I just reversed the eyes on my 39 spring and like where it sits, but it seems way too soft. If I stand on the frame rails and bounce it a little the frame hits the axle tubes. I have all the leaves in except for the top shortest 2 are upside down on the bottom, I would not have thought these would have made a huge difference in the overall spring rate. Can any one else chime in that's running this set up?
That car is lower than mine so it must be C notched? My car uses a 40 front spring in the rear. Rode like a brick. Pulled some leaves, used Ford spring leaf grease, ... and without shocks, got it to get real "boingy" , like a coil spring car without shocks. Then when I added tube shocks it feels awesome, no more boing and good ride offroad on my lot.
Holy chit! That car is way lower than my full fender 32, and I maybe have 3" above the axle tubes with no C notch on mine. I know I will hit on the really bad monster bumps, but it seems good off roading. You must be awfully close? My axle tubes are bigger dia, because it's an early Olds rear.
I do not have shocks on it yet, but there is about 2 3/4 between the axle tube and the frame, sitting static
The spring is not necessarily the problem. When reversing the eye of the spring you are changing the ride height of the vehicle. Essentially the axle height is the same but the frame height lowers. This causes the frame to hit the axle under bump because the spring deflection is greater than the spacing between the axle and the frame. To maintain the stance that you are trying to achieve it may be necessary to "C" notch the frame rail to get the additional travel that you need. Adding additional leafs to the spring will only stiffen the spring and increase the harsh ride. Adding a spacer to the top of the spring stack may allow additional spring travel but will raise the stance of the vehicle. You should work with 3.5-4" of spacing between the housing and frame as a starter anything lower is going to be questionable to maintain a decent ride.
I have a 40 rear leaf in my model a and it is way too soft. I am going to try adding a leaf to stiffen it up. I have shocks also. I think a 39-40 is heavier and that is part of the problem.
I took the spring pack back apart and put the two smallest leaves back on top, so now the spring is completely stock except for the reversed main leaf. It raised the car a little over am inch, so I now have 4" between the axle tube and frame, it seems much stiffer and does not bottom out. Did some extended and compressed measurements for shocks, so I can finish the mounts.
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