Hot Rods Removing spring leaves

Searching this forum,...could not find anything. Removing a leaf or two from a front spring on a 30's Ford has been a way to get the front end lower. Questions are,...is that an acceptable idea?...are there risks other than "bottoming out"?,...which leaves?
My 31 Model A Highboy is on a Deuce frame with "A" crossmember and a 4" axle. The engine weight is equivalent to a SBC.
I'd appreciate a response from someone who has done it,...with or without success.
Tx Bill

 

When I did mine, many moons ago, I removed every other leaf, and worked for a total of seven. You may have to play a bit with yours.

 

I did this to my 34 ford. When I was designing my hood, I noticed it was "running uphill" to the radiator, no bueno! I already had the radiator built, lowering the radiator made lower hoses (flathead) impossible as they interfered with the crossmember, so I removed and lowered the front crossmember. This of course raised the stance of the car in front. To compensate I removed the top spring and the short one on top of the stack. I made a spacer out of a block of aluminum to fill the gap I created.

The roadster has been on the road for 6 years and rides nice even with two guys in the car. I run a couple of Bilstein tube shocks up front, hairpins, typical hot rod setup. All steel car, Blown Flathead, is not light.

In retrospect it would have been easier to cut the radiator core down but why do things easy?

 

What spring are you starting with? Original Ford or replacement? Original Ford roadster is typically 7 leaves, roadster PU and PU 10 leaves. Closed cars usually 9. Reversing the main leaf eyes and removing one or two leaves is a good start. Typically remove every other leaf from the top of the pack.

 

Has it been 6 years? Holy crap time flies. I love that car.

 

Front spring does not have much of an arch so you won't gain much. You will also run into shackle clearance issues. Reverse eye main leaf gives about 3/4 inch drop.

 

@wstory what do you have to lose to try it? Remove a few, give it a whirl, put 'em back in if it doesn't work to your satisfaction. Mine is a super slide spring with reversed eyes. If you haven't reversed your eyes, start there.

Yes it has. 2019 Portland Roadster Show. It has become a pretty nice road car, but I am still making adjustments. They are never done! Long live the flathead!

 

Local spring shop told me to remove every other one starting with the smallest on my Chevy truck. I started with 7, ended up with 4. I added back the same space with a aluminum block, I wasn't trying to lower the truck, wanted a softer ride. I have since replaced the four spring packs with Detroit Spring custom made ones, I was getting nervous about the four 80 year old springs.

 

When I built my A, I used a stock frame with a '30/'31 front crossmember. I used a '35 front axle, reversed eye model A top spring, '32 spindles and removed #2 and #3 springs from my A front spring pack. This is how it ended up sitting...

 

That’s a really nice blue.

 

I'm going to assume that you have already reversed the eyes on the main leaf? That is the simple way to get a bit over an inch of drop.
Another thing is just de-arching the spring a bit. Meaning deliberately flattening the arch of the leaves out a bit. That either takes a lot of work if you don't have the equipment or taking it to a local spring shop and having them rework it to your specs. Years ago I could re-arch or de-arch a spring with a sledge hammer and an anvil but I am not strong enough now.

 

Thanks all for your input. Bottom line is, I guess I just have to "go for it!" Did not mention previously that I have an aftermarket Roadster Supply Co spring with reversed eyes with nylon pucks on each leaf. The frame is also notched directly above the spring. I'll probably start with removing #2 and #4 leaves.
Will be awhile but will letcha know how it works out.