yea, i think what i'm gonna shoot for is a gambino notch (cuz i'll want that in when i bag it) and a set of de-arched springs,...i was told by a H.A.M.B.er to have the spring pack "Cold de-arched flat" that way it keeps it sturdy and you can go pretty low w/out blocks. but for now, cause some of this is just for mock up...untill i get new springs in the back i'm gonna play with the blocks for now. as for the pinion angle, i don't have to much to worry about with that due to the torque tube rear. that doesn't mean that i wouldn't have to raise the trans tunnel though...
yea, i've been looking at getting some de-arched springs...just not sure who to order from...there's Jamco, which i've heard good and bad things about. Posies, chassis engineering inc., ect. but you are right, thats the way i want to do it, but for now, just to play with it i'll throw some blocks in there. as for the notch, i'm hopefully going to order a gambino notch here soon...i might as well do that, cause that will give me all the "travel" i will ever need, whether its bags, blocks, whatever. when i get home i'm gonne do some measuring.... we'll have to hang out some time...i'll bring the lonestar!
Yeah, this is basically what I'm doing too. Just getting it blocked up for now cause it's cheap and dirty and then when I have the bucks I'll bag and notch the frame. I forgot you have the torque tube things goin' on. Yeah, angle shims won't do anything for you then. Make sure you take progress pics for us as you go. Maybe you can do us a c-notch tech to add to the collection too. Good luck! Can't wait to see how she looks...
I would never buy blocks, period. Too many horror stories. I've always took 2x4 .25 wall tubing (or sometimes 2x6 depending) and cut to length then welded to the U bolt plate so it won't spit out. Then capped it and drilled the centering pin. Call me crazy, but I've seen too many of the cast blocks crack out, or just shoot out. For U bolt's I get all of mine custom made to shape and length from Pruitt over on Canal street. Floyd charges $30 for a set of 4 with nuts and washers. Make sure you have T-Do (Tito) do them for you he's the man. Pruitt Co Address: 3001 Canal St, Houston, TX 77003 Phone: (713) 222-8888 Just east of Minute Maid park. Don't go at lunchtime as you'll have to wait until 1 for them to get back to work. I was just there this morning, and had to get some U's some spring pack clamps made up, and some brass main leaf bushings for my Top Secret build.
Call Night Prowlers. Their 3" blocks are cheap enough ($45 I think) considering they are the right width and have the proper locating pins for the stock rear. Remember the stock rear doesn't have U-bolts going over the axle!
My Wife Got Me Some Of The 3" Blocks From Night Prowlers For Christmas. They Worked Great. I Had Problems With The Other Types(pep Boys And Such) Breaking. I Have A 53 Bel Air And With The 3" Blocks It Sits On The Bump Stops. Next Step Trim Down The Bumpstops. I Could'nt Find Them On The Website Either So I Just E-mailed Them And Set It Up That Way. I Think They Were $50.00+$10.00 Shipping Including The Square U-bolt You Will Need To Fit Right. Highly Recommend.:d
I drug my nine year old out to the shop and he made me a set! Damn kid outta be good for something, at this rate he will throw down a better bead than me by the time he is 12. Cost was less than $20 for the blocks, made up some pins from turned down bolts and another $18 for the U-bolts made to length.
Saw this pop up in the For Sale section Figured you'd like to see it. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=158853
Hey guys found a guy that has a bolt on kits with 2 wide springs. http://www.butchscoolstuff.com/49-60FordParts.html The guys name is Butch tell him George sent you.
I've had good luck with the belltech 3" aluminum block kits. They come with decent u-bolts, nuts, and washers. Have some in the rear of my 50 Poncho with 4 springs pulled, 1 flipped, and 3" blocks. It sits almost snubbers. They are perfect width for the springs, and the u-bolts were exactly right contour for the axle housing and spring plate bolt pattern. The rear in my car is open, but the springs are the same width in the chevys with the torque tube rear.
Speedway has them in just about any size you want. They also sell a matching block that has a bolt and adjustable pin in the center, so you can fine tune your wheel base / center the wheels in the rear openings better. These can also be milled to adjust your pinion angle easily (if you already have the pads welded on) and eliminate the need for wedge spacers. They also sell the wedge spacers. Gary
I've got a set of aluminum 3" still in the package....old stuff, just can't remember the name right now (I'm at work). I'll check when I get home.
I got the 3 inch skinny blocks for my Kaiser from Moon they are good stuff but they do not come with ubolts. I went to my drive shaft guy and he made me some ubolts.
Check out "Speedway". Their blocks are billet alum. not cast. They have kits that include "U" bolts. I bought some for my '40.