Hello Everyone. Need some help and this place has always done just that. Here we go Im Building an AV8 (1930 Model A Roadster) - Using Model A Frame - 33-34 Unsplit Wishbone - 32-36 Non Heavy Axle or 32 Heavy Axle (Still Undecided but have both) My only confusion here is, Which Spring Perches Do I need? Model A ? or 32-34? Im sure this has been covered before but I tried searching and no luck? Thanks BBOy
Obviously Model A Ones are Cheaper and easier to find as opposed to 32-34 perches Also, Im going to Run Early Style Shocks (Houdaille)
'28 thru '34 should be the same and will fit in the axle but the I.D of the spring perch for aftermarket stuff is different than original Ford. What spring are you using, an old Ford one or aftermarket? The shackles you'll need will depend on the I.D of both parts. Don't buy shackles until you figure out what you need. Since you are in LA, go see Jim Gordon at Vintage Ford Parts in Rosemead, he'll have what you need and they'll be better quality than Speedway.
You should be able to find real Model A spring perches but, usually they are worn out or have been beaten out of the axle with a hammer or the threads are screwed up. Mac's and some others repop those with the ball on top for the Houdaille shocks in case you can't find any good og parts.
So let me Get this straight for my own piece of mind 28-34 Spring Perches all have the same OD into axle ID Spring Perch hole to leaf eye hole ID changes on 28-31 compared to 33-34 (33-34 is bigger) Shock Ball Is located Higher on 33/34 than 28-31 (lower placement) Bottom line is Anything Can Be made to work! Sounds Like Hot Rodding to me!
Here is a 32-34 perch bolt, (left) and a model A, as far as I know they have the same spring bushing id. The 32-34 spring eyes are bigger than model A though.
All 28-34 spring perches and 35-48 Axle bolts have the same diameter shank and threads and use the same tapered castle nut for installation. The lengths from the top taper to the bottom vary though. The spring perches have the same ID hole for the shackle but 28-31 and 32-34 use different style shackles. 28-31 has simple steel bushings whereas the 32-34 have a pin/rubber bushing/steel sleeve combo.
The diameter and taper where it goes through the bone and into the axle is essentially the same from 1928-1948. Model A perches and early V8 perches only differ in the ID of the shackle bushing hole and the locations of the mechanical brake actuator eyelet and the shock ball. Even though the perch shackle bushings are different, the aftermarket ones makes swapping springs painless. I ***ume you will be running juice brakes and so the eyelet will be for show. If you are able and willing to make some minor modifications the shock ball won't really be an issue either. That being said, it's just a question of where you want to spend your money. You can get an NOS set of A perches for a fraction of the cost of some 1932-1934s. BUT people who know will know and people that don't won't care. It's all up to you.
Okay heres the latest I thought I had a model a spring, however it is a 32 Spring So, -32 Spring -Model A Spring Perches -Houdaille Shocks -32 Heavy Axle -33/34 Unsplit Wishbone -Juice Brakes What Shackles / Shackle Bushings Do I need? Should I even Run Model a Perches? Or just find 32-34 Perches? Will the Houdaille Shocks Line up Better With The A Perch or 33-34 Perch? Thanks BBOY
Have you thought how you are going to attach the rear of the un-split bones? If you are going to use a '32 type K-member, the 33/34 bones are to short. You will need '32 bones or add length to the 33/34's. I would use the 32/33/34 perches also.
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