Straight Axle Truck?

[HybridK]

Has anyone out there put a straight axle on thier 67-72 for the old gasser look? I've been toying with the idea and wonder if it would look as good as it does in my head... Check out the example below. I'm thinkin with the rear axle shifted forward a few inches, fenderwell headers, stack injection and the pre-requisite 4 speed would make for a pretty cool ride. Any comments?

[andrewmp6]

I have never seen one but it could be done i bet.Have you been to jimmeyerracing.com he sells a straight axle kit and rear ladder bar kit.

[Dano69c10]

subscribed! interested in finding out more.

[HybridK]

I know it's very doable, especially when starting with a 4wd frame. I was just curious if anyone had done it. I know gassers aren't the quickest things on the track, but you don't have to be fast to kick ass!

[andrewmp6]

Only reason i can think of why you don't see them is when they was new the gasser was dead they want to a funny car.Depends what you call fast some of them was like the herny js.

[HybridK]

There was a guy at my old track (New England Dragway) that did this to a '79 Malibu, and it suprisingly looked pretty good. Gassers were still running pretty strong in 67, albeit mostly Willys coupes and Tri-5s. The paradigm of square tubes and straight axles didn't really die out until the birth of Pro Stock and, as you said, an actual sanctioned Funny Car class. I would never be able to afford a build like this, so I was just wondering if anyone has. I know the guys in the racing threads like to shift thier rear axles forward a bunch, so the rest of the build is just a matter of imagination. If there's anyone out there that's done this I'd love to talk to them, and obviously see thier truck. Or, for those with big bucks, I present a challenge...

[D.FENS]

It would probably work out more "period correct" if you built the truck more 70's street freak style instead of gasser (big slot mags or Cragar S/S, flake paint, diamond tuft interior)

I collect 60's and 70's Hot Rod and Car Craft zines. You don't see many axled cars after the van thing got going but people were building them up through the late 70's.

[chevy_mike]

I think the biggest reason you don't see many '60+ era Chevy/GMC trucks done is they went to IFS. '59 and earlier were straight axles so they were easy to give it a gasser looks. It's a lot easier to do a gasser if it's already got leafs/straight axle in the front. This doesn't mean it can't and hasn't been done, just not as common. I think Ford and Dodge changed over to IFS later then GM so you do see some of them done into the mid '60's.