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Technical 1940 Ford Tudor - Front Suspension

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by P Green, Mar 20, 2021.

  1. BigChief
    Joined: Jan 14, 2003
    Posts: 2,084

    BigChief
    Member

    No need to split the bones. Several places make a nice spacer to drop the OEM socket a couple of inches. Used one from Chassis Enginnering on my 48. 20200430_225143.jpeg

    Sent from my SM-G950U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
    fordcoupeguy and P Green like this.
  2. P Green
    Joined: Jan 13, 2021
    Posts: 27

    P Green

    NICE Undercarriage! Do you have a part number for that spacer? ... Also, which brake/booster-assy is that? My "donor" car has one, but it is a ebay unit and the hex joint (where the two arms meet) is worn.
     
  3. P Green
    Joined: Jan 13, 2021
    Posts: 27

    P Green

    Old Spring vs New Spring
    Posies Super Slide Spring 2040

    spring compare.png
     
    mcsfabrication likes this.
  4. In the 50's the deal was to put longer shackles, remove some of the spring leaves, swap the rubber bumpers out using Hudson ones because they were soft and would squish down and ride the axle all the time. That will still work in your case if you want it lowered. You still will need to split the wishbones or drop the rear ball a couple of inches..
     
    P Green likes this.
  5. fordcoupeguy
    Joined: Apr 26, 2014
    Posts: 178

    fordcoupeguy
    Member

    I never split the wishbone, just drop the ball a bit. Been doing it for years,steers and handles fine.
     
    P Green likes this.
  6. joel
    Joined: Oct 10, 2009
    Posts: 2,556

    joel
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I have done 2 40 coupes and split the wishbone in both, however, on my 41 light duty p/u I didn't split it. My frame is dimensionally the same as a 40 car frame; check out page 12 of my truck build. Also look into the wishbone ball mount Chassis Engineering designed for a 46-48 Ford with auto trans like was posted above. Just some ideas. IMG_1803.JPG IMG_1819.JPG
     
    The 39 guy and P Green like this.
  7. P Green
    Joined: Jan 13, 2021
    Posts: 27

    P Green

    Nobody sells that ball mount / spacer... I've looked high and low. I'm putting in the new spring and shocks today... we'll see if I still need it.
     
  8. They do, they just come from the other side of the world. Macs Speed Shop in NewZealand, casts some really good hot rod parts. a wishbone ball drop is one of them. I am actually planning on buying one for my 39, just to give it a bit more castor in the front end.

    http://www.macsspeed.com/index.php/...astings/front-radius-rod-dropper-32-40-detail

    And prices are in Kiwi Dollars not US so it costs a little more than half as much as what's listed in US dollars. MSSC08.jpg
    MSSC08a.jpg
     
  9. P Green
    Joined: Jan 13, 2021
    Posts: 27

    P Green

    I've emailed them twice... never got a reply.. :(
     
  10. P Green
    Joined: Jan 13, 2021
    Posts: 27

    P Green

    I installed the new Leaf Spring, Shocks and Shackles... the car rides much much better... but ride height went up only 1/2" higher... the WishBone does not hit the ATF Pan, but still requires a Spacer.

    I'm still not a fan of splitting the WishBone, so will raise the mounts on the Engine and Transmission... there is a lot of room for that to be done and it will fix other clearance issues.
     

    Attached Files:

  11. nobby
    Joined: Jan 8, 2006
    Posts: 1,261

    nobby
    Member

    if you took a 42 up stock wishbone
    -fo a 42 up axle with the wider than 1940 perch centres and bent them in at the ball forgeing by 1'' per side
    would the distance from the ball centre to the perch pin centres be the same as 1940
     
    P Green likes this.
  12. Years ago I made a spacer with a piece of heavy wall rectangular tubing with a keyhole shape cut into one side of it. I welded a new bottom cup turned upside down into this cutout and then attached it with longer bolts and a bottom cup. Worked great!
     
  13. nobby
    Joined: Jan 8, 2006
    Posts: 1,261

    nobby
    Member

    great photograph
    so , stock they have some kind of isolating webbing where the spring sits in the front cross-member
    which begs the question, should you be adding a rubber pad here?
     
    P Green likes this.
  14. P Green
    Joined: Jan 13, 2021
    Posts: 27

    P Green

    Good question.. there was no webbing on old spring. My concern would be a pad too thick interfering with centering pin.
     

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