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Model a rear spring (spring behind?)

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by lx450landcruiser, Jun 9, 2012.

  1. lx450landcruiser
    Joined: Feb 15, 2012
    Posts: 50

    lx450landcruiser
    Member
    from wa

    Ok so Ive been cuting and welding to figure out the best way for me to do this but i figured maybe I should just stop and ask the experts.

    Its a 29 model a frame that was totaly stock, I cut the rear and Z'd it about 5 inches with waterjet parts. I boxed the frame as well. I have a 39 rear end with spring behind I would like to use. I have both the stock model a spring as well at the 39 spring. What makes the most sense? I was thinking of trying to run the model a spring with a few leafs out spring behind on the 39 banjo. then bolt it to a the model a cross member that will be moved back from the zed section to keep wheel placement. Does this make sense or would I be beter off running the 39 spring with leafs removes on a custom cross membermoved back?
     
  2. pecdaddy
    Joined: May 23, 2010
    Posts: 197

    pecdaddy
    Member

  3. Paul
    Joined: Aug 29, 2002
    Posts: 16,836

    Paul
    Editor

    A spring behind the banjo would leave room for a quickchange later
     
  4. need louvers ?
    Joined: Nov 20, 2008
    Posts: 12,901

    need louvers ?
    Member

    Absolutely! Do the Model "A" spring behind and some day you can do a quick change, 'cause some day soon, you'll want one!
     
  5. lx450landcruiser
    Joined: Feb 15, 2012
    Posts: 50

    lx450landcruiser
    Member
    from wa

    can I use the normal shackles or should I purchase The slightly longer ones from speedway?
     
  6. Bruce Lancaster
    Joined: Oct 9, 2001
    Posts: 21,681

    Bruce Lancaster
    Member Emeritus

    Model A spring will work fine and of course allow future QC. Many would say thit it is cool looking if it's going to be visible.
    I suspect but can't prove that a '39 spring will work a little more smoothly than an A because it lacks the extra reverse curves, but of course no quickchange for you with the late spring.
    Shackles...a reasonably good rule of thumb is that if they hang at about 45 degrees when installed and loaded, suspension will work fine laterally. If they hang more vertically suspension will have sway and a panhard bar will be needed. It is somewhat difficult to be sure how things are going to hang before car is complete and on its wheels, so keep a contingency plan...
    Remember that the late spring mounts on axle will add more drop into what you have with the Z.
     
  7. lx450landcruiser
    Joined: Feb 15, 2012
    Posts: 50

    lx450landcruiser
    Member
    from wa

    Hey that great I ordered some new longerones as I remeber the a spring is a bit shorter anyways so will giv that a try and figure out where to go from there.

    Cheers
    Mike
     
  8. oj
    Joined: Jul 27, 2008
    Posts: 6,575

    oj
    Member

    The spring will 'grow' a little when you leave out the odd leaf here and there, so it'll be longer than you might think.
     

  9. Also with a spring behind if it turns out to not be low enough it can be lowered by using longer shackles.

    I like a spring behind setup.
     
  10. Another vote for spring behind!
     
  11. Bull
    Joined: Mar 17, 2006
    Posts: 2,288

    Bull
    Member

  12. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 22,276

    alchemy
    Member

    Be careful you have enough clearance over the axle. My brother did the frame lengthening/Z-ing and spring behind on his A, but discovered if the spring is de-arched much the axle gets close to the rails. When Ford did the spring behind from 32-48, the rails had more arch over the axle area.
     

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