Model T spring in AV8

Im running a model T spring in my 1929 ford coupe. Im using the stock crossmember and having a little issues with the U-bolts for the spring. Im using the stock U-bolts for the Model A but Im using the model T spring. For some reason the U-bolts are not long enough and the only way I can tighten the pads down on the U-bolts and to the sprins is to flip the pads over. I know this isnt what needs to be done but Im in mock stage and its not hurting anything right now. So I was wondering if anyone has had this issue before and what they ended up doing to fix the problem? Is there different lengths in the model A u bolts? I know people have used the T spring, and just wondering why im having trouble with the length of the U-bolts?

Any help would be appreciative.

Thanks
Billy

 

Are we talking rear spring? If so you probably have wat too many spring leaves in the pack. Try pulling some of the short top leaves and reinstall.

 

yea rear spring.

 

are you useing all the leaves?let the frame rest on the spring and see if its too stiff or too high ...you might need to remove a leaf or two and solve two problems

 

The frame rests well oon the spring, and the spring sits up in the crossmember well also. Id rather not take any leafs out just yet because the ride height is where it needs to be right now and everything looks good except for the tightening of the rear spring.

 

Hey Billy...

If you don't have the original 'A' spring for comparison, be advised that the 'A' spring leaves are wider (2-1/4"?) than the 'T' leaves. ('T' are 2")
Henry sprung these cars pretty heavy for the roads back then, so they were a thick stack.
The 'T' spring probably has more leaves in it, making it too thick to start the nuts...
There are other threads that advise on the number of leaves, but 5 generally does it.
(the top short one is basically a spacer, but tends to serve as a 'damper'.)
Like the fortune teller says: "Consult the T Leaves..."

 

Few questions:

Is the spring mounted to the axle? How many leafs in the spring? Did these bolts come off of an A chassis? Do you have any pics of the set-up so someone could possibly see the cause?

A stock set of U-bolts and the bottom pads with the spring pads (with the raised portion facing up) "should" work.

 

If you're having trouble getting the nuts started...use a couple of C-clamps to get the spring to spread a little first. Sounds like you have too many leafs though.

 

http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/uploads/A5708AA5708B-9449-xl.jpg

If you look at snyders website I have the pads that are thethicker ones, maybe i need to order some of the thin ones? Also I am using the stock A U-bolts.

Also here is a pic of the spring on the rear, from my album

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/album.php?albumid=16650

 

Get rid of at least the two unde the top leaf. They shouldn't change the ride height and will greatly improve the ride quality.

 

When I have used a t spring ,I have used 7 leaves and spaced the top of spring to acheive the ride height and u bolt thickness..

 

If that's the case, just needing the ones with the lesser bump, you can make yourself a set, easily. If it's close to fitting, I'd say take out the top leaf, at least. That's not going to effect your ride quality, and would hardly be noticeable on your height, if at all.

 

Are you sure that is a T spring? It looks like it has a bit more arch like a model A spring to me. I can't tell from the pictures, but the deal on using the T spring is that the arch is much lower than the A. Where it's advantage is though is when you are using it with a stock type perch with the spring over the axle. As Atwater Mike asked, is it 2" wide, or 2 1/4" wide?

 

it is 2 inchs wide. it is a T sping, at lease its not like my stock a spring, I matched them up and there was a difference. I decided to just use the T spring on the 1939 ford rear which is spring behing setup.

 

Cool, must just be my eyes this morning! The guys are right about the top spring leafs though. And Atwater Mike is about dead on on leaf count in my experiance. I usually shoot for about five to six leaves under early cars to start, and add or subtract as needed. Oh, and make sure to put some spacers into the shackles to take up any play from the narrower spring, or cut down the eyes on the axle and run 2" shackles.

 

It's a T spring, for sure. So you know, the difference between the two pads is the tall one for 7/8 leaf springs and a short one for the thicker 10/12 leaf springs.

I know that there have been guys on here over the years that've run into a similar issue.

 

ok, thanks guys, ill take out a couple leafs and see if that helps and if it doesnt I may try and get a set of this smaller pads.

 

Some tool had destroyed the original crossmember so I had to make one but used the original saddle & made ubolts

 

what are the spring mounts made from?