I just picked up a complete 47 or 48 Ford front end (I think?) It has the Square back spindles. I want to use this front and pretty much just the way it is. The only thing I want to do is cut the spring perches off the bones and mount the spring on top of the axle. I did some measuring and found out that this axle is much wider than the model A axle and other axles I have seen. A buddy of mine gave me a spring that is the right width from Spring perch to spring perch if I do the spring over. The only difference is the spring is 2 inches wide compared to the 1-3/4 like most spings I have seen. Is there a way to use this spring? It looks brand-new. Or am I going to have to pop for a new one? I have seen 2 inch shakles, but only 1-3/4 perches... I have never come across this before so any help would be appreciated. Thank you
Not a pretty look, but grind both sides 1/8" on a gradual taper. Maybe it won't look too bad. At least you can mock the whole car build up, and get the correct spring later? Posies does make it, but I don't care for the ****on inserts that they use, if it is a fenderless car. You will have to mess with taking leaves out to get the ride decent.
You didnt give an idea of what you are attempting to build so this becomes difficult to answer. Can you use the spring, maybe but? Converting from an ahead of axle spring to an on top of axle spring with an unknown spring you must be careful of the spring stretch during loading. The best bet is to get a spring made for the perch distance than rely on a modified spring. The spring many look correct but under load actually flatten out so much that it bottoms out on the perch pins.
You know those plastic bushings used to isolate the shackle pins from the spring and from the perches? Why not make a set of them with 1/8" added to the flanges to make the perches wider? 15-minute job for a machinist; I think they are made of Delrin.
I used this setup in my 27 chevy with split bones and a posies reversed eye spring to get it a little lower. It looks great and handles real nice. I wouldn't use a spring that wasn't designed for the application as said above. The axle is only about 2 inches wider and can be used in a model A body style fairly easy.
Cool..... I'd do it in a heart beat. The only problem is the axle isn't dropped. I would use the lowered model A crossmember from speedway for the mounting, but if you use the spring you have you will have to build a crossmember to fit the 2 inch wide spring or grind down the entire spring pack, which I wouldn't advise.
IMO Switching to the standard 28 to 36 style axle and using all the other stuff on it would probably save $$$ and PITA in the end. A standard 28 - 34 spring will then fit the perch width and a standard crossmember.
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