What axel/ make cheap gasser/66 cuda

[Budget mopar guy]

I’m about to start my 1966 barracuda project. I’ve owned the car for 22 years. I bought it when I was 14 years old. My ultimate goal is to make it a cost-effective gasser race car. I need to do everything on a budget so I’m looking for front axles that would be a wise choice for this project. I would prefer something out of an older truck and I’ve also heard rumblings of looking at old Jeep axles. Things I need to consider are going to be steering components And the availability of parts for brakes and what not has anybody done this conversion before ? Any guidance would be helpful. At this point, I really don’t have any interest in buying a $3000 kit. If I can’t put this together and do a lot of the DIY work to save money than I would just leave the car with the factory suspension. But I kind of have my heart set on making this thing a gas or because I think the era in which the car was made, it would just look absolutely rad.

 

[melcardona]

I’m about to start my 1966 barracuda project. I’ve owned the car for 22 years. I bought it when I was 14 years old. My ultimate goal is to make it a cost-effective gasser race car. I need to do everything on a budget so I’m looking for front axles that would be a wise choice for this project. I would prefer something out of an older truck and I’ve also heard rumblings of looking at old Jeep axles. Things I need to consider are going to be steering components And the availability of parts for brakes and what not has anybody done this conversion before ? Any guidance would be helpful. At this point, I really don’t have any interest in buying a $3000 kit. If I can’t put this together and do a lot of the DIY work to save money than I would just leave the car with the factory suspension. But I kind of have my heart set on making this thing a gas or because I think the era in which the car was made, it would just look absolutely rad.

many old school gassers used the 30s pick up truck front axils.....same springs shackels ect in the 70/s the vaga gearbox was then used....this 50 chevy was my street gasser...fun to build ..i had a full frame....you might have to add???

 

[junkyardhero]

when i was flirting with the idea of a gasser 64/65 dart wagon my searches lead me to speedway and i was eyeing their gasser straight axle kits. 900~1200 gets a pretty complete piece of kit with either chevy or ford spindles and modern brakes.

however if you're looking to go a little more budget than that, 60's vans had I beams. downside would be brakes...

 

[mopar head]

I would just leave the car with the factory suspension.

What I would recommend.

 

[Demonracer]

By the time you are said and done trying to put a straight axle under your car, you will be well over the $3,000.00 dollar mark. Most of the used components you will fins are older than your car and probably worn out or someone else's problem they want to unload. Straight axles for a daily driver is not for the faint of heart, they have bump steer if not correctly installed and have a tendency to wander. My suggestion would be to stay with your original torsion bar suspension, rebuild it with the best parts you can afford and enjoy driving it anywhere.

 

[Darter6]

60's vans had I beams.

Dodge or Ford Econoline . Like you I went round and round with thoughts of doing a gasser 63 Belvedere.
Had a woman say she had a Dodge A100 front axle and springs cluttering up her back yard and just come and get it..
Husband was standing behind shaking his head NO... Speedway has a nice kit but many said it's for light weight, not a B body. Fine for a A Body.
Cost factor kept me from doing it and I just went with Ma Mopar's cranked up torsion bars. Looked good but drove like crap.
That said I have a choice to crank it up or down. P.S. You can remove the upper control arm bump stop from the frame for additional height.
Cost factor was zero using what I had.. My 2 cents.

 

[71GSSDemon]

Check out The Hamb. That is the premiere hot rod site. They know what would be best to use. If not wanting a new kit from Speedway, you will be rebuilding somw very old parts, but parts are readily available. @MomsDuster recently did this. Maybe he could help with what he used

 

[408 swinger]

We used an Econoline on dad's 64 cuda. Narrowed it six inches. It's a forged piece, so, welding is no problem. Used a hodge podge of parts for front brakes. Factory hubs with Dakota 4x4 front rotors and fabbed brackets to use with the slider A body calipers. Used the Econo springs as well.

 

[408 swinger]