which spring can i fit into a mdl a rear crossmember

what year type (front,rear) spring can i run with a stock rear crossmember for my model a. i was doing some reading and saw that some of them won't work because it will hit the frame when under load. is there one that won't? if i really have to i will extend the frame. the car will be full fendered. and if that doesn't work wheres a good site to order a stock rear spring

thx

len

 

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Stock Model A's and Model T's would work in an A crossmember. The T is a bit thinner, but should still work OK. It has been done many times in the past.

The only place for new springs I know of is Posies, and they do the A but not the T. But Posies has those ugly warts on it.

 

I think speedway has a "high arch" model A/T spring for about a hundred bucks.

Woody

 

yeah i had already looked at the posies ones. i guess i didn't explain myself clearly. i read that some late 30s-late 40's springs (front and back) will fit in the crossmember but once under load they won't work because the spring with hit the frame where it curves. is there a 30's/40's spring that won't hit and fit at the same time while being mounted ontop of the axle. or if i were to modify the crossmember and remove the arch so that it was just flat and then run the 40s spring. would that work fine?

thx

len

 

If you put a late spring on top of a Model A axle (original mounts) it will hit the banjo (center section). A late spring will not seat in a Model A rear crossmember. Just will not work.

There are only three ways to get a Model A rear end down with the rear spring in the stock location; reversed eyes, a stepped frame or a "Zeed" frame.

Reversing eyes and stepping frames are discussed in Mike Bishop's book. Zeeing is like stepping only more extreme. Stepping and zeeing require floor sheet metal modifications.

Another way is to use the Model A rear spring in conjunction with a 37-40 spring behind axle. To do this you have to extend the frame rearward about 8". Lots of fabrication and sheet metal work. And axle-frame clearance is an issue.

 

but what if i took the hump out of the rear crossmember, and made it flat, would i be able to fit the 40's spring in there with out frame hitting problems..i don't see why that wouldn't work. it would be as if i had just put a piece of 3x3 tubing across the back to mount the spring too.

 

If you want to use the piece of 3"X3" you can just remove the model A cross member and sell it to some one who wants it.

However the rear spring from a '40's ford will hit the top of the banjo center section(as stated by Bib overalls). Unless you mount the spring behind the axle. That is how they were all done after 1931.
I guess Henry moved the spring behind the axle to make more trunk space?

Woody