13 gears. Moved the front axle back to stock wheelbase for the '67 Winter Nationals and ran in B/Gas. In the '60s there were many beautiful Chevy Gassers. I certainly wouldn't run a straight axle on the street, especially if it had the 14 degrees of caster that my car had.
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