Been reading a lot of threads here but just getting more confused. I'm putting an 8ba with a '37 top-loader into my '31 coupe. Sticking with a '35 torque tube rear. I'm using an F1 cross member, F1 pedals, F100 steering box and plan on running 40 ford front hydraulic brakes on a 4" dropped front axle. I'd like to keep the center-pivot wishbone if possible, but will split the A bones if I have to. I can't figure out the best year bones to run up front to retain the center-pivot using the F1 cross member. I'm using the Tardel approach to mounting the flathead and don't anticipate moving the front cross member or repositioning the body mount locations. Any suggestions?
The A bones will be about under the flywheel. The 32 bones would be forward of the bearing retainer on the trans. You would need 35-48 bones to get back behind the rear of the trans.
There were some measurement errors in the Tardel book, fixed in a subsequent edition, but we still find guys posting that they are going to use the Tardel book dimensions. Then they find they used the erroneous dimensions. Make sure you are mocking everything up before welding anything into place.
I agree, I will be locating engine first, then trans. I figured while I'm snowed in I might as well be scrounging for parts. Hence the question as to what bones to look for.
32 Unsplit would be the best, you can also splice a 33/34 bone with a model bone. I belive there is a tech somewhere on here for it that Mike Bishop wrote, Elrods thread on the flathead install on his Question Mark Coupe is also a great resource
I made mine from a combination of model A fronts and 32-34 Ford big truck rears. They are much longer than 32 bones and look great with the drop right before the pivot. Granted I also used the trans crossmember from the big truck but its a different take on something lots of guys do. This way is also fairly cheap as no one usually has a use for big truck parts.
I am using 33 bones. With an F1 crossmember though you will have to fab something to hang off the front to capture the ball on the bones. Search and find a thread started by Chris on here. He showed how he did an F1 crossmember and welded a gusset on the front of it and built the radius rod capture into it.
For getting the body/engine location right for a Model A, Put that Model A rear in the Model A frame. Bolt the 1937 transmission to it. That's where your crossmember goes. 1932 wishbone$ are the longest and fit great unsplit. Photos from my Question Mark Coupe build.
I spliced a good 33-34 wishbone w a model a and put the ball mount right on my f1 crossmember. There are pictures in my thread. I didn't like how most of the mounts looked for mounting th e pivot of the bones until I saw a av8 at trog that was built by a guy close to me. I kinda copied his mount. I'm happy w mine. Take your time and measure three times
If you are using an aftermarket 4" dropped axle , make sure you know the distance between perch bolts , a lot of axles are optimised for four bars and/or hairpins etc, stock wishbones ( and springs) do not fit... Best info I have says Chassis Engineering is the only one that works with a stock unsplit wishbone .IMHO It's the best aftermarket axle anyway , it's forged just like Henry's were.
Correction maybe to my post above. My bones are 34, not 33, but I think they are the same. Elrod's pic above of what he fabbed is the type of thing I was referring to in Chris's thread. Elrod's wishbone ball ends up close to the crossmember. I am running a 59ab motor (slightly shorter than a 49-53 flatty) and a 39 trans. My wishbone ball is about 4" from my crossmember, that measurement is centerline of the ball to centerline of the crossmember. I will try to post a pic later.
Wow, awesome feedback and pictures guys! Thanks. I was looking at a SoCal forged axle, I heard they are made by chassis Engineering. My rear is a '36 and I guess will need quite a bit of shortening. Any wishbones are hard to find around here without paying an arm and a leg.
SoCal's axles aren't made by Chassis Engineering. Chassis Engineering makes their own axles. And, Chassis Engineering axles have a narrower perch distance than a stock 32, so the wishbone will need to be pinched a bit.
Elrod, or anyone else, In post 10, the second to last photo, it shows a bracket/mount on top of the crossmember. Is that a bracket for the transmission or a rubber pad? I am also building an AV8 and always reading what others are doing, I am unsure if i need a rubber mount here or not. Thanks
1942-52 Rear Transmission Mount 21A-6068 Rear Transmission Mount for the 1942-48 cars and the 1948-52 F1 Pickup.
I just happen to have a pair of 1940 ford front wishbones for sale on here they have the stock 40 front hangers that are easily chopped off and the fellow I bought them from spilt the 1 piece wish bone right down the middle of the center and wishbone ball. I have the HD weld in inserts (3/4" fine thread) that uses GM HD tie rod ends just like the CE spit wishbone kit and the space between the front yoke is 2 1/4" (stock 40 ford) asking $100 for inserts and both split pieces
A 36 rear will have the big driveshaft often used for headers. I never measured it up but I think it is possible to use the Model A driveshaft. Maybe use a 10 to 6 coupler and weld it to the A shaft.