I got bored this afternoon and thought today was a goodday to lower the rear of my Tudor. The front spring was already replaced with a reversed eye spring so the car was a little high in the rear. I know I probably did it wrong but I undid the center spring bolt and the two ubolts. I used a chainpull mounted to the garage rafter and lifted the ch***is up until the wheels where almost off the ground. I took two leafs out (4th and 6th up from bottom) and lowered the ch***is weight back on the spring. The most difficult part was getting the center bolt lined back up with the springs. The spring was way too soft so I redid the process and replaced the 6th from the bottom leaf. The rear was lowered right at an inch, I put a level on the running board and it is now level with 6.00-16 tires on the front and rear. I'm looking for just a little rake when I put 7.50-16 on the rear.
I've always been told that when removing leaves from a spring pack that the long springs control ride and the short leaves change ride height. In other words, If you remove the long ones they have more effect on the ride stiffness. The short ones don't have much effect on the quality of the ride, but will only lower the car. Also it is not advisable to remove the second leaf (one closest to the main spring) because it is needed to support the main spring. That way the distance from the eyes of the main spring and the end of the next leaf is as short as possible. .
Here's a couple pics of Elizabeth with the smaller front tires I mounted, I like the look! I also installed front shocks with the F100 mounts, it was an excellent upgrade. I'm havin' too much fun drivin' this thing!!!
Thanks for the tips guys. I am gonna get this pig on a rack so I can figure out what the caster really is. Might be able to get in the ballpark with a straight edge and protractor, will probably start there and see if it looks like it is worth investigating further. And the next step will be a new rear spring, 4 or 5 leafs and then spacers from there to get enough clearance. That is interesting about the rear spring Crazydaddyo - of course the second leaf (next to the main leaf with eyes) is the one I removed from my eight leaf roadster spring. Might've been a bad move... The reason I removed that one was that it extended too close to the reversed eye main leaf I used for a while. Maybe I will put that one back and remove some others to get what I need. I think I will see how this works and leave a further investigation of bump steer, panhard rods, and radial tires for the next step if necessary... Thanks, Will Kimble
Coupe looks great Bill!! I did find a set of 17" B wheels, but it's alot of $$$ for the tires I want. I may just stick with the 19's for a while, they kinda grew on me!!
I did some work on a guys car over the winter so I made him buy my tires when he orderd his and just got the rim sunday from a guy on the hamb (turkey rollup) if I had to take the money out of my wallet I would still be rolling on my 19s which they did grow on me alot but the rear were bought in 1956 so they were a little dry now I need to lower the ride hight Bill
That looks great, what tires did you use? I have rounded up 4 '35 16" wires for my '29 and need to get them to the blaster (the guy I use that was 2 miles from my house moved 30 minutes away out to Apache Junction). I need to start squirreling away a little $$ for tires or sell some parts. Thanks, Tom
thanks Tom coker cl***ics 550-16 & 750-16 I think I might buy 650-16 for the rear and run the 750s on my 35 truck Bill
Tom, I'm in Mesa at Brown and Greenfield just south of Falcon Field. However, I've taken a temporary job in CT so I'm missing all of the summer heat in the Phoenix area. Nice break for a change but I'm looking forward to getting back to the 'shop'. I really miss my ol' wrecks!
Theres a difference between 1909-25 Ford frames and 1926-27 Ford frames. Can someone tell me what it is, and how to spot the difference? I realize there were some slight variations in the 09-25 frames, but my understanding is that theyre largely interchangeable, whereas you cant swap frames between pre-26 cars and the 26-27 models. -Dave
Yo Bill, I be in Stratford working at Igor''s house. Didn't make the show Sat but I've looked in on the Cruise-in at the Heavenly Donut in Derby most Sunday afternoons. Plan on going to the SNYRA Reunion in Danbury this coming Sunday. I'm expectin' to see a bunch of restored stocks and modifieds that ran at the Danbury Fairgrounds circle track in the 50's and 60's. Hope I'm right. BD
Dear Big- The 26/27 frame has a rear crossmember similar to an A- the ends stick out past the frame to support the body. The front crossmember has some "wings" on it to support the front fenders. Late 27 frames were made out of thicker material. The frame could be cut to use with an earlier set up but why! T frames are cheap and not worth the effort to modify.
anyone ever try to put a 28-early 30 oval speedo in a late 30-31 panel? i have a perfect oval style speedo and i like the fact that it has a trip odometer. i don't really want to change my gas tank. I'm sure it can be done, but can it be done and not look hacked at the same time? maybe with a nice piece of trim around it to cover the round hole?
also heres another update got the body on the frame for the first time to mock some stuff up. it looks like something now! brought the head in to get resurfaced today, should be done tomorrow. it should also have headlights tomorrow too as i got the headlight bar mocked up today.
Hi, Will -- I know others have addressed this, but here's my $0.02. My stock-suspended coupe was real white-knuckle time until I put new (original Houdaille) shocks on it, and a front panhard bar. With just those two changes it became arrow-straight, go anywhere at 60 or so. It rides better than my '01 Mustang GT. I haven't even rebuilt the steering box. All the other steering joints are rebuilt, though. What is the rolling radius of your 5.50-19s? With a 3.54 rear gear you've got a little extry overdrive there, right? Fearless
You'll be the fourth known HAMB member at the SNYRA Reunion, two with cars and two just walking around.
37 Kid - Thanks for the heads up. Now I'll have to ask all of those folks with cars on display if they like HAMB. Looking forward to the reunion. Should be fun. Those old 'hot rods' made an impression on me and I still remember the dust and dirt, roar of the engines at the drop of the green flag, and the smell of burnt fuel, hot oil, and rubber. Brings out the goose bumps. Hope to see you there.
When I lived in Sarasota,Fla. and driving my 29C/C Pk Up I had a problem with it being squrley (running Kelseys) and needed to replace the tires also. So i got a set of 16 radials, and the rest is history. I still have the 21s but drive to much for them to be practable here in the Islands. Ice man
If you go to the Sprint Car thread here on the HAMB the Avitar for Sprinter 2 is the car to look for inside. Doug has an equally nice OFFY 4Banger that was there a few years ago.
sorry for the big pic. had a hard time even getting one to post . damn red boxes... but this is the barn I got the car from. Its one of the many barn storys sat for 50 years then I saved it and ripped the fenders off. some day I might put them back but for now I think FTF... some day I will post the pics of getting it out of the barn. buy I have to get rid of this damn dail up.... later BILL
Awesome pic no matter what size. Once again I really dig your car and your restraint in keeping it mainly semi-stock stripped down. Where are your 35' wires you had on it? -Weeks
I just got them this week pics from last fall. I wount to lower it some day. Iam looking for cool pics of lowered cars in the late 30s when kids had no money (35 stock axle mount the spring just behind the axle or z the frame) I have to get my other wheels on the road before I take this one apart. I had the car for 3 years its never ben off the road do to working on it over a week. to much fun to drive even if its only going down town to get dog food. thanks Bill
Lot's of old barns in them Connecticut hills!! Maybe I should move back, or at least visit more often!
KEEP OUT !!!!!! I worked at this farm when I was 15-16 saw the old cars them But I was yung and just wonted a lifted 4x4 good luck Bill
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