1952-59 Ford fng here with some bag questions

So glad i stumbled on this corner of the site! I've got a 55 more door, pretty basic right now, shaved, repainted in a barn about 8 years ago rebuilt 292 w/electronic dizzy and a holley 4 barrel. aerostar springs up front and gigantic blocks in the rear. Planning on ditching the blocks in favor of of bags, and that brings me to my question.

WHO'S BAGGED ONE OF THESE?!?!
i can't find anything really, i ve come across alot of guys asking questions about is but the discussion usually leads to aerostar springs, 3in blocks and granada spindles! but i would really appreciate any insight in to bagging one of these, specifically the rear. I'm ***uming it's tricky especially doing a triangulated 4 link, what about a two link w/a panhard bar? well heres a picture anyways (pre front springs...)

 

ill throw another picture in here, again pre aerostar springs

 

first pic looks like a model(1/24th scale), maybe my eyes are going...****!

 

Have wondered about instead of using a 2 bar setup, using what Ford provided. Cut off the leaf springs right behind the axle and off course you'd need a panhard bar to keep it centered or a watts link. Then mount your bags behind the rearend where the springs were before. Of course you'd want to be sure bushings and bolts up front are perfect, maybe upgrade to poly-urethane or something other than stock rubber. You'd still need to run some good shocks so again up-grade.

Never seen this done but its been rolling around in my head for some time. Am sure its not an original idea but then who knows. Hopefully others will chime in.

 

I'm paying attention...

 

Rui, maybe you know but it seems to me that some British cars came factory with leaf springs like I described. Just halved so to speak.

OK! I googled ''leaf spring designs'' and found a wikipedia article and its called a quarter eliptic, except it starts withe leaf stack up front and a pivot point out back at the differential. This design was used in the Austin Seven. So it appears that in order to have the springs work as the main source of support the Austin example is the norm, but at least its an example of using half spring packs as a locating source. So maybe my old idea would work. Or maybe its been done and failed.

Another thought, If the ''spring'' becomes the trailing arm rather than suspension then the single main leaf is all one would need. And the bags would replace their original function.

And having seen the axle locating pin fail once in the past, that would need to be looked at and for peace of mind replaced with new.

 

Do you have any more pictures of your car with the Aerostar springs installed?

 

I am interested in some bags as well but you don't see much of them on these cars. Airide used to show a kit but I am sure it is more universal with a bag and cup to replace the spring. For the rear I was thinking about going to a truck arm setup. These rearends are right behind the rear seat and there is not really any room for upper 4 links. So the truck arm or a torque arm suspension is what would give you the best clearance. Then you could just use an airbag in the rear on the truck arm or a coil over style bag on the back.

 

I had a look at Art Morrisons 4 link to see how they package it in a tri 5 Chevy. The put the upper links down level with the rearend housing for clearance.

 

I do but they're not too great, ill see what I can dig up

 

That's pretty much what I was thinking. I saw a 54 on bags at ink n iron this year and I'm really kicking myself for not tracking the owner down and picking his brain, guess I was too busy drinking haha

 

Here ya go hunter73, like I said really not the best picture...

 

Crazy Legs bagged his '54. Here's his build thread. Looks like way too much work for me...
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/crazy-legs-my-54-ford-build-thread-old-custom.709542/

 

PaddycakeFTW, Crazy Legs 54' is insane!!!! Saw him at KKOA in Salina this year. That is one wicked sled!!!! Everyone we sat around was guessing all night long at the drags what engine was in it. Not a lot of noise and that thing would fly if it had wings!!! Awesome car

 

That's bad*** man. I haven't seen him update his thread in a while and was hoping he got the car running.

 

I am just now working on my '54 Customline. I installed a triagulated 4-link, notched the frame. I am using Ride Tech Shockwaves for the shocks/springs. In reference to your pic/comment on installing the upper links down level with the rearend (Art Morrison)....I couldn't do that due to the length of the upper links. If mounted level with the axle they would interfere with the third member. The pics should explain.

 

Nice pics *****um. How do the upper control arms clear the back seat?

 

Accuair makes a front kit for this year and for the rear you could do a triangular or parallel 4-link

 

I will have to modify the back seat to clear the top links.