Next step in my future 354 HEMI powered '30 Roadster on '32 rails is the front spring. I have a stock original spring, plan to get a new main leaf with reversed eyes, how many leaves have you found work best, or should I just buy a new one from someone? Opinions and photos welcome. Bob
The aftermarket springs have Teflon pucks set into the springs ends... the leaves are also tapered at the outer ends which will bend easier, smooths out some small bumps... IMO... buy your u bolts where you buy the springs.... H I H ...
I am reading into your question that you are concerned with the weight of that 354 Hemi. So if we look at that, Early Hemi's are heavy. The factory list's a stock 354 at 720 lbs, I have seen a few quotes at 697 lbs, either way it is heavy. If you compare that to a more common engine like the SBC like a 350, in factory trim they weigh 535 lbs. Everything on an early Hemi is heavy, the intake the front cover all of the stuff hanging off it weigh a ton it seems. When I decided to install a Hemi into my 31 Tudor Sedan I also was very concerned with this weight. I took it to the extreme and went with aluminum heads and all aluminum acces. My 392 ( which is listed at 740lbs) complete with everything on it but no oil or coolant weighs 514 lbs. Now this is a pretty expensive way to go, and I realize not everyone is going to go this way. but just by t******* the heavy stuff off of an early Hemi you can get the weight down to a manageable thing and not have to worry so much about holding the engine in there.
I'd buy a $200 spring before dumping that kind of cash on heads. Most of the other stuff though is not expensive to put it on a diet
Really when you start hunting around at weights there’s a lot of engines that weigh around the same as that hemi but you don’t seem to see them making note of anything special being done. Maybe it’s the visual heft that puts in it peoples heads that it’s so much more than some of the others? Link is the first list of engines weights that I found with a quick google http://www.gomog.com/allmorgan/engineweights2.html
Rebuilding an engine is something I'd do after the car was finished, along with buying new tires, why have all than money tied up and sitting around for years. Bob
My '32 has a mono leaf and a 392 behind it. Aluminum front cover and water pump, aluminum dual quad manifold, aluminum bell hosing, and T5. So far it has been working very well for the last 12 years. KK
Yeah if it's known long term project, for sure, he'll the fads and styles may change before it's finished. I have a few junk blocks for mock ups, but the first thing I buy is wheels and tire's. The wheels and tire's sets the tone of the build, the stance, the at***ude and sets the make or break bar.
Just finished a straight axle 34 ch***is for a customer running a heavy engine and he requested a Posie HD spring. I have no idea how much extra weight it is designed to carry?
The Roadster in my avatar is shown pulling out of the garage on it's maiden voyage. I put a mono leaf spring in the front that I bought from Squeak Bell. Nearly 20k miles on the car driving mainly on our lovely series of interconnected POTHOLES here in the Golden State and it has performed flawlessly. The motor is and all Walter P. cast iron 354 with an aluminum intake and timing cover from Hot Hemi Heads. I took a friend to Isky's birthday party last year and went down the east Kern river valley twisties and back over on the way home. He asked how I got the car to ride so smooth. I told him the truth, Squeak Bell and dumb luck. So by a GOOD mono leaf and enjoy lots of miles.
I’m glad others have good luck with mono leaf springs but there’s no way I will ever run another one. I wouldn’t run one even if they gave me a blown HEMI to go with it. My car and my family are worth more to me than any claim they market with. I was going 75mph on the smooth freeway when mine broke in two right at the center hole. Fortunately the car sat down on the axle and I was able to pull over to the side of the road without catastrophic results. I installed a POSIES spring and have never had another issue. That was 16 years ago. I still have the “two-piece” mono spring in my shop for non-believers to look at. They all agree with me when they witness the rusty crack which was revealed when it broke in two. Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
The Jalopy Journal
