VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 procedure change knee action to straight axle 38MD

1938 MD..Is changing cross member only thing to do on KnA frame ? will spring mounts hookup as is or something needs to change here also ? frame horns change ? how about drag link and tie rod ? same as KnA ? use same backing plates and brakes ? sc

Chevrolet made a change-over kit for that purpose. It came with the complete instructions and was several pages long. I have the instructions some place but can not find them.erhaps some one else has a copy. I feel it would be dangerous to attempt this with out the proper instructions.

If you need to drill holes you will need to be sure they are aligned correctly or the car will travel like a crab (sideways).
Tony

Also parts can not be just bolted to the frame rails. Spacers must be installed inside of the box section rails to prevent the rails from colasping together amd the bolts must go completely through the rail.

good info, project won't start for a while,would be nice to see change over instructions from GM..sc

I took a look at underside of front frame rails and horns,I see no holes drilled,does that mean I have to drill them ?? looking like a big project .. car is a 38 MD 2 dr sdn..I have a chance to buy straight front axle and springs..any help much appreciated..Spencer

BG38,

If you already have the crossmember for a 38 Standard then it seems to me you also need the other stuff that is used with this from tend. One way to determine this is to look at one. Good luck with the conversion.

Still, I would wonder why you want to go to the trouble to change to a simple front end and trash the superior knee-action one. The knee-action were great in that they had a better ride and drive outcome than the lowley standart one.

I question whether it might be better to just simply bite the bullet and have the knee-action elements rebuilt and replace other worn parts on the front end you now have and are what come on the car.

You may be thinking that you are doing youself a favor by trying to lower the cost of bebuild but in the long run that may not be realized. Such a change out may not produce the results expected.

I encourage you to reconsider what you plan on doing. Because many folks dislike the great improvements made by Cheveolet that is not always a reason to afandon them. Same with the vacuum assist on the 39-48 transmissions. Rather than replace the worn parts some merely change to a simple lever to save a fwe pennys. It's a shame but true.

Please rethink this plan.

Best,
Charlie

I agree with the above. Why would you want to go through a lot of work to make the car ride and handle like a 1931 model.
Also some or many of the well used straight axle parts may need replacing and you will have a whole new set of problems and expenses.

My question was, should have the frame rails been pre-drilled from factory for either setup or is the frame rails completely different ? I realize the cross member is different,..does one have to start from scratch ? if I decide to do this ? sc

The frame rails will be drilled differntly and you will be "starting from scratch".

Thanks much Gene that's what I needed to know...I had a 35 Std sedn with straight axle drove good and had good feel of the road,,comment about driving like a model A,I have 3 model A's that drive good.ha ha..sc

A Model A, 1935 Standard and a 1938 straigt axle car drives "good" compared to other straight axle cars of those years. The knee-action ride and steering is head and shoulders above those models when steering is "tight" and knees working good.