Your Choice of Suspension under a fenderless Rod?! Well?

[AHotRod]

First I gotta say that I'm partial to "Dropped Axles" and "Fenderless" Rods, butt don't hate me for it....

I'm in the planning stages for another slammed, mild-chop, '30 "A" bone sedan, and of-course it HAS to be fenderless......so, I'd like to get some feed-back on what YOU have experianced as a "VERY-GOOD Riding & Handling" suspension package, front and rear both.
Products, Brands, Contacts, etc. are good too!

Ohh...Pictures are even better!
Let'Em Rip !

[Flexicoker]

Well, I really like the look of the indy style independent front with polished stainless a-arms, big disk brakes and 20" boyds. oh yeah, it looks the best with pastel pink paint. just my opinion though http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Tim]

i know you asked for person experance, and this isnt my personal other experance other then having read it when this came up once before, i recall there being a large amount of information presented on how to set up a straight axel,straight axel front rear set up to handle just as well as many of the independant set ups

tim

[Bigcheese327]

Personally I like the look of an OE Mustang II setup on an A. Especially when they leave the rack in the stock position, jutting through the splash apron in front of the car.

[DrJ]

I read on another thread that the going rate for Corvairs in FLA. is $50 and their suspension was top-tech in the late 60s and they come with the "right" steering box too!

I think dropped axles look "bent". http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Chrisco]

Will hoot eyes work good with a dropped setup up front, the geometry is kind of strange.

[Paul]

Chrisco,
who the hell are you to come bustin' in to an intellegent discussion with your stupid "hoot eyes" bullshit, whatever that is?

fucking new guys..

[cheaterslick]

DING DING DING DING!!! CALLING ALL FNG COPS! Do an intro NOW bud or suffer the consequences!

[Chrisco]

Actually it was kinda a loaded ? See i got 'em so i gotta get rid of 'em or get 'em fixed up. I knew you guys would say '"hoot eyes" you mean blah blah blah, no that's the stupidest thing i read since the Corvair post'. Even new guys gotta start somewheres. By way of explanation, i'm working on a plan for massaging a '50s era stock car from the NE, gently, since the car is sorta barn fresh(actually chicken coop) and reeks of history, at least i think thats history i smell. The front suspension seems kinda like a snowball rolling downhill. Wishbone, stock axle, leaf, monster coilovers on the outside just shocks on the inside and yes hooteyes. I guess the closest thing i've seen to 'em is the swing arm type shocks on my '48 Fleetmaster, only beefier.

[metalshapes]

[ QUOTE ]
Well, I really like the look of the indy style independent front with polished stainless a-arms, big disk brakes and 20" boyds. oh yeah, it looks the best with pastel pink paint. just my opinion though http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Man, that is so much yesterday's style that it is almost tomorrow's traditional...
Try a little harder, like Carbonfibre A arms and bigger wheels than 20's... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Chrisco]

Thought left field was a good place to start. But guess you all have been there if you don't come from there. I've had some cars, once owned a '51 Stude in NYC, only took it out late since it had no valid plates etc. Most of the story won't pass muster with this crowd. I been checking you out for a while, love the snappy patter and great tech ,the shorts speak for themselves. So i started out looking for a flathead to build a project around and low and behold a guy a half hour away was lettin go of this stock car. I'm a john for old warhorse racecars. I know little or nothing about vintage stockcars but since i haven't seen a lot of survivors, i got in. The guy was impressed i got through the window. The motor runs strong, compression 100+ in all holes. I'll drop in some pics if your interested, and don't send me packin. Chrisco.

[fab32]

Better get those pictures up pronto.

Frank

[bradberry00]

anyone ever try the new Vintage IFS from Fat Man?

they one that splits a tube axle so each side moves intependently?

Might be a nice riding alternative, and you could hide all that modern stuff behind the grille...

http://www.fatmanfab.com/page12.htm

[AnimalAin]

This is an actual answer to the question posed at the top of the post. My roadster has all Deuce Factory stuff at the front: stainless 4-bar, dropped tube axle, Vega steering, and Magoo's panhard bar. Has those hideously nontraditional JFZ brakes that actually stop the car. The rear has (gasp!) triangulated four-bar suspension, a nine-inch Ford rear, and coilovers.

Say what you will about not having "the look" or whatever, but that sucker can go a thousand miles in a day without too much damage to my sorry and worn-out self. I know there are alternatives that are more traditional and might work just as well, but I can tell you for sure that my combination works.

[AHotRod]

Geeeeeeeeeezus! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif

[metalshapes]

[ QUOTE ]
anyone ever try the new Vintage IFS from Fat Man?

they one that splits a tube axle so each side moves intependently?

[/ QUOTE ]

I would want the swingarm a bit longer than that, and if possible the mounting points lower.
Both those things would make the jacking effect less ( this is where the outside wheel tries to tuck under the car, and jacking the nose of the car up, while cornering hard.)
Or use it as is on very narrow tires ( they would not lose as much grip with massive amounts of positive camber...)

[AHotRod]

THANKS Animal for a true answer.
I've built allot of traditional suspensioned cars, but most have rode like a skate-board.
Now I'd like to do it and feel like driving it 500 miles in 1-day and not feel as I beat myself and the car to death.
Thank You for your experiance!

[AHotRod]

Bradberry........ I'm not a believer in Fat-Mans split axle, the geometry does not make any sence at all.

[choprods]

there really is nothin else BUT the stock or dropped axle to consider for a fenderless rod in front.anything else puts you incedibly close to a drivin a "Boydster" http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Chrisco]

Hope these come up. '37 Ford w/hoot eyes- Chrisco

[choprods]

Ya mean-Houidales?

[metalshapes]

[ QUOTE ]
Ya mean-Houidales?

[/ QUOTE ]

or Houdaille's ?

[Chrisco]

This is the infield front no coil-over.-Chrisco

[Unkl Ian]

[ QUOTE ]
anyone ever try the new Vintage IFS from Fat Man

[/ QUOTE ]

I doubt any ride improvement could justify the bumpsteer.

[KCsledz]

nice find Chrisco!

[Chrisco]

Thanks for the course correction. Must be my New England accent. Houdailes...where from? Any leads would be appreciated. This thing also has a Highland quick change rearend, from Springfield MA. Came with a couple of extra sets.-C

[metalshapes]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for the course correction.

[/ QUOTE ]

Dont worry about it...
I did not know how to spell it either, but I knew where to find it.
Cool car...

[Chrisco]

How come you don't see many suicide front ends. It would seem to open up more options for stance and suspension.-C

[Digger_Dave]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
anyone ever try the new Vintage IFS from Fat Man

[/ QUOTE ]

I doubt any ride improvement could justify the bumpsteer.

[/ QUOTE ]

Looking at the Fat Man setup reminds me of Ford pickup trucks when they ran a "split beam front axle" and the ends were anchored on the opposite sides of the frame. The "arms" would be longer, so would that lessen the bump steer?

Fat Man's setup splits the drag link and has a "bell crank" that hooks to the steering arm and to each sides spindle. The axle (split) and the drag links are the same length. Other than changing "chamber" going over a bump, would this cause "bumpsteer?"

[metalshapes]

[ QUOTE ]

Looking at the Fat Man setup reminds me of Ford pickup trucks when they ran a "split beam front axle" and the ends were anchored on the opposite sides of the frame. The "arms" would be longer, so would that lessen the bump steer?


[/ QUOTE ]

The longer swing arm would make the camber changes less for a given amount of suspension travel.
That is why it is important to build them that way.
I dont understand why anybody would go through the trouble to develop and market a system like that when a couple of extra components and some longer swing arms would make all the difference in the world.
(Just like I dont understand why the most popular Panhard bar kits are about a third of the length they could be...)
If set up correctly, bumpsteer should not be a problem ( on either the short or the long swing arm setup ).

[haring]

Can't say from personal experience yet, but I'll be running a gennie dropped 1932 "heavy" commercial axle and split wishbones. I sure would like to chrome them, but am afraid that would cost more than the entire cost I've got into parts already. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif