1952-59 Ford Rear leaf spring bumper

Can some one educate me on the purpose of the bumper on the frame above the front of the rear leaf springs on my 55?

 

Do you mean the bumpers over the axle tube(s) spring perch(es)?

 

Nope. The one just behind the front spring mount, on the frame rail above the spring.

 

Gotcha ...

They are there to hopefully control spring windup when selecting D (for drag) and/or L (for leap) (hard acceleration).

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Yep, that is it. Kind of hard to see a benefit from it.

 

Is this a '55 only item? I don't remember seeing one on my '56.

 

It is cataloged 1955/59. It may be yours was removed or fell off.

 

Think of it as a poor man's ******* bar -

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My 56 don’t have them or the holes for them. I always wanted to add traction masters now that they are making them again…a memory from the 50-60’s..

 

I've never seen one either, and I've owned a bunch of '55-56 Fords. Maybe a police/taxi/HD suspension option?

 

Mine is a Sunliner, maybe that is why? No special suspension options on the original invoice.

 

Most likely it will be explained on dealer order forms and/or TSB's of the period.

I can't see FORD ***EMBLY drilling the frame holes on just selected frames. That was well before the performance days. And again, maybe it was only released for the HP drive-trains as an I6 isn't likely to wrap the springs.

The MPC will not give that info, only service parts replacement.

 

Not only were the holes there but there are obviously nuts welded on the inside of the frame. I can't imagine that the 272/Fordamatic could wrap the springs either, lol. I installed new ones just because the old ones were pretty hard. Never gave a thought as to why they might be needed or not.

 

"I can't imagine that the 272/Fordamatic could wrap the springs either..."

A hotter 272 was released a little later to compete with the CHEV 265CI.

Remember, the rear leaf springs were fairly weak then and didn't take too long for the rear to sag.

 

The mounting hole are present on my wagon. My car was originally a 6 cylinder car. I think Kultulz is on the money about being on V8 cars.

 

Hmm...I guess I need to look and see if my car has them. Mine is about as unmolested as they come and is a factory 292 car.