On my 32 5W coupe I will use a 37 rearaxle. I like the idea to use as much 32 parts as I can on this car. I could I use a std 32 axle/bones, yes maybe but the 37 feels better. Ok, so I need to find a rear spring ( 37-40 ) One here at Hamb ( has a 37 spring and a 34 TQ tube I need ) and told me be prepere to move the rear cross to get the wheels in the wheel openings. Today I visit a local hot rodder and just saw both a 37 axle and the curved std 32 spring. -I never seen a 32 spring before but heard I needed custom the rear cross or grind out jackets in a 37 spring. But a question. Why can’t a 32 curved spring be used on the 37 axle ? Perch CC look equal and the 32 spring was kower in arch.
32 spring perchs are mounted at an angle to the housing so they work with the curved 32 spring. The 37 spring is straight so the 37 perchs are at a right angle to the housing.
The '32 perches are also closer to the axle than the '37 perches. If you put the '32 spring on the '37 axle and installed it in the car the axle would be too far forward. Easy fix when using a later axle is to grind a '35-'40 spring to fit the curved '32 crossmember.
Here’s your 32 curved spring. The centering pin in spring and crossmember hole have a relationship to center of axle: that will get your wheels in the right spot on the body. You can see how if the spring were straight like your 37 that the lower spring mounts would need to be further behind the rear axle (longer) Will you be using the 36 bones for axle spring mounts? The 37 style, after market weld on? The rear crossmembers are different in height as well as the curved shape for the spring. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/32-vs-40-rear-cross-member.1093678/ some other info on the rear crossmember that goes with your 37 spring. once you get your axle’s spring hangers figured out you’ll know kinda where the centering pin is going to be fore and aft then you’ll need to figure out how high the crossmember will need to be.
One thing to note is if you look at a side profile of a stock 32 Ford the tires are slightly forward of being centered in the wheel well. I've built 100's of 32 chassis in the last 40+ years and always moved the rear end back about 3/4 of an inch. There is a good measurement in the P&J instructions for installing a rearend in a 32 Ford chassis.
I had both the 36 and the 37 bones but I sold the 36. I will use std 37 prech spring holders on the struts. First idea was to use the 37 struts and remove std std perch and use the 36 bones as I did like them but I thought the strut ends was so tiny on the 36. I got from my several ; we don't do that, so I reserached this and a very cool 34 coupe here in Sweden ( build in USA ) had the 37 struts and std perch but used the 36 bones but the ends was cutted of. Again, it was not to be seen as Ok ( not here at Hamb either but several showed this was done many times ) but pre 1950 (?) But I admit, cut the ends of the 36 was not the best idea so I got a set of 37 bones. I was also into put them inside the frame ( as Rolling Bones ) but few did like my idea and again ; pre 1950 ? I was also into a T-Ford spring and I got the A-Ford spring and cross but as I sold my QC I decided to use the std banjo and wanted the frame stock 32 ( as I decided to use the std fuel tank ) I never got me hook up on the QC deal, and can't say why... So now I found a 37 spring I will pick up this weekend by a Hamb member. That will be good but I need get 2 spots grinded off on the spring and I need to move the std 32 cross back some. I like the 31" 7.50 tires to be little under the wheel openings, as I don't want it to low. I will then see my Halibrand soilds vs the BS etc how it feels and look ( will be fun ! )
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