rear suspension help needed

I'm working on a 41 Ford business coupe. I have a rear end out of a late model ranger pick up that I would like to put in place of the original rear end. I would like to do this with parallel leaf springs as opposed to the original transverse type spring. I'm pretty sure that this can be accomplished fairly easily and inexpensively.....I just have no clue as to how. I have done some minor fabrication work in the past. I also have a welder and a cutting torch. I've rebuilt several different types of front ends, but I have no experience with rear suspension. I need a how to for dummies and pictures would help tremendously. I did a search and all I came up with was coil spring set ups on earlier cars than mine. Any one care to share they're experience with an FNG?
Doc

 

http://www.carbibles.com/suspension_bible.html

its got really cool pictures.

 

Thanks a ton 53. I'll check it out right now.

 

Been years since I did this type but here are a few thoughts.
First, the obvious thing is thing is measuring exactly and keeping things square. Locate the hanging mounts within the chassis and make sure that you have the distance between the hangers the same as the stock ranger placement. Allowing the proper swing on the spring hangers without binding. Hopefully the springs haven't spent a lifetime under heavy loads, and are still usable.
Then you have to convert from closed driveshaft to open and I think you could find a early Ford pickup trans yoke and then have the driveshaft cut to length and welded and then balanced. I suggest letting a driveshaft shop do the drive shaft, for correct placement of the yokes, and balancing, you won't regret it.
New shocks for the correct load and weight of your car.
Make sure that you are up to welding the hanger bracket and can get full penetration on the welds and can weld in upside down circumstances.
Figuring out what you are going to do about a sway bar is critical.
This is all I have for the moment, hope it helps.

 

Yoiur best bet is to get a kit. Chassis Engineering, Posies, etc, etc all the Rod magazines have ads for them.

 

i just did a similar thing to my '50 and it wasnt too hard, the only other thing i could add is to check your pinion angle before you weld up the hangers

 

I would also recommend using a kit from Chassis Engineering or one of shops. They are not that expensive, have already been engineered and are in use in many cars.

 

i also agree on the chassis engineering kit ...cheap , easy to install and all the figuring out is done for you

 

I know that the kits would be great, but I was going to try to do this one onm my own to practice some old skills and maybe learn some new ones. I wonder how guys did it before there were kits?
Hotrod 1940, you bring up some good points. I hadn't planned on using the Ranger springs. I have a set out of a mid 80's model s10 blazer that I wanted to use. The blazer is a lot closer to the weight of my car than the Ranger. The plan is to use the Ranger rear end and blazer springs. I wonder if it would hurt any thing to put my spring hangers on the bottom of the frame rail as opposed to the side? The way my body and my frame are designed, it would be difficult to get the hangers between the frame and the body.
Doc