Okay, I listened to everybody and bought and devoured the Bishop/Tardel book. I have the flatty in the garage, '37 banjo rear in the shed and the rebuilt '38 toploader and getting ready to start on the A ch***is I have. Question is...how to lower the Ch***is? Bishop/Tardel says drop axle in front, reversed eye A spring. Rear is frame height Z with reverse eye A spring with modifying the spring pack. But...some guys here do it differently. What are the advantages of using a T spring in the rear with the longest leaf removed? How much will that drop the rear as opposed to the Bishop/Tardel method? How else do people drop the front and how much does it drop it if different. I would love to use a shallow drop axle (like 2 1/2 inches). I really like that look, but can the front be dropped without using a dropped axle? Basically, how are you all doing it and why? Thanks, Andy
It should have all been covered in the book. While there are many ways, a cobo of severall mods should get you where you want. The T rear spring should get you about 2 to 2 3/4 inches lower than the A, depending on sag over the years, and has a great shape. I would just remove the smaller leaves and not the first big one. As you stated reverse eyes will help abit also. I'm not sure of the rear spring mounts on the 37 banjo but custom fabbed ones will help with height too, but the rear spring will have to be moved behind or in front of the axle. A 33-36 front axle has a factory upsweep at the end, about an 1 1/2 more than an A axle. Again reverse eyes in the front as well as a flatter cross member. The final ride height and at***ude adjustment is...tire rake.
I've been using the Tardel/Bishop book for lots of reference, but I also used what I could find/afford. I used a 5" drop 33/34 axle from Okie Joe, reversed eye posies spring, and 5.25/16 tires in the front. There's an A spring hanging off the back of the 8" rear end, and the tires are 7.00/16. If it still needs some more drop in the rear, I'll have to use a reversed eye A main leaf from Tardel. I'm really happy with the stance so far, even though it's a ch***is. ALSO, gotta give credit to JohnnyBBad, he's the guy putting this ch***is together for me....this is my first build, so I'm learning all this from him! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=615579
Okay, I think I have a plan here. I have a '34 axle undropped. I'm going to run that axle with a reverse eye main leaf up front. In the back, I'm thinking of leaving the frame stock (model A frame) with no kickup and a model T spring. Anybody have any experience with this look and setup? Then run 4.50/75-16 in front and 7.50/16 in the rear. Waddya all think about that?
Or... The other option is to do the same to the front as mentioned in my last post and then do a frame height step in the rear like in the Bishop/Tardel book and leave the stock A-spring in the rear. This will give me the same result as my last post but also leaves me open to lowering more in the future if I choose to by going with a T-spring in the rear later on and getting a drop axle in the front later on as well. Basically, this second option...leaves my options open in the future, while the first method pretty much seals it for me once the body goes on. Because I really don't want to pull the body off if I choose to drop it into the weeds in the future. This option allows me to get 3 1/2" to 4" drop in both the front and rear right off the bat with the possibility of going lower in the future if I want to. What do you all think about THIS one?
i like your first idea man. its alot like what im going to do to my 31 ch***is. do you know if the stock "A" wishbones will fit the 33-36 axle? Or how about the 32?
I've got a 3" dropped axle and reversed eye spring in the front ...and a reversed eye T spring in the back. Looks good in my eyes but still have to set the motor in to see final ride height.
Link to POSIES Model A Rear Spring Load Tests to give you guys an idea of what to expect with our springs. #29-31R-C for 46 -46 1/2" Perch Centers http://www.posiesrodsandcustoms.com/...atasheetsm.pdf #29-31R-N for 44 - 44 1/2" Perch Centers (New Spring Available end of Oct) http://www.posiesrodsandcustoms.com/...atasheetsm.pdf Any questions, please call us! Todd
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