Hot Rods Help with 1931 Chevy Leaf Springs

I am hot rodding a 31 Chevy coupe. The plan is to drive the hell out of it when I get it together. I would like to run the original style suspension. I need help finding a good source for leaf springs, shackles and a drop axle.

I'm running a hot 327, muncie, posi

no mustang II, no ford mono leaf conversion

thanks for the help. Edger

 

YOu can either have SID's drop that original axle which from what I hear is the best bet because it keeps the character or you can have a later truck axle dropped.

ANother option is to flip the axle on top of the springs and channel the front crossmember so there's enough room for travel. That I think is the cheapest way and it keeps all the original parts.


Kerry here on the HAMP flipped the axle and it's got a great stance!

 

Thanks for the info, look like SID is the place.....
F--K those are very cool pics, good to see an old chevy coupe on the drag strip.

Edger

 

It was suggested to me that the fillingstation.com would have the springs that I was looking for a good price. $270 for 8 leaf

Posies Rods and customs came up so I gave them a call, good guys but they would have build them custom for big bucks.

Cheers

 

I am building a 29 sedan and am interested in what you end up with for springs and how much drop on the axle.

Are you running fenders?

What are you planning for brakes?

 

I am running full finders and bumpers

The brake are: pedals and master cylinder are 49 ford, front brakes are 40ish Chevy truck, (I purchased a 29 axle with brakes already hung) rear end and brakes are 64 impala

I am headed to the parts store this morning to buy lines and fittings, I hope to have working brakes by sunset.

Cheers

 

I just uploaded a couple of pics to the photo album

 

good luck with the chevy build. always great to see a non ford. i, too kept the original spring set up and used f1 steering box, cut the pitman arm off original chevy and welded it in place of ford. that will give you clearance to miss rear of spring. f1 box is mounted in same place as original chev. it is an incredible improvement. keep us all up to date w/ progress.

 

i like the flip axle. how does the car drive at hwy speed.

 

have sid drop the axle, and use the stock springs, oh yeah,, use a 57 chevy p/u box, easier to find than a f-100, and its recirculating ball, nice box, you will have to make the pitman arm longer, unless you like power steering feel, and alot of turns lock to lock,

 

gear jammer must know what he is talking about

Here is his car at the first Milltown show in M***achusetts....driven cross country from Arizona!

 

Thanks! Ill have to put that picture in my stuff, about the springs, I pulled a couple leafs on the front, ill have to look at them and count them and see what I did, They work good, I really couldnt see how you could get it to ride any better than it does, In the rear I dearched the stock springs so I wouldnt have to put blocks in it, other than that its stock.

 

milltown

 

I just picked up a 29 chevy 3 window looking to lower it also. Who is sid? It's got flaming river vega box with gm disc.

 

How did I miss this when it was first posted?

Actually my coupe is a Pontiac, not a Chevy but it's the same setup. Drives great down the highway. Here's a shot of the gusseted mount I made. It was important to me that the scrub line would be ok.

 

sid does the axles, if your going to use all the new stuff, Im not the guy to help you, think pre 1960, you'll be better off.

 

Sid http://www.droppedaxles.com/ Search is a wonderful thing!! No problem looking for all the help and ideas I can get. Just got the car, traded straight up for a boat! It was already resto modded but needs some TLC, and the stance is all wrong.

 

Gear Jammer you've got one real nice coupe. What size rims and tires are you running and how many leafs and which ones did you remove? Did you drop that axle, how low? Thanks in advance Steve

 

Hey GearJammer, how about some more pics? Your album looks great, how's the car coming?
Onerare, I have a '32 Chevy with Vega box and GM discs (with cross steering). I found a used 4" dropped axle, had new front springs bent, at a local shop, with reversed eyes and left out the two shortest leaves. Same for the rear; new springs, left out two leaves, reversed eyes and had the springs de-arched 2". I also used shorter, modern style shackles front and rear. Let's see some pic's. Love old Chevies, we're a minority.

 

I'm sorry, guys, my bad, EDGER, how about some recent pics of your project?

 

Yeah I'm building a 31 Chevy also and would love some recent pics.

 

The latest pictures, I'm short on cash and working on parts I all ready have so I'll get to the springs this summer. Allot of wood work.


cheers.

post a couple more pics tomorrow

 

Chopper what did you do with your steering arms, any pics. Thanks Steve

 

Good luck with your project. I have a soft spot for 31 Chev. 5 windows we ran one in the late 50s through the late 60s. Agas and AAgas AHRA record holder on and off through this period.I think we used a Plymouth tube axle with stock Chev. springs.
and Chev. steering . It went straight well but the turning radius was limited.

 

Steve, the steering arms were part of the axle ***embly I bought, it originally came from Butch's Rod Shop. They were a shop that closed in about the late '80's I think, but Butch is now making a comeback. I also used a Vega steering box with Vega pitman arm. When I decided to lower the front end a little more I had a clearance problem between the pitman arm and center link, so I think I will be changing to an offset pitman arm. Anyway, you can go to the album in my profile, or check out my '32 Chevy subframe thread, there might be some pics there that will help. Otherwise I will take some more detailed pics and PM them to you if you want. Just let me know.