people were bending the old solid single axles in the 50's and still today, to achive the drop. They were I beams too so I do not understand why heating and bending a twin one would be so dangerous.

The reason that ford got rid of the I beams was not because they would snap, the I beam designe is exceptionaly strong when the force is aplied up or down. The problem was with twisting, there was very little in the design to prevent this. Although it did not happen often, it was reason enough to get rid of the setup, or at least that is how a mechanic freind at the Ford delership tells it.

JJ