I've ran through a ton of threads hoping that there would be some nugget of info to answer my question. I'm building a '28 tudor, will be full fendered. I have an AV8 reverse eye'd spring pack from Millworks (A spring built to '26/'27 T specs) and will be running 29.58" tall 820-15's in the back on either side of a 58" big bearing 9" Ford (spring on top). My question is simple, would you add a step in the frame in addition to using the lower spring? Additional info to help with visualizing; the car, up front has a 4.5" drop 33 Ford axle topped with a reverse eye spring from So-Cal (that, for all intents and purposes appears to have far less arch), and that all sits in an old TCI frame that I've been told came with a lowered front crossmember. All that will be (or so I am thinking at this point) supported on 26" tall 600-15's. Last thought is, I realize I am likely going to have to put it all together with the spring pack and no Z to see where it's sitting and then make the executive decision, but I'd really love to not have to move that damn sedan body on and off the frame more than I know I'm already going to need to. Also, I'm just hoping there is someone out there thats used that spring and didn't have to step their frame and I wont have to modify the floor and seat arrangement. lol
With fenders I would think the step is not needed. Ive currently got a T spring on my full fendered Tudor with a 750-16 and it’s put the edge of the fender right at the top of the tire. If I stepped the frame a normal 4” the tires would pushing up on the fenders. You’re running a shorter tire so it depends on what look your aiming for but I’m going to vote no on the step
Thanks Tim, that’s what I thought the consensus might be. At least if it doesn’t drop as much as I need/want the step can be smaller and maybe not affect the lower seat frame/floor as much.
I’m in the same part of my build, same rear tires. I’m not running fenders most likely so it’s less of an issue. I’m getting the body together this weekend, then when my spring perches come in come in, I will be tacking them onto the banjo rear end and getting the spring installed. My crossmember is not installed yet so I will be clamping it to the spring, setting the rear end height to half the tire height. I’m going to play around with the body height and see how much of a z I need. I’m hoping the Tardel drop is sufficient, but I have the material for a taller Z if need be. I have a Posies 28-31R spring that is for 48 1/2” perch center. Supposed to provide a 2.5” drop. If it would help, I can measure the eye to eye and height before I mount it so you can compare those measurements to yours. I can provide photos of the the tires with the crossmember at stock height and at the tardel drop location if the spring is close enough to your dimensions. I don’t have a rear fender, so I can’t mount one up and show what it looks like. At least you could see the wheel well arch.
Pics may be helpful! I know my perch width will/should be about 45. Millworks has a claim of 3" of drop for their AV8 spring so that's only .5" more than what Posies claims for their reverse eye A springs, and I know people generally still do the typical step in addition to using a Posies.
THANK YOU! This is just the insight I needed. Did you do the typical Tardel (frame width 4-5" forward of the crossmember) step? or less? This is super helpful. Can you also give me some more details about your front suspension, tire size and crossmember? Love the way your car sits!
The thing you’re missing is tire size. A 26” tall tire is almost 6 inches shorter than anything that’s been shown so far. You’d really have to hammer that thing down to get the fender to line up with the top of the tire nice with such a short tire. You mentioned the seat pan interference with a step, you could just extend the frame a bit and do spring behind axle instead of over and it won’t interfere with the seat vertically and it will get you the needed mega drop to get a to a 26” tire
I think theres a misunderstanding, the front tires are 26", the rears I am using are 29.58" tall (BF Goodrich 820-15's).
Oh lol ok that makes more sense. I’m not sure why I misread it as 26 front and back, my bad. all manufactures vary but a 750-16 generally lands around 31.5” tall when your comparing photos etc. with the shorter tire maybe do a T spring with a reversed eye main spring and pull a couple leaves out of the pack to drop it a bit more and soften it and I bet you land real close to where you want to be
haha no worries! I’m definitely going to test it with just the spring first before pulling the trigger on a step. This is the spring. Still waiting for the rear to arrive and getting the tires, but like Corey above, once I get it I’m going to tack the hangers in and test fit.
don’t want to argue, but as stated in my original post and along with the pic.. it’s a spring from Millworks that is built to 26/27 T specs with reversed eyes, but the same width (2.25”) as an A spring…
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