At some point in the not too distant future I will be replacing the stock banjo rear axle on my Model A with a Maverick 8”. Up until now I have not done any welding or serious fabrication for any car I have built so looking forward to some advice: What all would I need to do to install the 8” while keeping the buggy spring and radius rods?
A welder will be needed. I am not sure how you can build a car without welding or fabricating something. For this conversion you will have to either purchase or fabricate the mounting plates / brackets for the spring and radius rods, weld the brackets to the axle housing, and install the housing into the car. Pay close attention to geometry like the pinion angle and axle position, and you should be good to go. https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Tran...e-Mounting-Brackets-Model-T-Model-A,3362.html
You will also find that you need a custom spring if you want to keep it spring over. Seems most spring shops are no longer firing up then furnace so your options are slim. Mill works hot rod parts on the east coast makes a custom narrower leaf pack just for this application. I decided to use quarter eliptics springs when putting a maverick 8” in my Model A
Mr Frozen and Mr. Tim, thank you for your responses. Mr. Frozen, There are many ways to build a car and I haven’t done anything fancy by a long shot. In the past I have had what little welding I needed done by someone else but I now have a good Miller and have been taking classes so I think that I am up to the task. I have looked into 1/4 springs as well and believe that that could be an alternative as well. I would love to see some pictures if ever get the opportunity to post them.
Tim, excuse my ignorance but could you explain for me why I would need a narrower spring? I have no doubt that you are correct but I need to picture it in my head. Thanks
The replacement axle will almost certainly be narrower than the original axle meaning likely interference between the spring shackles and the brake backing plates. Might seem OK but may not have sufficient clearance to allow proper suspension movement. Chris
If the 8inch provides room and I didn’t have a welder or wasn’t proficient in welding, I’d get what’s needed and either take both into a shop or call someone out and say “make this into that”.
The maverick 8” is narrower than the stock banjo in the area that the spring perches want to live. It’s a good fit other wise. I’m running mine with full fenders.
He’s taking classes. That’s more than I did, and my welds are fine. We weren’t all born with a welding helmet on.
Welding on axle tubes is not something you just do as the heat will distort the tubes. A fixture should be used to make sure that the tubes are kept true. This isn't a simple 'weld and you're done with it' job.
What I did on my 8 inch with a Tardel style stepped Model A frame. I fabricated the perches from 1/2" plate and tube bored to the diameter of the shackle pins. To install them, I sliced the hangers horizontally across the hole center and welded them back together when I located them on the axle tube. I wanted the spring behind, so I had to lengthen the frame to get back to the Model A wheelbase.
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