Hot Rods Help on 36 Ford Truck Suspension

I could use a little direction on this:
Built a Quickchange Dually Axle for this:


Was going to put conventional spring pads on, but looking at the original set up I started questioning how it works. It has parallel leaf springs and a wishbone. Looking at the pictures I think the wishbone is to keep the axle from rotating and serves as an anchor for the mechanical brakes. My question is, does the spring perch float on the axle tube? It would seem to me that if it does, there would be a grease zerk somewhere to keep the perch from rubbing through the axle housing. If it is not intended to 'float' why is the wishbone needed?

The truck is a couple hundred miles from me and the owner. He doesn't want to take the rear end out until the Quickchange is ready to swap in. If the original spring perch/floater is used, I need to put retaining rings on the axle before it is finish welded. I would also make the retainer double as a wishbone mount.
If we mount the leaf springs conventionally, do we even need a wishbone or other 'traction' bars? The new rear end has late model drum brakes, and an open drive shaft.

By the way, if you ever have to cut an axle tube from a 14 bolt GM rear it is 3 1/2" O.D. with 3/4" wall thickness! Bring a lunch

 

I'm sure this doesn't completely answer your question but here goes anyway: the torque tube plays a large role in keeping the rear end from twisting. If you go to an open driveline the wishbones alone won't get it done and will likely break. In the end you will need something to keep the rear end from twisting.

Hope this helps

Pete

 

Ford used an open driveline center section in 48, maybe earlier, it was mounted on two leaf springs.

 

The springs are shackled on both ends, therefore the torque tube is what locates the rear end. You will have to solid mount the front of the springs, or run some type of traction bars. The spring pads can be welded to the housing.

 

Okay, now I see it. It makes sense that with the shackles at both ends of the spring you need to locate the for/aft location. Now, if we fab up some front spring mounts, we can use conventional springing. I doubt that the torque tube or wishbones would be necessary if the springs were clamped up to the axle with u-bolts. Doesn't look like spring wrap would be a problem.

Or, we can convert the Quickchange to a torque tube. How do you attach a torque tube to a Torqueflite?

 

Go to open drive with those springs and you want a panhard bar also. Gary