Technical Model A Springs w/ Bent Ends

I’m building a Model A frame for my 27 T Touring build and am getting ready to mock up the rear axle from a 46 Ford truck. So I dig into my parts storage to find the rear spring pack that came with one of my frames and realize that at some point in its history it had been modified by bending the ends of the bottom two leaves presumably to lower a car/rod. However, it also has 10 leaves total (stock is 7 or 8, right?) which seems contrary to the lowering theory… maybe it was too low?

Anyone have a theory on the modifications?

Should I even try using the bent leaves or should I start searching for two lower leaves? I do want to lower the rear and like the idea of using parts “rodded” back in the day but I don’t know much about this lowering method. The way they are bent it looks like there will be no slip between the bottom two leaves forcing them to move as one. You can also see where the ends of the upper one have worn into the bottom one.

 

I dig old techniques like that. I’d say it’s same drop as if the eyes were reversed. I dig it! Go for it

 

Tapper the leaves that are wearing into to bottom one and grease the **** outa them. Probably ride pretty damn good. Keep us posted on this.

 

Roadsters and coupes had 7 leaves, sedans and trucks(?) had 10 leaves.

 

I think that's cool as hell. That is a truck spring pack. Lose some leaves & run them... a nice subtle, genuine old detail for your ride.

To me it seems like an alternative to reversing the eyes. Probably works almost as well.

 

I like how the ends of the second leaf are bent to help support the heated/bent ends of the main leaf.

 

It probably looks cool, but for the spring to work correctly it needs to slide, that why you see the worn area on the main leaf on many originals. With the ends bent on both leaves, it can't slide. But you could certainly try it.

 

I would have at a guess this was done on the car, and when the spring was installed , stretched out, the bends may not be far from hitting the axle. Spring tension in that part is gone and could be prone to cracking. It’s not a spring anymore . Just soft steel at the ends. With reversed eyes this is not an issue. Cant do long shackles on an A.

 

My old magazines showed pictures of springs like this accompanied with captions saying not to do it.

 

Heating and bending took the spring out of the steel, it’s dead. Maybe get a couple of different leaves that aren’t bent and use 4” shackles to get the car down. That trick was the hot setup in the ‘40’s-‘50’s, super traditional
Seriously though, I think you need another plan to get your car lower.

 

What you have there is an interesting artifact. But I wouldn't run it. Get a reverse eye main leaf (or reverse it yourself) and run with 7 leaves total. You'll be happy. (I run 5 leaves, but it's a light speedster.)

 

I have a model 'A' rear & a 32 rear both with the same treatment, always questionable from most everyones view point, might be ok for local cruises not so sure at interstate speeds particularly at the bridge/overp*** transistions..

 

Roadsters 7
Coupe 8

Truck
and sedan 10

 

The front spring is Model T
The middle spring is a Millworks Model A reverse eye with Model T profile.
The back spring is Model A that I just removed from my Model A speedster. Seven leaves with the lower two bent.

 

Lol, should have guessed it would be a house divided! Guess I need to start working on mocking up the front end and start looking for a rear spring.
Thanks for all the input. I was hoping it would be ok to use but deep down I had my doubts since I could tell the bottom two leaves wouldn’t be able to slide separately.

 

Looks like mill works has been out of stock for a while of any sort of spring .. Still in production?..?

 

First place I checked… sent them an email asking if they’ll be getting more in. I’ll let you know if they respond.

 

I ordered mine two weeks ago and had it in three days.

 

Ah, you’re right. I was looking at the wrong one, thanks!

 

I (hopefully) have an arrangement for a cheap original full Model A roadster spring coming to me soon… if that pans out then I’ll make my first attempt to reverse the eyes on the main leaf and go from there. If that doesn’t work out then I’ll **** it up and buy a new one from Millworks. Maybe I should practice reversing the eyes on the front spring first though since I have three of those!

 

got a stock T rear crossmember, spring and 2 spring shackel mounts...
$25 you pick it up or have a shipper do it for you...04210 - FASTENAL ?.

 

I have 34 ford pick up with the spring is bent up 2'' the person I bought it from said it was built in 1956 I have put a 2,ooo miles on it over half on freeway at speed

 

Good offer, but no thanks Sloppy. I’ve already stepped my frame with the Model A crossmember so I’m committed on this path now.

 

Both Millworks and Posies have had a hard time getting their springs from manufactures. If you need one Call Millworks and talk to them I'm sure they can put you on a contact list when they get them back in. They are all good dudes, Millworks and Old Yankee Speed both put out really Top notch Parts.

 

So I’ve got this spring on its way way too me. Hopefully I’ll be able to use the main leaf and reverse the eyes at minimum.
It has 8 leaves, with two of them under the main leaf. Does anyone know if this is a roadster or coupe spring arrangement or a spring pack that has been messed with and rearranged?

 

That is effectively a 6-leaf spring. Two leaves were removed from above the main leaf and put below it. Those two under-leaves do not (significantly) affect overall spring strength/tension; they were put there only to fill the gap that was left in the U-bolts.
For what it's worth, I plan to do the exact same thing with my '29 PU; 6 leaves plus two below.

 

Thanks for confirming it is a molested spring pack! I’ll probably end up using it the same way but with reversed eyes for mock up and then go from there.

 

If you guys are like me and cheap. You can order a reverse eye main leaf from A-springs.com and build your own pack.

 

Site doesn't work

 

I’ve seen that link many times but can never get it to work.