hot rod joe

Hey all. I finally settled on a Mopar drivetrain for my 37, now I am working on putting a front suspension under it. I want to go independent front suspension and went to street rod engineering in Cedar Rapids today. Found out I messed up when I took out the straight axle without doing some measuring. I was told in needed to find the centerline for the wheels or where the axle would be, before I could put a crossmember under the front. So I am at a crossroads. I don't have the front axle anymore or the front springs. How do I find the center of the wheel base or axle line to install a crossmember for the front?
I have searched the internet but can't find what I am looking for. In fact I am not sure what I am looking for. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions on where to look or how to find the centerline to place the crossmember?
Thanks
Joe

Iowan

Do you have the body on the frame at this piont?
If you have the body on frame you can use the center of the wheel opening to find the axle center line on the frame. But you want to have everything perfect as far as where it will set when finished. Setup rear axle and get your wheel base correct. You will need to assemble the car to the point of the fenders being on and probably the complete front sheet metal.

Iowan

You find the center of the wheel opening and use a plumb bob on both sides of the car to the height of the frame and go across it, this will need to be square with the frame so you will need to make minor compromises on both sides. This will be the center of the axle. Same on the back. This is important you must start with the frame being square because if you don't and start welding cross members in the frame will never be square again.

Iowan

I just noticed were your from, I'm up nere Mason City.

hot rod joe

I am in Coralville, just outside Iowa City. I don't have either axle in the car, the whole drivetrain is gone except for the rear leaf springs. I left them in to have for an axle when I find one so I have a place to start on setting up the rear axle.
Can I go off the nubs sticking up on the leaf springs where the rear axle would rest. Get the wheelbase and go from there? if I get the wheelbase, and measure forward, should that tell me where the centerline would be? Or am I not thinking on the same RR track and am off line with that thought?
Joe

Iowan

That is one way to do it but most street rods have a sweet spot as far as where the wheels sit in the wheel opening. It might not be the same thing that the factory did all those years ago. Plus you are probably having it set much lower than it originally did. I'd go with the wheel opening.

RacerHog

I agree with Iowan.... Plumb bob all four corners and see what you come up with....
If you got the rear springs in the car? Start at that point, Them plumb bob the front fenders and measure that and see if it is were you want it?
I'm not sure what 37 model your working on???? But are you trying to find the OEM center?

hot rod joe

I am working on a 37 Plymouth Deluxe P4 sedan.

Iowan

I like that! You wife will get a kick out of driving it.🙂

RacerHog

FYI, Looking at some old info out in the shop while I was putting the Old Dodge Warlock back together... From the information that I came across it looks like the Wheelbase would be 132.0"
Coupe's were 112.0"
Hope that gets you close...
Keep us posted... My Pop's had a 37 Desoto. He Won lots of trophies with that car !! So i love the 37,,, just because !!!!