Best Front Axle is it from a Kit or Aftermarket?

[Skip]

What's the best Ford based dropped front I-Beam Front Axle does it come in a currently available kit or from one of the resin casters current offerings? What's the best round tube dropped axle available? How about straight axles for Street Rods or Gassers?

Oppinions and experiences appreciated.

[Bernard Kron]

Best aftermarket:

ThePartsBox.com

They offer two flavors:

Mild Drop:

Wild Drop
(with or without spring and also as a full "Axle Pack" with Buick finned drum brakes):

They also have introduced a straight axle set, with our without springs, although I haven't used it yet:

Best styrene kit axles:

Revell '40 Ford Coupe and Convertible and '48 Ford Custom Droppped Front Axle
(no spring - it's what ThePartsBox.com used as the basis for their Wild Drop - see above)

Revell/Monogram '37 Ford Sedan kit axle, also found in '36 Ford Coupe/Convertible and '37 Ford Pickup kits:

Example with spring reversed to place it behind the axle

Revell "Rat Rod" '29 Ford Roadster Pickup and '30 Ford Sedan Dropped Axle.

This is chromed and offers posable steering. Not as deep a drop as the '40 and '37 Ford axles but includes a molded-in spring.

I have used it but don't have a decent picture of it.

Edited November 12, 2013 by Bernard Kron

[Skip]

Thanks Bernard, that's a nice start. Anyone else got a favorite front axle, let's hear about it.

[Ace-Garageguy]

My personal favorite dropped beam axle (which Bernard already mentioned) is in the Revell 1/25 Model A kits. It comes with mechanical brakes and pose-able steering, but it's easily converted to hydraulic post '39 brakes (hot-rod standard fare). Most of the 1/25 Revell A kits include both dropped AND stock. This one has had the ends drilled for different spindles and steering.

For those of you who know what it is, a really excellent "dropped and filled" beam axle comes in the last release AlaKart kit.

And a very nice tubular axle with a little drop, also easily converted to working steering, is in the old Revell / Monogram super-modified dirt track kit, shown here on another build...

And honestly, the ubiquitous dropped tube axle in all the Revell 1/25 '32 Fords is really pretty darn good.

Edited November 13, 2013 by Ace-Garageguy

[zenrat]

The Parts Box axles all have wires cast into them.

Resin axles without this feature will bend over time leaving your rod looking like a "stanced" rice burner.

IMO you don't need to look anywhere else for all your resin axle needs.