Question about fork rake
 

So I purchased a SOMA Wolverine for a really good price. The fork that can be purchased for the wolverine is a 50mm rake and is 400mm from axle to crown. The head tube is 71.5°. I have found another fork that is a 45mm rake and is also 395mm from axle to crown. Will that make a huge difference in handling going to a 45mm rake fork?

Different folks have different sensibility to things like that.
You can undoubtedly find some who'd swear that it's a big influence, in either direction.
Likewise, you'd be able to find people struggling to notice any change.
Only thing that can be said with reasonable certainty is that the bike will remain rideable.

It will increase your HTA by 0.2 - 0.3 deg, so trail will increase from about 61mm to about 68mm. Steering will feel a little slower and more stable, but you're well within the "typical" range.

Is there a way to tell if I will have any toe overlap issues? Before I purchase the fork?

If you have at least 10mm of toe clearance now, you shouldn't experience any overlap with the new fork. Though, IMHO, toe overlap is really no big deal. As a shorter rider, I have toe overlap on almost all my bikes and it's never been a problem -- even racing CX.

You aren't going to feel a 5mm difference.

I drew up the two forks on a fictional bike with 1016mm wheelbase and 72 degree head angle. Going to the second fork (395,45) lowers the trail from 69mm to 66mm and decreases your toe overlap by half a mm.

If indeed the HA is 72 degrees, the quickened steering will be a plus, becoming less of a plus if the HA is steeper. I would make my choice based on tire clearance and intended use. (Big tires and fenders?) If no biking tires, than which fork do I like better? Headtube where it is or half a cm lower?

Ben

Something is not right with your drawings. Decreasing rake almost always increases trail. Just for grins I threw the Wolverine geo into Bikecad and ran the numbers with the two forks. Trail goes from 62mm to 67mm. Front center (toe clearance) drops by 5mm.

Attachment 551925

Attachment 551926

Yeah, that makes sense. If you reduce rake by 5mm, your wheel will be roughly 5mm closer to your toe...

With that slack of a head tube angle you don't want to decrease the rake. If you were to change out the 50 you'd probably be better off going to a 55 than a 45.

I am not going to pretend to be an engineer so I won't.........BUT I just sold a Vassago Fisticuff in November with a 72.5 HTA and a 45 degree fork offset/rake. I bought a Wolverine with the matching fork. All I can say is NIGHT AND DAY difference. Get the fork that is made to go with the frame. You won't regret it. Super stable. Super comfy. It compliments the frame well. I love this damn bike.