Hey, lookin for as many pics as possible on a 40 ford truck build, I know how im building the frame, but wanna see what others are doing as far as rear suspension and front ends. Thanks
What happened to the 37 Dodge truck build? Here are some photos from my 40 build. Don't tell anybody but I'm think MII for the front suspension. Only because of the traveling I do. The rear end is a Mavrick 8" with an air bag system added for spring support when loaded. I will be running a 401 Buick Nailhead with a 700r4 trans.
The springs and hangers are off the front of a 48-53 Chevy GMC pickup. Reverse them for the rear mounting. I take three leafs out and have the same set up in 3 of my 40 Fords now. Been in my coupe since the mid 70's. Lots cheaper than the pro kits and plenty of them around.
I don't have a picture of it, but my rear suspension is very much like MJ40's: I used a Maveric 8" and Ford Ranger springs with lowering blocks. Instead of air bags, I have air shocks. Air bags are probably much better. I normally have the truck sitting pretty low, but I often need to raise up the rear for practical reasons. I haul stuff with my truck all the time - motorcycles, engines and other car parts, landscaping stuff, lumber, PA and band equipment, etc. If I didn't actually use my truck as a truck, I would have just gone with a stock buggy spring and modified crossmember. Truck rides great though - for a truck.
Like your project but don't know the reason for the air bags. I never used them in some of my truck projects so I guess you may have some need for them. I always used lowering blocks and then a set of gabriel air shocks.Made it look normal so to speak. You should have a great looking rig when finished. Thanks for posting.
Sorry Jalopy13 for stealing your thread but hope there is some information you can use here. Just like speedyjones, I haul things at times and have the need for some rear end support. I don't like the ride air shock will give you and it was much easier to design in a set of air bags that I could use when needed to control rear end sag when I pull my tear drop trailer and a loaded bed. The rest of the time I run about 5 to 10 pounds of air pressure just to keep the system going. I had a new set of air bags left over from another project so I used them on the 40.
Air shocks put the entire rear weight of the car on the shock mount, which in most cases was never designed for those loads.
46 ford rear end with a 40 ford torque tube and drive line. stock rails. rear crossmember is the center of model-A crossmeber, de-arched to fit 40 spring. Took some springs out. Can just pie your rear crossmeber to flatten it out too.
This is the only pic I have of my front end, but it is modified front crossmember, took some springs out, and a dropped axle. If I was going to do it again, I would get a 32-36 axle and bones (non 32 heavy axle).
are you sure you want to say " entire"? your making me wondering about the welds on mine w/ a/s? a bead or tack? thanks i will look.
My 41 has stock type suspension front and rear. I put a posies dropped front and spring. The rear is stock with 3 leaves removed. I used modern shocks and master cylinder. Rides great. Going to install columbia this spring.Picture 748.jpg
MJs right. Mine actually rides great, but only because the previous owner (make that the original owner) used a huge sheet of steel diamond plate for the bottom of the bed. It must weigh at least 200 lbs, but it keeps the back end from jumping around! Lo Tech at its finest! Not so good for drag racing . I never said it was a good idea, just what I had! The welds won't break, just your shocks will blow. It took several hundred pounds of PA and band gear and a really rough dirt road to find that out, though. Lasted through dozens of loads with motorcycles, engines, sheetmetal, landscaping plants, small kids, dogs, rocks, and fellow club members using the bed for a party platform at Viva Las Vegas before they finally blew, though. I'm not complaining.
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