I am building a 23 t bucket, my perimiter frame is complete and I am ready to start putting together the rear suspension. I am using a coil spring set up instead of a coil over rear suspension. However I need some help from you guys out there that have done this before and where I need to put the buckets for the spring. Inside of the frame or the outside of the frame? Who has some ideas and who has done this set up before?
I,ve seen them both ways.Check for Total Performance cars. We did one a few years ago an put them outside the frame. I don't think it really matters. Just how you want to do it.
Like was said, it can be done both ways. If this link comes up, here's on to use as an example for putting them to the outside. Good Luck! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MODE...013QQitemZ230206940291QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
Car Craft Magazine did a T build up in 1968 with coil springs all around. It ran for ten issues and was very thorough. I built one and it worked great (ran 10.36 @ 133 mph! w/ SBC). See if you can find those issues. It used Corvair coils (early Ford ****** small dia also work) and Gabriel shocks mounted in the middle of the coils. The rear springs were outboard which gives you better roll stability and the lower spring pockets were mounted behind the axle, which gives you a little softer ride and makes shockmounting easier. They used a panhard rod for side stability. One other thing they did was use a '55 - '64 Chevy rear axle. Bad choice - too weak. I twisted the axle housing center section. Switched to a 12 bolt. A Ford 9" or 8" would have been an even better choice. 30 coats of panel-painted candy apple blue over Murano pearl white. But I digress... Boy that was one fun ride for a 20 yr old punk.
***uming you mean coil springs and NOT coil over shocks, in most applications of that sort, the bucket for the coil spring is mounted on the outside of the frame. The real factor is going to be how wide the rear crossmember is and perhaps the width of the rearend. The Total Performance ch***is is 29" (which is wider than most) at the outside of the rear frame rails where the crossmember is and a bucket for the coil spring would fit fine. HOWEVER, don't forget where the brackets for your rear radius rods will go. They will determine where the bottom buckets go on the rearend.
...or are you planning to go with four link set up of the rear end...also your choice of rims and tires will have an effect on where to place your coils and how much space you have to work with. Good luck and keep us posted, and remember...we love pics ! / primerkid
My frame is 26" wide to the out sides of the rails. I am going to use a GM 10 bolt out of a camaro. No ford running gear in this car... Sorry ford guys. I tried to post some pics of my frame but it says they are to big I guess... Any help on that would be great too so I can post the progress. Sounds like everyone says put them on the outside. The only reason I was thinking inside the frame is it would hide the upper spring buckets.
I think the buckets for the springs would work better on the outside of the rails I think that is where I had mine but the photos are in a box somewhere. I mounted the buckets on the back side of the axle and ran the shocks up through the springs using a pair of front shocks that were the correct length. I bought the Corvair front springs new from a parts house but don't know if they are still available.
Ok So does anyone have any pictures of the mounts that work for this setup on the outside of the rails? I havent seen any and at the last cruize in I went to I didnt get verry good pictures of the ones I saw. Thanks for all of the info it is great to talk to some people that have done this and know what it is all about!
I will have to stay tuned in here didnt get this much response when I posted this question Keep the ideas flowing.I just got the deluxe coil soring kit from speed way and have been mocking tacking and jerking around with the thing for a year now so I need the info here to get it done Thanks guys Bart(moon)
Back in the 60s-70s, before C/Os came in vogue, rods of all kinds were built with coils. Here's some going on a 34 frame and a couple of scans from a old Speedway catalog.
Do a search for "how to build an early hotrod frame"---I have posted a few picks of my build on there with coil springs.---Brian
The Jalopy Journal
