I've been a member here for a while but never had a project until this weekend. The pictures show the frame I'm starting with, and a car that I'd like it to wind up looking similar to. I'm planning to use 1947 Ford front and rear axels, with the front one converted to spring-on-top. One of my questions is, do you guys think that a frame-width step in the rear and a low profile spring in the front will give a similar stance to the one in the photo? I'd like to use higher profile tires in the rear, but not sure. My wheels are 15" steelies as shown in the photo. It will be powered by a pinto 4 banger. Anyway, just sharing my excitement with everyone on the HAMB.
Tim, I Don't know if a frame width step in back will git it low enough, but the spring on top of stock 47 axle if any thing will raise the front end. An invaluable source of info is the Mike Bishop/ Vern Tardel book " How to Build a Traditioal Ford Hotrod " HAMBER Pigpen has what to me is the PERFECT 27 ford roadster. A month or so ago he posted pics of his car. Check it out. Ted H
I might be more inclined to run the spring behind the alxe on the front but I like 'em slightly down in the snout, and that doesn't look like what your after. You're probably either going to have to go to a stepped rear chassis or run your spring perches below the axle or both to get the rear down. Chassis looks nice, and your idea for style of car is good. I'm not a big banger fan, but mill choice is yours as is everything else about the car. Keep us posted.
I have that book and I have learned alot from reading it. From what i've read elsewhere, compared to a stock A i-beam, the 1947 will have what amounts to a 2" or so drop. If i pair that with a reversed eye front leaf, or heaven forbid, a mono-leaf front spring, I'd think that would get me a couple of inches lower, even with the spring on top. That's really as low as I'm looking for. I want this thing to look like an old dirt track racer that I can take out and tear up the country dirt roads in. By the way, in Mike Bishop's book, it sounds like he says to make a vertical cut in the frame and brace it with angle? I was just curious about that because it seems like most steps (or z's) I've seen here have diagonal cuts. Does it matter?
That's a subject of great debate. I was taught to never cut a frame on the bias. So as a rule I don't. I don't claim to be a world renowned expert on it for sure. I've seen a lot of 'em done that way and hold up just fine. I just didn't learn to do it that way. No matter how you cut it it'll have to be braced and gusseted.
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