Anyone ever try this suspension setup??

Back in the '90's NSRA giveaway a purple '32 roadster powered by a Vette ZR1. Using an off-the-self rear tie-rods drop axle front-end the builder flipped the tie-rod arms to the front side of the axle (for whatever reason). They first time they drove the roadster the inside wheel turned a larger circle compared to the outside wheel. That is OK if you enjoy skidding both front tires throughout a turn. Someone pointed out that the ackerman intersection was somewhere in front of the front axle and not near the rear axle centerline as in most cars. The steering was corrected before the roadster arrived at Louisville. I always wonder whose brother-in-law got the build contract.

Total Performance front end uses a in-front-of-the-axle tie rod because most T-buckets use very narrow front wheels. A really wide front wheel would probably hit the tie rod arms unless you had a large wheel offset.

 

I see this one at Billetproof Nor-Cal every year. The owner drives it from Reno, NV to Antioch, CA, which is about 280-300 miles each way. No complaints about the ride.

This is a AD ('48-'54) Chevy truck setup. If I remember correctly, that has the tie-rod in the front anyway, so no Ackerman issues here.

 

Please don't tell me those brackets are welded to your axle, or I'll be forced to fly out there and beat you with them...good God that's an ugly setup...ingeniuitive, but ugly...I will give you credit for the badly welded gussets though, so it's not all bad...

 

I'm not seeing what they have in mind to mount the spring(s). Is the idea to use a stock Ford or Chevy truck axle with a transverse spring? Looks to me to be a stock axle flipped around with some fairly simple to fab brackets and some cheesy hairpins. Where do they want you to hook up a drag link? I'd p***.

 

Actually Scottys drawing is correct and practical. The problem is he KNOWS what he is talking about and some of the rest are just blowing smoke. But you cant make a car out of smoke. You can only throw the rest off course.
In another life i taught these subjects for a living. His drawing is not disputable. It is correct. "In front" steering can be found on many cars in production as well . The principal laid out in his drawing is what makes it work. No the steering arm does not hit the wheel or the backing plate although it does come much closer than rear facing steering arms. But no matter what you may say he is right. A college level book on Automotive principles will cover this subject if it is any good. Also Race Car Engineering by Van Volkenburg also touches on it I believe. Automotive principles are carved in stone. Like the rules of nature they do not change if they were right in the first place. Opinion or wishing does not change the facts. Those who understand this do well .
Don