Model A front spring

I have a couple of questions about rebuilding my Model A spring. It's running a stock banger engine. I'm reversing the eye, now how many leaves can I take out and have it ride and handle nice. It has eight now. Also, what kind of paint will hold up best on the springs before I put them together, and what should I use for liner between the leaves and who handles that kind of liner? I can't use a dropped axle because I'm using my stock mechanical brakes.

 

I probably wouldn't take any leaves out since you're got the stock banger in there. Just reverse the eyes and throw a dropped axle under there or something. Just depends on how low you want to go. Someone else might have better insight on that. New bushings, and such are available through any of the Model A resto parts places (Mikes A-fordable, Sac. Vintage Ford, etc.)

You can buy spring liner material from Speedway, I think.

 

I think that teflon style spacers are available for them now to stop squeaking etc. but I really don't remember where I saw them. Maybe someone else can chime in.

Originally you greased the crap out of them while putting them back together and then wrapped them in a canvass type cloth to hold the greas in but you seldom see them that way anymore.

 

I run 5 on the front of the "Stupid Car", but I'm a little lighter than you. Make sure your shocks and the rest of the front end is in top shape. The less spring leaves the more it will lean in the turns. You can also round off the ends and put a slight radius on the underside at the ends. Use a belt sander to smooth the mating surfaces. You should also take a leaf or 2 off the back so the spring rates end up about the same.

 

Not so simple. The stock main leaf is a bit too long for a reverse expecially if you use fewer than the original ten leaves. This makes the car less stable as the swing of the shackles allows it to track badly. Not a problem if you use a sway bar, but not likely on such a rig. The speedster guys use dropped axles with the mechanical brakes, but extend the spring perch to meet the brakes. Again not easy. We got better results years ago when we torched the second leaf off short and bent the eyes upward for a net lowering. Lots of cars running with a pile of crap for suspension and blame the original design for the result of shortcuts. I'm not of a fan of A brakes, nor would I use the '39 to '48 Lockheed/Fords. Bendix is the king of drum brakes. Good Luck: Fred A