Hot Rods QUESTION: Does Anyone Know 1938 PLYMOUTH FRONT SUSPENSIONS??? Need to RAISE a Car up!

Looking at a '38 Plymouth that's too low (yes, that's possible). I want to know I can raise it up before I buy it. Does anyone know what their front suspension looks like? Is it Ford-ish? Does anyone make a replacement spring? The current owner says the axle was cut and the arch "turned down for motor clearance". I'm trying to figure out what he means since I can't get to the car to see it in person.

If I get it I need to get it long-distance-worthy for a cruise from California to Indy and back in September.


Thanks!

 

I believe those were still the tube axle cars at that point. Pretty sure that the double "A" arm type suspension made it's debut in '39 or '40. So, that said, I would bet that if the axle isn't dropped (and on a tube that would be a trick) I would guess it may be re-perched and on top of the springs. Putting it back to stock wouldn't be that hard, but it would be, errrrr stock, and not too hot looking. If your lucky they also reversed the eyes on the leaf springs to drop, and they can be re-reversed to come up an inch or two. Without seeing it it's kinda a crapshoot...

 

I just reread. If it's a tube axle Kirk, these were paralell leaf like early Chevy stuff. sounds like they took some of the arch out to drop it, and any spring shop could re-arch it back up a bit for ya. Still willing to bet that the axle has been re-posisitioned on the springs or it's a custom tube of some sort, but "cut for clearence" makes me a bit woozy...

 

Yeah, me too. I think you're right though, now that I think about it I think they were still parallel front leaves in '38. I know they went to coils in '39.

I just want it up and inch or two.

 

Found this. Hard to tell, but it looks like two leaves up front. Still digging.

 

You found a gaint blue box of unhappiness?

 

You can cruise through my build thread.
I believe there are plenty of suspension
pics. I have some extra springs if you
need them.

http://www.theprocrastinators.org/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8&sid=4003b4cfa3b0ffef634430aeeaff5e9e




.

 

I have a '38 sedan, they are definitely parallel leaf, You could put blocks in it to raise it as the springs are above the axle. Or, you could rearch the current springs or any good spring shop could whip you up a pair of replacement front springs with more arch. What he means is that it's lowered so much that they had to cut the center of the axle out, rotate it so the forward curve would now point down, and reweld it back in place to prevent it from contacting the oil pan.

 

Looks like the arch goes to the front or rear,not sure as I don't own a Mopar but do have an axle.

 

That is correct.



.

 

I wonder how low it really is. How tall is that grass? I bet out on the pavement its not all that bad

 

Seems to me that is a tall tire and the bottom of the rim is even with the running board. I bet it has ample ground clearance

 

Ya know, you've seen my car and that one is about a foot higher in the front than mine... And I think you know I drive mine allot. Just saying...

 

It's in the grass....I bet it's merely slammed (ha). Get a pic of it on the asphalt. I'd drive it, it's phunky!

 

Kirk-

It looks like the auction for that car ended on Ebay just a few weeks ago, so the pictures are still up, including two with the front clip removed- Kinda blurry, but you can see the parallel leaf front suspension and parts of the axle pretty clearly...

Item number was: 330752761148

Hope that helps...

 

it's not about ground clearance. he says it rides really rigid.

 

Probably sitting on the bump stops or frame !!!

 

Just checked out the e-bay post, and ya the springs are re rolled, so you could go up there pretty easily and quickly. Maybe round up a dropped tube axle and get it back down butwith some space between the snubbers and axle would do the trick. Honestly, if it was mine I'd sneak a Mustang II front end under it and not tell a soul.

 

This was my 38 with a Mustang II front end. It rode well with the front end this low.

 

You could take it to ELpolacko www.industrialchassisinc.com and let him fix it for you.Might be easy to put air bags on the axle to raise.As need louvers said it would be easier to mustang front it.Love the car and wish i had the extra money or i would have bought it.I hope to have my 34 Plymouth coupe at Speedway this year.Good luck if you get the car Kirk.

 

Yep, that's the one. We emailed back and forth when it was listed on there. He sent me an email after asking if I was still interested. He's been out of town and I just got more suspension info from him.

Thanks for the item number, those are the pics he's supposed to resend me.

 

You know the bumpers are 1937 so it isn't original anymore.That drops the price way down.Must be some dang hot rod kid who ownes it.HAHA.Very nice looking car.

 

That is a beautiful car.

 

That is a nice looking car. Looks like the silvering on the headlight reflectors needs to be cleaned.
FYI - Finding lightbulbs to fit the factory headlights is a pain. I finally used 12V Ford bulbs with a flange on mine, but I had to move one pin on the mopar headlight buckets to accept the Ford bulbs. One pin is in different location. If you get it, change over to a halagen kit (if you can fnd one).

 

I don't have any good info, but must say that coupe is off the damn hook. What a deco-mobile. I have never seen one of these coupes. Stunning, hit another homer pal. ~sololobo~

 

I've got a bunch of original bulbs too.
I converted to 12 volt. If ya need them just
let me know, there up for grabs for the cost of postage.

p.s. We used halogens out of some aftermarket, Import lights.
Wired them into the original buckets. $40 at Autozone.

 

Yeah, it does look that way. I'd probably resolver them and go with a 12V bulb. I'm not a fan of halogens on old cars. As unsafe as it is I like the look of dull headlights.

 

1938 Plymouth had an I beam axle with 2 parallel leaf springs. The axle was unusual, it had a curve in the middle, curved forward to clear the front of the engine.

The trend then was to move the engine forward, at the same time they were trying to get the cars lower, so they made the axle curved in the middle for clearance.

The point is, no other axle will fit. If it still has the stock axle it must be modified. Maybe it has lowering blocks. No doubt it is possible to raise it up. Exactly how, depends on how it was modified. Remove lowering blocks, new springs, who knows.

One thing, there seem to be plenty of 38 Plymouths around. I know where there are 3 junkers you could get the front suspension out of, and there must be more near you.

 

35-38 Plymouth frames and steering are very similiar,
For 37/38, tube axle and depending on model 8 or 9 leaves per side.
Leaves are tapered

I'll see if I can find/post up some info on the 37 frame