Av8 Wishbone Question

I am planning and parts gathering for an Av8 build and have been using the Bishop/Tardel book as my main source. I have located f1 shock mounts, f1 brakes, and an f1 crossmember and pedals. The guy I am buying the stuff from has a couple of these trucks so I could probably get other stuff that I will need (steering box is pending). So my question about the wishbone is, am I going to need to purchase a later model (32-34) wishbone as specified in the book or can a stock model A, or f1 wishbone be used? Also, does anybody know of any other f1 parts that would be good for an Av8 build? Thanks.
Andrew

 

F1's don't have wishbones. Stock A's are possible to use but are shorter, and i think thinner? If you are splitting the bones its best to use longer and heavier ones.

 

A REAL A-V8 has most of the Model A parts still on it.

However, you are in California, so opinions will vary..

 

The book says to use a 1933/34 wishbone instead of a 1932, so the motor mount and K member locations are kind of messed up. The stock 33/34 wishbone will get you more firewall clearance, but then you have front crossmember issues and will need to make a longer torque tube or use an ~1 1/2" spacer. Mike explains the problem at:
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...t=av8+wishbone

He did a correction on lengthening the 33/34 wishbone (effectively converting it into a 32 wishbone) at:
http://www.earlyford.no/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=600

Save yourself a lot of h***le and just get a 32 wishbone if you don't already have one. Everything will drop in the Model A and bolt up to the stock torque tube like it was made for it. Very slight intereference at the firewall if you use a mechanical pump, but nothing a few smacks with a hammer won’t take care of. I can confirm this set up works as I built my car this way If you can't find an original bone, they reproduce them now at http://shop.hotrodwishbones.com/prod...=1&productId=2

Anyway you do it, I wouldn't recommend prelocating the engine mounts or K member. Bolt the drivetrain together and install the wishbone to get the most accurate location.<!-- / message --><!-- edit note -->

 

i used a model A wishbone on my roadster, I cut it to make the caster angle better. worked just fine.

 

Thanks for the input everybody. Based on what I have just read above, I am thinking maybe what I will do is attempt to reuse the stock model A wishbone with my f1 cross member by cutting the part of the stock A cross member that the wishbone mounts to out and attaching it to the f1 cross member. What do you guys think? This is my first hotrod build and I am only 19, so any all input is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Andrew

 

The A wishbone is way short for that...I'd guesstimate like 18". Routes that are possible would be keeping the forgings and welding them to longer tubes or perhaps building a bellhousing area crossmember more or less the shape of the bottom of the A bellhousing and brace it back a ways for strength. You can use a pair of caps with one welded to crossmember to build a socket for it.

 

If I built up a cross member forward of the trans cross member I would probably run into clearance issues with the engine/trans, don't you think? As for lengthening the A wishbone, is the tubing originally used in them (or something very similar) easily attainable new, or would I need to find another A wishbone and use pieces of it for the extension. I like the idea of extending the old wishbone, because finding a good 32 wishbone is looking too expensive for me.

 

Agree, I don't think the stock Model A wishbone will clear the flathead oil pan. I've never seen commercially available tapered flat tube stock like the wishbone is made out of. You'll have to get creative lengthening it. Don't forget that the axle yokes of the Model A wishbone are a 1/4" wider than later bones when you are laying everything out.

 

Just split the bones. We did it in the 50s. Back then no one I knew ever swapped a 32 K-member/transmission mount (or an F1). We built our own.

Stock A wishbones will work just fine. That is what the "Kennedy Coup" has. 37-48 bones will fit your A axle and, because they are longer, move the pivot point further back on the frame.

 

I used a stock 34 wishbone as per the B/T book and it works fine.

 

Yeah Bib Overalls, splitting the bones is probably the way to go. Are there any threads detailing this on an Av8, and is there any reason it wouldn't work to split the A bones? I never hear people talking about using the stock A wishbone in referencing to splitting.