Chassis Set-Up

I'm planning on building a ch***is utilizing a Miller Indy styled double quarter eliptical spring set-up he'd used, front and rear. The one where it had springs mounted above and below the frame. I will be running a 8BA Flathead/T5 trans and mounting a model A pick up body.

My question is, when setting-up a ch***is, how do i plan on how much the suspension will settle after the components and body are installed? I know about setting up ride height and such, while building it, but after removing it from the blocks it will obviously drop to it's actual ride height. Is there a simple way to figure this out?

 

There are formulas for calculating the deflection of leaf springs, if you know the dimensions of the springs. It would probably be helpful to figure out a way to set up the springs and put as much weigh on them as the car will when it's done, though, to be sure

http://www.calculatoredge.com/mech/leaf_springs.htm

 

Dammit- forgot to mention that I was planning on using all model A springs cut in half. With it basically being twice as many springs, would I be safe to ***ume that I could use half as many springs per pack?

 

you can also design in some adjustment - probably enough to get +/- and inch or so.

 

No! Springs do strange things. Play with the calculator, see what happens when you change things around.

 

Thanks for that link squirrel. A new favorite!