1935 with 1946 spindles which drag link?

[Ball and Chain]

Originally Posted by flatheadfan

Kevin-

I am not sure what you are trying to do with the '41 drag link. The only reason you would need a '41 drag link is if you are using a '41 spindle. All '35-'48 spindles require a bottom mounted tie rod ends (except the '41). Both the 11A and 78 arms are 1.25" longer than the 48. If you use an 11a or 78 you will find a hard turn to the right will cause the pitman arm to hit the left wishbone. A hard turn to the left and the drag link will hit the oil pan. Stay with the 48.

Hope this helps.

Tom

Sorry im not trying to be a pain, but youre saying run my stock 1935 (48-) pitman arm? The reason I bought a 1941 drag link is my square back spindle is drilled taper down like in this pic, is this not correct?

Thanks Kevin

[flatheadfan]

Kevin-

You have a '41 spindle NOT a '42-'48. Again, use a 48 pitman arm and a '41 drag link..

Tom

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by Ball and Chain

Sorry im not trying to be a pain, but youre saying run my stock 1935 (48-) pitman arm? The reason I bought a 1941 drag link is my square back spindle is drilled taper down like in this pic, is this not correct?

Thanks Kevin

I don't have a SQUARE-back spindle near-by to look at, but I thought that the drag link hole was tapered from the top also, as in this drawing. DD

[V8COOPMAN]

Really GOOD write-up above, Tom. You obviously understand this oddball 1941 stuff. DD

[Ball and Chain]

I found an old pic before it was all taken apart to restore the front end
Does this help?

[Randy in ca]

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Kevin, didn't take the time to read this whole thread and not sure why Tom says you have '41 spindles, which are round. Those in your picture above are clearly '42-'48 square backs.

[flatheadfan]

Randy-

To the best of my knowledge the only year Ford used a top fit drag link spindle was in '41 (11A-3105). I have never seen a round spindle only the square type but that doesn't mean a round type doesn't exist. It just means I have never seen one.

Enclosed is a picture of a '41 spindle on my '35. It is not the best picture but if you look closely you can see it is square with a top load drag link end.

As I understand it, Ford did not make the spindles. So, it could be "possible" that spindles were made by two different suppliers with different backing plate platforms. I doubt if Ford engineering would allow it but, it "could" be possible.

Tom

[flatheadfan]

Another picture:

[Randy in ca]

Originally Posted by flatheadfan

Randy-

To the best of my knowledge the only year Ford used a top fit tie rod end spindle was in '41 (11A-3105). Enclosed is a picture of a '41 spindle on my '35. It is not he best picture but if you look closely you can see it is square with a top load tie rod end. As I understand it, Ford did not make the spindles. So, it could be "possible" that spindles were made by two different suppliers with different backing plate platforms. I doubt if Ford engineering would allow it but, it "could" be possible.

Tom

OK, as I said, I read very little of the thread and was basing my comments about Kevin's spindle entirely on the picture he posted above, which if you look closely has the tie rod end coming up from the bottom the same as all other 1942-48 spindles.

I admit to not knowing a lot about the 1941 spindles, other than they're the "odd man of the bunch" and that they're not even all the same from one model to the next. This is the first I've ever heard of a "square back" 1941 though - perhaps a very late version? Are you sure your's are from 1941 and that they couldn't be 1942 or later with the tie rod arm ends re-tapered?

[flatheadfan]

Randy-

I bought them new ($5), from a local Ford dealer in 1960 when I was converting my '35 over to hydraulics. As I recall the part number was on the tags. They are definitely untouched '41s.

Tom

[Mart]

The arrow is pointing to the tie rod, the drag link is behind it and the ball is entering from above. All tie rods enter from below, regardless of year.*

*Edit: Post 34 that is.

[flatheadfan]

Mart-

You are correct, all tie rods enter on the bottom. Only the '41 drag link is attached from the top. I think there has been a misused of terms. The drag link is the what the question is about not the tie rod.

Thanks

Tom

[scooder]

The square back spindles on my 42 pickup were tapered from the top, I've used square back spindles a time or two in the past, these were also tapered from the top. Talking about the drag link hole in the spindle.
I'd say that it ain't only 1941 that was tapered from the top, I believe the only round back spindles tapered from the top are 1941.
Just my observations an experience.
Martin.

[Randy in ca]

Seems to me we're talking "apples and oranges" here. Are we referring to the tie rod or the drag link or what? If you re-read my previous post I stated "the tie rod end coming up from the bottom the same as all other 1942-48 spindles". I didn't even mention the drag link, but I could have also added that as far as they go all 1942-48 enter from the top. I stand by my statement that the one pictured above by Kevin is a 1942-48 as it meets all of these criteria.

[flatheadfan]

Seems like this post series is getting more and more confused. Tie rods connect on the bottom. Whereas the '41 drag link (also possible some '42s) connect from the top and use a 11A-3306-B (bent design). The '42-'48 use 21A-3306 drag link (non bent). Evidently, 41's can have a round or square back. This should keep everybody happy!

Tom

[Randy in ca]

Well I see that you have edited you original post (#28) Tom, replacing the original "tie rod" with "drag link" and citing the reason as a spelling error. However your original post to which I was replying and where you were referring to tie rod ends is still highlighted in red were I quoted it and replied in post #30. I have often thought that the edit function is frequently abused and this is but one more example.

[JSeery]

Well, as you can see from my first post, I was confused from the beginning, and it hasn't gotten much better! (from my prospective of confusion). Now I'm headed out to the garage to look at some spindles!!!!

[JSeery]

That help! Thanks Coop.

[skidmarks]

Just to make it even hard for anyone reading this. I cut up a rough 42 ford business coupe and it had round back spindles and the early style 1939 to 41 backing plates. This was an all original car that wasnt pieced together or parts swapped around. Fricken round back spindles!!!

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by skidmarks

Just to make it even hard for anyone reading this. I cut up a rough 42 ford business coupe and it had round back spindles and the early style 1939 to 41 backing plates. This was an all original car that wasnt pieced together or parts swapped around. Fricken round back spindles!!!

I could imagine THIS scenario of parts being used, especially on an EARLY '42, which was a short-lived production run anyway. I've never seen a specific release date for the "new" SQUARE spindles, nor for the LATER style backing plates. Everyone should remember that the round spindles and the square spindles required DIFFERENT-length king pins. DD