[1971BB427]

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.

 

[1971BB427]

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.

 

[1971BB427]

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.

 

[1971BB427]

Anyone who loves a certain style of car always compromises something when they own it. In the case of lowered cars they give up ground clearance. High performance cars accept lower MPG. Gassers will generally ride firmer, and not corner like sports cars.
But for those who don't want to own a particular style of car it's easy to say it's because of this or that, when in reality most haven't owned one to really know the deficits, or pluses of that type of car.
A gasser with a solid axle can and does drive as good or better than any older pickup with a solid axle. If set up properly a 50's or 60's solid front axle pickup makes a great driver. And with upgraded brakes they drive and stop well. And this isn't any different for a gasser with the same setup.
Any gasser I've built has been able to stop and drive well. I've never had any concern whether I could stop in a timely manner, or take a drive down long curvy, winding roads. I've had more than one panic stop where all four tires were smoking from having to suddenly hit the brakes hard, and no problem.
I realize a wide front tire, and lower stance will corner better, and maybe stop in less distance. But not enough difference for me to give up the style of vehicles I love the most. I've got another vehicle with lower stance, and wider tires all around, and it has it's deficits also, which I accept when driving it as just part of enjoying that style also.
I don't understand why people who don't care for a certain style of build seem insistent on cutting them down? If you don't like them, that's fine. But no reason to go out of your way to make them look like they're unsafe, or shouldn't be on the road.

 

[1971BB427]

I've only used one Speedway tube axle, and that was because I needed an axle for my Austin gasser that was 38" kingpin to kingpin. Buying a wider Speedway tube, and cutting it down was easier than narrowing an I beam axle. I like the Speedway axle, but considering the cost of their kit I don't use them anymore, and instead just narrow factory truck I beam axles. I also like the look of an I beam axle much more than a tube axle.
My Austin with a narrowed Speedway tube axle.

My '63 Falcon with BBC engine I used a '67 Econoline I beam axle in. Swapped in disc brakes.

My '39 Chev coupe I put a '58 Chev truck axle I narrowed 5" and converted to disc brakes.

'35 Plymouth coupe I did a chrome drop tube with coilovers and hairpins for a member of my car club.

Another I did for a club member. A '68 Nova with Econoline axle I swapped to disc brakes also.

I get far more requests to do solid front axle installs than I prefer to do. I turn most down, unless it's a good friend. But the "fad" seems to still be going strong, as I see more and more in recent years.

 

[1971BB427]

I thought the same thing. Looks set forward. Have you measured the wheelbase and compared it to stock length?
I actually like them set forward slightly myself.

 

[1971BB427]

The reason guys set them forward back in the day was for weight transfer. If your number one spark plug is behind your spindle centerline you will transfer weight far far easier.

They weren't set forward "back in the day" if they ran in one of the Gas Classes, as Gas class didn't allow wheelbase to be different than stock length. If the wheelbase was moved they had to run one of the other classes liked Altered, A/FX, etc. where it was OK.
But I always move mine forward about 1"-1.5" just because it looks better when the frontend is higher.

 

[1971BB427]

14 degrees is pretty severe inclination, and not sure why anyone would use that much on a Tri 5 with a fairly long wheelbase? I went somewhat more kingpin inclination on my Austin gasser because it's an 89" wheelbase, and needs more to go straight at high speeds. But I went 10 degrees and it handles great, and runs straight, even at speeds of 100 mph.