Projects Straight Axle Springs?

I’m going to use this Econoline axle in my’56 Fairlane. Would it mess anything up if I turned them around and put the shorter side of the spring towards the front? I’m sure there is a reason they are unequal lengths from the pin. The short side had the shakle and was at the rear. I’m guessing the shackle should stay with the short side?


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Theory is that when driving, (forward!) you are 'pushing your front wheels'.
Ergo, springs are 'secured' in back, shackled at front.
If you reverse your springs and your axle goes too far forward, simply relocate your spring center bolt and 'adjust' the leaves' positions by turning some around until the spaces between ends are equidistant.
Do them both the same, obviously...so car sits level.
My son has a '56 club sedan also, a Fairlane model. (back windows roll partially down)
His springs are 'aftermarket', has centerbolts in the centers of the springs, and he runs a MAS tube axle. His springs are shackled in front.
If you look from the side, the springs should intersect the rear where the frame dips, but this is ***uming the springs are the correct length. (36"? +/-)
Spring when front shackled will ***ume a 'flat' at centerbolts, so the axle sits somewhere around 'neytral' caster. Tapered shims will be necessary to get 6*-7* positive caster. (axle 'lean back')
Hope this is clear!

 

I doubt seriously that you will notice any difference by reversing the springs so the long/short ends are opposite of what they started out as.
Many of the late 20's early 30's parallel leaf cars had the spring mounted to the front frame horn and the shackle at the back of the spring Both Dodge and Chevrolet were that way a**** others. Simply meaning that either way works. On that car it won't matter anyhow as you are taking what was a pretty nice driving car and turning it into something that rides and handles like a buckboard.

 

Two good answers, thanks. Pushing the axle makes sense, leave the shackles at the rear and turn the springs around. (I want to move the axle foreword and not lengthen the frame horns) And yes, it’s not going to drive like it would have but I don’t mind.


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