lowroder - I went with the 32 axle up front since it gives an additional 1.5” drop on top of the reverse eye main spring while still facilitating mechanical brakes - the Roadster Supply spring also seems to be lowered by about two leaves (I needed to put two old leaves on the bottom as a spacer). I returned the Old Yankee main after the fact and am still planning to use their reverse eye main in the back. It took me a while to find a good set of 35 wires which I then had powder coated. The drums are cast iron which were powder coated as well.
Any KNOWLEDGEABLE source should be able to confirm what I stated above with regard to the dummy leaf used on 7 leaf Roadster rear springs. The RPU didn’t even use a 7 leaf spring!!
Started teardown of the rear end. Things look pretty good - better than I anticipated. Am debating whether it is worthwhile to pull the ring and pinion to go down from the 3.78 installed to a 3.54 - figured I won't have it all apart again anytime soon so am leaning towards doing it but if others have done it and don't deem it worthwhile that is worth knowing. Assuming I move forward, if anyone has an old spider gear carrier yoke in their stash please reach out - I need an old one to build the Tom Endy carrier bearing pre-load tool.
Quick update to the post above - after getting the housings torn apart, I turned my attention to the ring and pinion - 39 teeth and 11 teeth - turns out there is a 3.54 already in there - that should save some time…
Low rider, stock ratio for passenger car 3.78, Pickup trucks 4.11. 3.54 is a good gear but stock banger can’t pull 3.54 AND an overdrive, you got to chose one or the other
Cederholm - thanks for the kind words BlacktopScraper - love the look of your 30, the 31 grill is spot on. Are the headlights BLC 682-J's? Also, how much chop are you running on the windshield?
I had my son build me one, I wanted to split 2 to 1 for each side and hook to the lake pipes, and keep it tucked..
You my friend ,quite the inspiration and i love your style....are you a brain surgeon for your day job??? my garage hasn't been that clean since the day I moved in... I have no idea why I save every thing and clutter up my shop..but every time i throw something out I need it the next day keep the progress reports coming, your doing an amazing job
I have a question on your fuel line... did you fab that? on mine I drooped it down to make sure it didn't starve going up hills...but I like what you did better, keep a little extra in the line... and is that an 81, or 97??? and what jets...also is it a China carb??? I bought a China 97 for my A/B powered banger... when I indext'd the jets... stamped 45's measured 49's.. when I went to remove the jets they were seized and stripped out the carb base ... so waaiting on a nother carb to show up... any way, as far as advise.... I have nothing for you..... you my friend have a natural talent,... and doing an amazing job..
Thanks 2Forcefull! I am not a brain surgeon but have a neurotic compulsion to keep things clean when I am working - I can't get anything accomplished if the mess gets out of control. I am also fortunate to have a large space to work in and a back room where the accumulation of spare parts and supplies is tucked away. I did fab the fuel line and based it on what I had seen some other folks on the HAMB put on their builds - it is 3/8" line based on some recommendations from others - will see how it works in the real world. The carb is the new release 81 that Stromberg is selling (assume it is at least partially China made but seems to be relatively good quality). The jetting on it out of the box is 0.0036" with a #71 power valve - seems like folks have had pretty good luck with the setup on their A's. My plan is to ultimately replace it and the intake manifold with vintage parts, but I figured the repros would keep progress moving and let me dial in the setup.
Lowroder, no question about it, go with The Mitchel. Their waiting list is like 7 months So call Steve Mitchel and get on the list. They didn’t require a deposit last I knew, you can always decline when your name comes up (they got like a hundred guys behind you that would be thrilled to take it).
Got the pinion and driveshaft out of the banjo and broke down the carrier and axle assembly today. Have some travel coming up so progress will be slow the next few weeks.
Yes, my headlights are BLC 682-J's. My windshield is a Speedway Motors re pop. It's a Roadster Deluxe windshield which is 1 3/4 inch shorter than a Standard model. My upper stanchions are chopped to accommodate. In hindsight, had I known, I would had used '32 upper stanchions which are shorter and a cleaner look.
Thx BlacktopScraper. Made some progress today - finished tearing down the shift tower, picked up rear end from getting hot tanked and dropped it off along with some miscellaneous brake, shock and spring hardware at the powder coater. Also managed to pull the gearbox and bellhousing.
Pulled the pressure plate, clutch and flywheel (that was a bit of a wrestling match from underneath the car). Clutch had a bunch of oil / grease on it and no safety wire on the flywheel housing bolts and a cotter pin and small ground up spacer were sitting at the bottom of the flywheel housing (see pic w flywheel spacer). Planning to upgrade to a lightened flywheel and V8 pressure plate and clutch while I have it all apart.
'28 RPU - I went to the 32 axle to dial in the ride height I was looking for - drops it down 1.5" or so on top of the reverse eye spring - probably could have gotten to the same place with a drop on the original A axle but this seemed easier since I found one for sale reasonably quickly.
Hi... How are you... I wish would help you with the front spring/ 32 axle combo that you choose! You can may be able to de-arched all the leaves... Including the main for get a minor length spring package! So when the spring it's put in on the axle! Shackles it's supposed to be horizontal and in a tension stage! When you released the engine weight and more!! Shackles need to be at 45° for a right suspension work! The Model A stock spring pack 28-31 would be very high for a 32 heavy axle... Talking about aesthetics! Lowering and reverse eye spring main leaf or a complete front spring from Posies or another brand. So if the model A spring package height it's 8" imagine if you use a 4" height reversed eye and lowering spring! Removed leaves works only for a less hard ride due to all the weight removed like fenders and bumpers! 1 inch in the reversed eye spring or 1.5 or 2" in the axle would added a little more! The 32 heavy axle it's the cherry of the pie!
One of the best driveability upgrades you can make in my opinion. I have a number of lightened stock ones drilled for the V-8 pressure plate....PM me if you are not wanting to stand at your lathe and make mounds of chips
I'm really digging this thread! I love Model A Fords and have read with great interest the work you've been doing to your Roadster. I recently purchased a (stock) '28 Roadster and a '31 Sedan. Like yours, the Roadster is an older restoration that has seen better days. I was thinking seriously about letting the Roadster go to a new home, but this thread has me thinking...........
Thanks pkhammer - you should definitely dive into it - your car looks like a pretty good starting point.
Got sidetracked this weekend fixing a shifting issue on another car but made some progress stripping down the leaves in the rear spring and coating w slip plate. Also painted the shift tower housing and primed the front shocks. I forgot how much I hate painting….
Lightweight flywheel, new clutch and V8 pressure plate arrived this week and got them in the car this morning.
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