hello All, I am looking for some direction on a car I am interested in buying. I am going to look at a 32 Plymouth 2 door Sedan this weekend & want to build as a hiboy. As far as front suspension, what are the options for a non-Ford ? Can I use a Ford type dropped axle & 4 bar set up ( ***uming the correct length of the axle)? I think the orig setup was a leaf spring set up. Would I have to just replace the crossmember with a Ford piece to use the dropped front? ( again ***uming measurements are done). Would a suicide front end be easier to adapt? Would it just be easier to measure body & drop onto a different frame? ( I have a friend with a 35-40 done ch***is with a dropped front end, would dropping the Plymouth body on that frame ( maybe a 3" channel) be the most realistic option? What recommendations are ther for non-Fords for someone without primo fabrications skills?? Thanks, Steve
the easiest way in my mind is changing the frame, the plymouth frames were the srtongest but nothing does fit -- I own a 34 - of course it's totally different to the 32 (IFS...) but it's always the same : no part for that car -- or the most expensive - if you have the chance to change (ford) - I would do
BDSR, If the Plymouth ch***is is anything like an early Chevy ch***is, which I suspect it is, you're going to need to do some serious modifications if you want to get it "low". A moderately lowered late 40's high boy look would be easy to achieve with a dropped axle from MAS and reworked leaf springs. As a reference point, my '31 Chevy already has a dropped axle and will soon receive a 'zee' in the front for an overall drop of 8-10". It sounds like a lot, but it's going to end up looking like an A with a dropped axle & lowered spring. Ed
My buddy built a '30 Plymouth about 20 years ago and used the stock parallel leafs and an early Ford Econoline axle with a Mustang box ( I believe)...He drove the **** outta it (over 80,000 miles) and it rode and drove GREAT...disc brake conversions are available for the Econo axle...try Opie's Hot Rod Parts for more early Mopar suspension parts...937-704-0956...or find a mid-30's Mopar Tube axle (way cool) and bolt on a disc brake set-up...you don't have to ditch that early frame and make a lotta work for yourself when the right stuff is available for that Mopar!
I saw a 32 Chevy done this way so its a way for your 32 Ply also...install a model A front crossmember and convert from paralell leafs to an A buggy [frt spring] and install a droped Ford axle with Radius rods or hairpins........
The Mopar frames were so much better then any of the old Ford frames, I think you could get a drop axle for your Plymouth. The dual leaf spring setup gives a much better ride and is much more stable then a buggy spring. Why on earth do yoyu want to go backwards in tech? Gene
Gene...Ya gotta admit the Buggy Spring has got the look...but you are correct about the parallel leaf set-up..IT WORKS! You see so many guys take the hard way when this suspension only needs a dropped axle and a decent steering box to work great. My two cents (again).
I put 50,000 miles on a '32 Plymouth using the stock semi elliptics. Ran it as a Hi-boy with a 324 Olds and 4 speed hydro. I had rearched the springs in a press, and made new shackles with nylon bushings. Had a 6" dropped MAS axle with Econoline spindles, Mustang steering box to the left front wheel, not a cross steer. Bought adapter steering arms from I believe Butch's Rod shop, they needed to have gussets welded to keep them from bending when reversing with wheels cut hard and stepping on the brakes. '55 Chevy rear and brakes combined with the Econoline fronts were super. I would duplicate the entire car if I ever got the chance. It's the only car I'm sorry I sold.
To drag up an old topic, here are the suspension options I have found. 1. Convert to buggy and pretend its a Ford. (Nah!) 2. Parallel leaf using lowered springs (Eaton Spring just confirmed for me that they offer 3" dropped leafs for front and back. 3. Convert to torsion bar suspension 4. Semi-Eliptical So there are really endless options. I have really been looking at the different options and have been weighing two different options. Parallel dropped leaf and taking measurements of the spring perches for a dropped ford truck axle. Torsion bar. I would love the torsion bar, but not sure I have the experience needed. I like the unlimited adjustability. Just thought that I would share what I have found thus far. Good Luck
My friend owns the "Jeweler's Jewel" which is a canary yellow '31 Plymouth coupe that was built in the mid to late 50's. He kept the parallel leafs up front and runs a 4" over stock dropped tube axle up front and a transverse leaf setup up out back which allows him to run a model a type lowered rear suspension. The car is incredible.
My car is a '32 MOPAR. I used a tube dropped axle with some spring pads welded on to mount over the leaf springs, had new springs made (you can do some ride height adjustment while they make them). My dropped axle is setup for '39 Ford king pins. Put intermediate GM disc brakes on them. I use a '65 Mustang steering box. I drive it everywhere. I had a Corvair front under it until about 12 years ago (had the car since 1977) but parts became a real h***le for the Corvair. I'd recommend finding a newer than '65 Mustang steering box because parts for it are getting hard to find now. You could use a Flaming River box if you want. MII front ends fit. You could go that way. They aren't all that to install. Minimum skill required and you can get real low with the MII. What ever way you go, box the frame.
Im building a plymouth 32 3 window on a 34 frame, but im keeping the front elipticals and the stock 34 axel in my opinion they have beautiful lines.
34 Plymouths all have IFS not the curvy tube every one wants. The 33 and 35-39 or so have the curvy axle in 2 different shapes.
Use your original frame (because it's made for the car) and change the underpinings to early Ford style or whatever you want.
Not to hijack this thread or start anything but are you sure 34's didnt come with them? I have a 34 with the curved axle. From what the owner told me it was stock....
I know you mentioned non-ford, but I friend had a 1934 plymouth pe coupe and he had Al's customs chop the frame off at the firewall and had ford frame rails put in to run a much cleaner front end, the bulky plymouth front end was an eyesore, especially without fenders. it confused car guys, and non cars guys just didn't know the difference. good luck!!
Im doing front quarter elliptical springs. It will extend the wheelbase. I'd run a suicide ford front end if I were you. Its the standard which means its tried, tested and true and not to mention its cheap. Check out my coupe under 34 plymouth coupe. The easiest would be to get a deuce cross member, run a transverse spring from speedway. You will need approx 46" king pin to king pin which will give you a 55" center of wheel to center of wheel measurement.... Dave
I used a 4 bar and a Ford Bronco 9 inch in the rear, and a suicide setup in the front. I had to reconfigure the front frame horns a bit.
Plymouth made 2 different wheelbase cars in 33 and 34,the short wheelbase cars have parallel leaf springs, the long wheelbase cars like my 34 Plymouth PE have an independant suspension. Bob
Parallel leafs have a lot of cool factor IF they are done well. It's a fine line with no middle ground. You either get it right or you miss big. I would love to see a Plymouth in either a lowboy stance with a dropped axle, or in a semi g***er stance with the nose high on some spindle mounts. Highboy would be tough to pull off.
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