I built the grill shell to hold a '64 Mustagn radiator with an electric fan. I may use a mechanical fan if there is enough room - to make it look more period correct.
The axle is indeed a '53 Ford truck, narrowed 6 inches, smoothed and drilled full of lightening holes. While most cars of that era ran only rear brakes operated by a hand lever I am going to run front and rear brakes operable by either the outside hand brake lever or a foot pedal inside the car.
I hope to get an old pilots skull cap, goggles, an old polo stlye helmet and a pair of gauntlet gloves for photo ops.
(For hot laps its a fire suit and Simpson safety equipment tho.)
I forgot the wheelbase - around 111" I think.