Well, recently got a 1925 maxwell cowl for ultra cheap and will be throwing together a little modified to drive this spring.. This winter has been the tighest as far as money goes for me so i will be using all left over parts i have laying around the shop, My question is, I have all the stock suspension from a 49 F1 but the stock front axle is setup for parallel leafs which i will be wanting to change to a transverse leaf setup.. Im wondering if anyone has done this and what the best way to go about it will be... I realize that this axle is wider and it would take less time to buy a whole new complete A front end but that isnt an option "my time dosent cost money" so ill make what i have work. thanks ill post some more pics of what i have later..
Looks like a cool project! You will probably have more fun and appriciate the ride more when scrounging for parts to build the ride than over just going out and buying what ever you think that you need. That's what true hotrodding is about!!
How about some kind of funky quarter elliptical spring shooting straight out of the front of the frame rails. I saw a car set up like that at the roundup and it was cool as hell! just a thought. Other than that, it's fabrication time. I can't think of anyone that makes a bolt on conversion. I'd think it wouldn't be too hard to make a plate that bolts to the existing spring mount holes, then weld on a short perch and tubing for the transverse spring. One great tip, though. I had a spring made for the front of my old '27 T at a trailer shop. They'll make whatever rating you want, whatever length you want and with whatever eyelet size or direction. It's tons cheaper than spring shops or ordering one from Posie's.
Fab up some plates with 2 ears welded on em that bolt throu the 4 holes for the ubolts. bolt some trailing arms to them and the frame and slap a pair of coil over's on her. Just like how i like my women cheap and easy.
You could also split a pair of wishbones and build something like exploesmobile said. Cut the stock perches off the bones and re-weld them on top of the bones wherever you want them.
Now i have never done this i have seen it done but i think the biggest issue might be setting up the caster of the axle, on a reverse elliot axle that uses parrel leafs, tappered shims are used to adjust the caster.
thanks for the advise, will be starting on the frame the this next week while i brainstorm ideas on what to do.. Anyone have any pics of this axle used without parallel leafs?? good or bad just for refrence.. more pics of what im working with
Looks like you are starting out with about the same pile of parts I startd with - here is some pics of where I am at this moment - I fabbed the frame from 2 x 3 tubing - made the body skelaton from conduit - was given a 59 ford pick up axle ( same setup as you have ) I made mounting plates for a trans spring and am using 3 of the leaves from the springs that were on the axle to make that frt spring - using 1 1/8 solid rod to make radius rods - rear suspension will be trailing arms with 1/4 ellipt springs made from the other spring from the frt end with Harley Davidson coil over shocks for the rear and 450 lb rated small coil over ATV shocks mounted horizontaly for the frt. Gl***ing the body will start as soon as it warms up a bit - Wish I had a cowl to start with like yours - good luck and it looks great - Ja**
I really like the parallel leaf idea, too. Maybe I'm just prejudiced because I'm building an early Chevy...
Going with parallel leafs was never really an option in my mind.. to get the stance i wanted i would have to eather have a monster Z with rails on top, or build and underslung style front suspension, and i dont really care for eather.. Im looking for a fairly low ride hight..
its not unheard of to cut out what ever you want to narrow the axle. i think i have seen a thread about this on here if not believe me it has been done.
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