55 Chevy straight axle

Well, I'M gonna do it anyway. I posted a response a little while ago to a fellow in Hawaii, my post was about why not do it, to his question about a straight axle kit. To a man you guys said no, don't do it. All the responses were in favor of at least keeping a stock IFS, and or lowering it, or going all the way to an aftermarket IFS. So I went back to my old stomping grounds at Chevy Talk.com. I got all the support and advise I needed. To a man it was all positive. What works, what doesn't, and answers to my loads of questions. You guys could not or would not give me any first hand experiences of your own. Just, "the kid down the street built one and it handled like crap" , type stories. I needed more "proof" that a straight axle is bad, all I got from you guys was don't do it. I wanted reasons, from experiences, to real enginering. And I don't mean "money" engineering. So, just thought I'd let you guys know I'm gonna be at Chevy Talk. I'm 56_Gary there. See ya's.................

Well Gary, your having to do a "neener-neener" post speaks volumes..........................................about you!

But, if you follow through on the project, you WILL have proof.

I guess i did come off a little "neerer-neerer" as you put it. I was just trying convey my thoughts about how you guys are..........I can't think of a way to put it........one track minded, that the only way to do something is your way. Cookie cutter cars are not my way. And throw money at it to make it a cookie cutter car is not my way either. Yes it speaks volumes about me. A little more "inventive" maybe, or a little more "try to make an idea work", and less follow what everbody else does. It's to bad my one experience here has turned out.....um, not well. I like to think I'm a bit more of a free thinker. See ya's...............

Just out of curiosity I went over to the chevy talk site. The way I read the replys, many pointed out the same problems with a straight axel that were posted here. The big difference was instead of trying to talk you into a well handeling car they encouraged you to go foward with it based on the LOOKS of the car, not it's drivability.

From the pictures of the straight axel tri-5s posted the term cookie cutter seems to apply to your project as well, (looks to me like you will be copying someones elses work too).

You asked for an opinions here and got them, sorry they were not what you wanted to hear.

Oh by the way.... as far as driving one of these cars, I have, for a while just before the butchered frame was replaced with a stock one and upgraded suspension so the owner COULD actually drive the car cross country.

You can put a van straight axle under your car and it will work fine. I built one and I have driven it at the drag strip in the 10's at 120 with no problems. I use the original 10 inch drum brakes. I had springs made at a local spring shop but only because I had limited room forward of the axle.I used a 66 Dodge A-100 but I am sure you could use an econoline or chevy light van Ibeam axle. I bought mine at a junkyard for 100.00. I had the guy at the yard torch off the frame mounts and got the shackles also. After I put it in I tightened down the original brake lines to the 65 Plymouth and bled the system. The brakes worked with the original rubber brake lines. I have driven the car on the freeway and in town. The brakes are a little grabby and I am not going rallying with it but that's not really my kind of thing anyway.

You can put a van straight axle under your car and it will work fine. I built one and I have driven it at the drag strip in the 10's at 120 with no problems. I use the original 10 inch drum brakes. I had springs made at a local spring shop but only because I had limited room forward of the axle.I used a 66 Dodge A-100 but I am sure you could use an econoline or chevy light van Ibeam axle. I bought mine at a junkyard for 100.00. I had the guy at the yard torch off the frame mounts and got the shackles also. After I put it in I tightened down the original brake lines to the 65 Plymouth and bled the system. The brakes worked with the original rubber brake lines. I have driven the car on the freeway and in town. The brakes are a little grabby and I am not going rallying with it but that's not really my kind of thing anyway.

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Originally posted by Streets
I guess ya skipped over MY post where I said that ALL my rods had str8 axels and it takes some time getting use to driving with them, and that they DON'T handle as well as the IFS does.. IF all ya wanted to hear was, "Go ahead it will be fine", then why did ya bother to ask! and I truly hope that ya don't come back either..
Streets... :LOL:

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Your being down right ill tempered to a guy who just wanted advice on how much of a detriment if any a straight axle would be.

Hes right if he installs a straight axle at least his tri-5 wont be another cookie cutter hot rod. once again ive got to say REAL rods have straight axles. Street rods have after market IFS installed. Anyways you can get just as good a ride from a properly setup straight axle as you can an independant front end and you can get them as low or as high as youd ever want as well. By the way what looks better under a rod, some clunky complicated IFS or a nice simple straight axle?

Id apreciate it if ya didnt email me any more dirty little notes....Streets

We all like to get on our high horses don't we...

can't we just leave each other alone, build a bridge and get over it?

Rodding is about building an old car the way we want, whether that is a bellybutton, or somthing we consider individual. In most cases someone else has done it that way before anyway....

We can always find somthing to complain about, if someone doesn't want to hang out here, well that's their choice. If we think we've done somthing to prompt that, then deal with it, fix it and get over it. We don't need to complain and make it worse....

I count my self in this, so I'm not aiming it at anyone in particular....

Outback

you try to be helpful and tell a girl her guy is a loser and you lose a friend.

Bye Bye miss 55
Drive your Chevy to the levee and keep on going.

I bet if we told you to quit smoking you'd go find a website that says smokling is good.
later biatch

I have both styles of cars now. I first did a frame off build on a 55 Chevy that took 4 years to complete. Swore I would never sell it! I was going to build a straight axle gasser and unfortunetly let my friends talk me out of it. So I lowered it pro touring style. Put tube a-arms 4 wheel disc brakes air bags 18's in the rear and 17's in the front and it handled life a Corvette! I thought it was the bomb! Couldn't wait to take it to a car show. When I finally made it to its first car show and parked it I couldn't find it in the crowd. They all looked the same! I sold it 3 months later and started building what I really wanted a straight axle. Got all my parts from Speedway and I am glad to say my straight axle 56 Chevy is complete and I couldn't be happier! It doesn't handle as good as my lowered 55 did but Hell who cares? As long as it goes straight and stops on a dime with 9 cents change to me thats all that counts! So far a best time of 12 20,s in the 1/4 but I know she will make into the 11's. At 121 miles per hour she floats on a cloud no problem. And she turns twice as many heads and thumbs up as my lowered 55 did. At the car shows even in primer black (its permanent color) it always draws a crowd. People will walk past a $50,000 tangelo lowered magazine car and take a picture of mine! I love it! I still own a pro touring 61 biscaine its a great parts runner! LOL! I also just picked up a 2dr 55 wagon gasser, Fun Fun..Anyways build your car the way YOU want and don't let anyone talk you out of it! Straight axle cars are fun and if done right are just as safe as a cookie cutter. I heard someone say straight axle cars are cookie cutter cars too? Well all I know is that there are only a couple in my hood and mine is one of them, the other 999 are lowered belly buttons. There is another site ran by Walt who owns the original two lane blacktop car. Its called two lane black top home page. Its full of tri-five gasser lovers like us check it out 55 straight axle you will fit right in as we all think outside the box there. I am glad you decided to go straight axle you will be very happy! Oh by the way the Biscaine is for sale, gotta make room for the wagon.....
Just my 2 cents worth......

yo 55 straight
Everybody tried to talk me out of building my 57 with a glass tilt nose because" it will be a pain to keep from cracking, blah, blah. Well I did it anyway and seven years later it is fine and like 55 chevylover says when people see that front end tilted up they just gotta take a look. My next deal will be just what you are doing, and if done right will be fine. Do it your way cause you only have one dude to keep happy, the one in the mirror. Good luck

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Originally posted by 55 straight ax
You guys could not or would not give me any first hand experiences of your own. Just, "the kid down the street built one and it handled like crap"

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I posted a pic. of my panel truck (Str8 axle). I said it handled O.K. I think that's first hand experience since I drove that panel truck for 'bout 14 years. :(

Why so defensive? Iz' it sooooo nesesary to get approval to build your car the way you want? Apparently your looking for approval or you wouldn't have posted in the first place. When you ask for an opinion chances are you'll get one. No need to get defensive just because you don't agree with the opinions you get.

this is not aimed at anyone directly but here goes, a perosns hould build a car the way he or she wants it. whoc ares what anyone else thinks if it makes you happy do it!!!!!!. and besdies, gassers do kick major ass:3dSMILE: :3dSMILE: :3dSMILE: :toocool: :toocool: :toocool: ............scooter

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Originally posted by five-seven
yo 55 straight
Everybody tried to talk me out of building my 57 with a glass tilt nose because" it will be a pain to keep from cracking, blah, blah. Well I did it anyway and seven years later it is fine and like 55 chevylover says when people see that front end tilted up they just gotta take a look. My next deal will be just what you are doing, and if done right will be fine. Do it your way cause you only have one dude to keep happy, the one in the mirror. Good luck

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Five-seven and gassers rule are right build what makes YOU happy and no one else (except maybe your wife),,,,, And gassers do rule absolutely no doubt about that!!!

In your opinion they rule, in my opinion they are an ill handling car that will at best do ok in a straight line. Don't try to change my opinion, and I won't try to change yours. How about we just leave it at that???

maybe your not man enough to handle them? :eek: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: **) .........scooter

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Originally posted by gassersrule_196
maybe your not man enough to handle them? :eek: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: **) .........scooter

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Nah ah, I'm tellin' Mom again................. Historically I've observed, people resort to name calling after they've run outta' verbal ammo. You wouldn't be shootin' blanks now wood' ga'. Not to speak for Dave, but I believe he has MORE experience with what works and what doesn't then both of us put together. Just an observation from someone who doesn't care if it has a str8 axle, I.F.S. or skids on it. :CRY: :CRY: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL:

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Originally posted by techinspector1
Aw, pro, he's only 17. He doesn't know anything about anything yet. Dave has forgotten more than scooter will ever know.

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Richard- accounting for the lad's age..you are kind.

Skill and experience by the responders to the original thread, not being accepted in the context intended is unconscionable.

It's frustrating when you know all the answers, but nobody bothers to ask you the questions!

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Originally posted by Walt Zander
Richard- accounting for the lad's age..you are kind.

Skill and experience by the responders to the original thread, not being accepted in the context intended is unconscionable.

It's frustrating when you know all the answers, but nobody bothers to ask you the questions!

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I just came in fer' a break. I'm headin' back out to the toy room for a while B4 I run outta' ambition. Workin' on my "I.F.S. STRUT FRONT END" don't cha' know. He HE HE:LOL: :LOL: :LOL: **)

Ok Gasser that's it, got to your room. Your grounded. Children should be seen and not heard. Nuff said.....

And oh, btw, when you've done a few laps in twin engine enduro karts, super modifieds, sprint cars, late models, front engine dragsters, rear engine dragsters, super gas cars, bracket cars, and yes, a '56 gasser with a CAE straight ax, '57 Poncho rear with 48" ladder bars, and a dual 4 427ci on methanol, come talk to me again about driving.

Does your mom know you are being rude on her computer, pup???

Dave sounds like you have been around almost as long as me. I have seen it all been there done that and the pro-street show car movement. hot rodding's biggest shame. cars that looked like superstockers yet never ran more than 3 mph on and off their trialers. two superchargers poking frm a 500+ ci engine chromed to even its interior, not 11 (11s are actually a very good size for the street in a high-powered car), but 16 inch wide tires, completely useless suspension treatments to get them as low as possible, and yeah, chutes that never opened. and yeah!!! puke-paint. yup, the pro-street move of the 80s is hot rodding's equivalent to rice. and the fad hasnt gone, but now they are completelly "billetized" cars that are also trailer queens but now they have 22 inch wheels, power-everything, and a stock 350 LT1 for power. Back to the pro-street thing, I rememmber when Car Craft mag made its"ultimate street machine shootout" or some **** like that, and called the top Pro-street cars of the era (late 80s) into action at the drag strip. mid 13, high 12s were the result. The ProStreet movement faded from there, and has remained relativelly silent for the past years, thankfully.
however, I'd like to add that the Gasser cars, with the sky-high nose and monoleaf srping atop a straight axle and a monster motor are a danged effective way to do what they want to do: 1/4 times!!! I assume you know why the engine setback/alteredwheelbase/nose-high formula was used, all in search for traction, and you should know that these setups are SURPRISINGLY effective for straight acceleration. these cars are real strip monsters, unlike those ProStreeters (there are a handful of proStreeters that run hard, too, but most of those were show-ers) that were seen in the late 80s. The gasser movement is gaining strenght and you can see 55 chevys and even old fords and studes made the gasser way and beating the snot out of another cars at the strip, then driving home. and they arent as unstable as they seem, they are just way high n their front end. I defend the gasser movement over the pro street and pro touring move everyday, because, apart from being more effective and practical than a prostreeter (try to pass a bump with a 1-inch ground clearance. now try it on your striaght-axler), they look immmensely cool and brutal. The real thing now in hot rodding is Pro-Touring, a complete 21st century performer in the body of an old car. independant suspensions, 4-wheel discs, electronic management, modern turbo and supercharging systems, overdriven or electronically controled trans, you know, the lot. now you have a car that beats every Ferrari and Z06 and Skyline in the road, witht he looks of a 69 Camaro or a 70 GTX. But still doesn't compare to the looks of a GASSER! I have both and my gasser turns more heads and is way funner to drive.

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Originally posted by Dave Severson
Ok Gasser that's it, got to your room. Your grounded. Children should be seen and not heard. Nuff said.....

And oh, btw, when you've done a few laps in twin engine enduro karts, super modifieds, sprint cars, late models, front engine dragsters, rear engine dragsters, super gas cars, bracket cars, and yes, a '56 gasser with a CAE straight ax, '57 Poncho rear with 48" ladder bars, and a dual 4 427ci on methanol, come talk to me again about driving.

Does your mom know you are being rude on her computer, pup???

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Stop, stop your killing me

age dont mean nothing. ...... and to 55chevylover hell yes i agree with you. gassers are the best period!!!!!!!! i dont care what anyone says about them either i think they are so cool. and they turn way more heads than "cookie cutters"...........scooter:toocool: :toocool: ......

You are right, gasser. Age doesn't mean anything. So why is it you are so down on us old farts?? We have been more places and done more things then you can even imagine at this point in your life. You think the gasser look is best, fine, so be it. For me it is just deja vu. I was there when it was in vogue the first time. It was fun then but I now prefer other things.

And my other point is this. Please don't threaten me or swear at me again. It does absolutely nothing to further your cause or the respect (or in this case lack of it) you will garner on this forum. Age and experience are both excellent teachers. Relax and learn.

Thanks, Bill.....

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Originally posted by 55chevylover
pro-street show car movement. hot rodding's biggest shame.

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O.K. ..... O.K. .... I guess this is where I should jump in and be offended that sumbudie' iz' pickin' on pro streeterz' He He HE
Since I'm buildin' a pro street with all kinds O' billet parts.

My billet parts don't have part numbers stamped on em' tho.:LOL: :LOL: :LOL: **)

Yup, me too Pro. Had a couple of them Pro Street shamemobiles myself.......

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Originally posted by Dave Severson
Yup, me too Pro. Had a couple of them Pro Street shamemobiles myself.......

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Should we feel bad about our sad selves ? :LOL:

Yup, guess it's back to drag racing at Thunder Valley for us!!! Spose they got a geezer class bye now??? Seriously (believe it or not), maybe I should cruize down I-80 next year and we could tag team it to Goat's house for the Woodward Cruize night??? Gonna have that shameful maro done by then?????

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Originally posted by Dave Severson
Yup, guess it's back to drag racing at Thunder Valley for us!!! Spose they got a geezer class bye now??? Seriously (believe it or not), maybe I should cruize down I-80 next year and we could tag team it to Goat's house for the Woodward Cruize night??? Gonna have that shameful maro done by then?????

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Yup... I can see it now...instead of christmas tree lights they'll hang a calendar on a post. He HE HE

I won't have the maro done by then but that wouldn't stop me from cruisin to Woodward. I'm in for next year. I'll bet BG will have his runnin' by then.

Isn't it the truth, Pro??? I was down there a couple years ago, made a pass in a friends Super Comp digger. He said it was a good straight pass, i did things right, got the laundry out in time, and even managed to leave on THE RIGHT DAY!!!! RT was a .3 and some change...........


hmmmmm. Going to have to give some thought to the Woodward deal. Might be a fun trip.

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Originally posted by mrmustang
gassersrule_196,

If your going to post like a wannabe MTV induced gangster from "da hood", your posts will disappear. we do not have time to edit out the profanity from your posts every single time you get yourself worked up, so I'm only going to say it once, here, and quite in public (since you too do not respond to my offline emails). Don't use profanity in your posts, stop, sit back, look at what you just typed out before you hit the submit button. Perhaps you neerd to reread my thread title "respect'respect'respect".............

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you havent sent me one email. i emailed u and asked why u closed a 283 forum u told me why. that was the only email you have sent me.......scooter:whacked: **)

i still never got the emails....... i get emails telling me someone replied to my last post. those are the only emails i get from chr. i am not trying to start a neener neener fight but i havent got the emails.

btw: i think im going to take a step back for a week or so. so see ya alls ins a weeks or so's:LOL: :eek: **)

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Originally posted by Streets
I just called the guy that I sold the '33 "Blue Ghost" to and told him that he should be ashamed to keep drivin' it unless he puts it back the way it wuz before I "Tubbed/pro-street'd" it.. He said he didn't give a *^%$$#@^**&^% what anyone said anyway, IT's HIS ride and the people that don't like it are Jerks... hehehe.. :LOL: :p

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Yea' U gotta watch those pro street guyz' ...... They're trouble I tell ya' Nuttin' but trouble. :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: **)