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Projects Spring in front of axle setup?

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by dsiddons, Aug 21, 2017.

  1. dsiddons
    Joined: Mar 6, 2006
    Posts: 1,541

    dsiddons
    Member
    from Indiana

    Starting a T roadster project and have a complete 46' front axle I would like to use in some way. And ran across this. Looks like a survivor maybe? Anyone have any info on this car? Thanks[​IMG]


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  2. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 31,177

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

    maybe just a pic from early days of R&C - may not look like that any more. sounds like you want info on using the frontend that you have - maybe change title of thread to get help with that subject
     
  3. big duece
    Joined: Jul 28, 2008
    Posts: 6,830

    big duece
    Member
    from kansas

    For that car I think the '37 v8 60 tube axle would look sweet.
     
  4. sloppy jalopies
    Joined: Jun 29, 2015
    Posts: 5,256

    sloppy jalopies
    Member

    the spring ahead of axle pushes the front wheels back in relation to the grill and headlites...
    the guys here will elaborate...
     

  5. dsiddons
    Joined: Mar 6, 2006
    Posts: 1,541

    dsiddons
    Member
    from Indiana

    Yes I would like to do something with it. I like the way Wally Parks did his A V8 and this T doesn't look to bad. Just wondering how the loss of a few inches of wheelbase might look from a profile view.


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  6. Fordors
    Joined: Sep 22, 2016
    Posts: 5,372

    Fordors
    Member

    Just relocate your front crossmember for the wheelbase you want. The car pictured looks to have a Model A frame judging from the front horns but those could have been added to a rectangular tube frame, and the front 'member is from a much later V8 Ford.
    Is your plan a factory frame or custom?
     
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  7. Rand Man
    Joined: Aug 23, 2004
    Posts: 4,860

    Rand Man
    Member

    Many early hot rods ran the spring-in-front setup. We may not like the way it looks nowadays, but we shouldn't deny the historical record.


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  8. Blake 27
    Joined: Apr 10, 2016
    Posts: 1,504

    Blake 27

    My roadster, originally built in 1957. I added the 37 tube and Buick drums. p19.jpg DSC06700.JPG
     
  9. dsiddons
    Joined: Mar 6, 2006
    Posts: 1,541

    dsiddons
    Member
    from Indiana

    Like to keep it simple and use the A frame with stock crossmembers with a bit of a kickup in the rear. Thought about bobbing the horns and hang the spring out in front of the crossmember like on Parks roadster.??


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  10. dsiddons
    Joined: Mar 6, 2006
    Posts: 1,541

    dsiddons
    Member
    from Indiana

    And this is why I kinda want to use this axle setup. Kinda unconventional but use what you got right? I'm leaning more towards hanging the spring off the front of the crossmember.


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  11. dsiddons
    Joined: Mar 6, 2006
    Posts: 1,541

    dsiddons
    Member
    from Indiana

  12. scrap metal 48
    Joined: Sep 6, 2009
    Posts: 6,079

    scrap metal 48
    Member

    I'm sorry but the spring in front looks awful(to me).. Can't even see that nice V8 60 axle... Most run spring on top or behind for a reason.. Move the spring on your front end to behind the axle off the wishbones.. Your car will like the couple of inches longer wheelbase and you won't have to buy a dropped axle to get it low.. I'll stop.. I'm rambling and it's only my opinion... Rock-on....
     
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  13. Fordors
    Joined: Sep 22, 2016
    Posts: 5,372

    Fordors
    Member

    That is something different, a great look. Good to see a little variety for a change.
     
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  14. dsiddons
    Joined: Mar 6, 2006
    Posts: 1,541

    dsiddons
    Member
    from Indiana

    How about hanging it in front of the crossmember? Like the pic above?


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  15. Blues4U
    Joined: Oct 1, 2015
    Posts: 7,589

    Blues4U
    Member
    from So Cal

    Spring in front allows you to get more room in the engine bay, moving the cross member and radiator forward, while keeping the original wheelbase for aesthetics?
     
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  16. Gearhead Graphics
    Joined: Oct 4, 2008
    Posts: 3,890

    Gearhead Graphics
    Member
    from Denver Co

    I don't hate the idea at all.
    Lets you get it a bit lower than mounting on top.
    gives more engine bay room (providing you move it forward)
    doesn't give it a super long wheelbase.
    An idea I'll keep in mind for my T for sure
     
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  17. junkman8888
    Joined: Jan 28, 2009
    Posts: 1,035

    junkman8888
    Member

    As to the car in the first picture, looks like what they did was bolt the axle to the front crossmember in its stock location then shift the engine and body backwards to compensate for the change in wheelbase, something that usually wasn't done on cars built back in the day. IMO the car would be improved by using a track nose to hide the spring.
     
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  18. Crankhole
    Joined: Apr 7, 2005
    Posts: 2,634

    Crankhole
    Member

    [​IMG]
    Isky T wouldn't be right any other way.
     
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  19. sloppy jalopies
    Joined: Jun 29, 2015
    Posts: 5,256

    sloppy jalopies
    Member

    yes... mount your spring shackles off from the wishbones... will let you put the grill wherever you want.
     
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  20. tubman
    Joined: May 16, 2007
    Posts: 6,913

    tubman
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    "Spring in Front" always said "East Coast" to me. I liked California Hot Rods better.
     
  21. bct
    Joined: Apr 4, 2005
    Posts: 3,154

    bct
    Member

    I like it. Says old timey build to me.
     
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  22. dsiddons
    Joined: Mar 6, 2006
    Posts: 1,541

    dsiddons
    Member
    from Indiana

    Nice call! Didn't know this



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  23. dsiddons
    Joined: Mar 6, 2006
    Posts: 1,541

    dsiddons
    Member
    from Indiana

    East Coast hot Rod? Ha !



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  24. nickk
    Joined: Feb 2, 2011
    Posts: 762

    nickk
    Member

    Like some others mentioned already, it was popular thing to do on the east coast. Most likely because it's what they had and they wanted cars to be low. Here's one my uncle built around 1971. He built it when he was 17.

    Screenshot_2017-08-22-21-14-41.jpg
     
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  25. dana barlow
    Joined: May 30, 2006
    Posts: 5,115

    dana barlow
    Member
    from Miami Fla.
    1. Y-blocks

    Yes,I'm east cost,{right cost}an built my 28A rod in 1959 with a 1948 front axle set up,for high school. Those that don't like the look,maybe don't understand, that its better then above or behind axle spring set up,beside being lower,the best part is you can use a softer spring{ then any other place} an get a better ride by having spring out front.= it's better engineering. I still drive it ! srufsideShow121315.jpg
     
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2017
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  26. US_Marshall
    Joined: Oct 26, 2011
    Posts: 85

    US_Marshall
    Member

    I think Henry would agree, he moved the spring to front on purpose.

    I have a 32 axle with 37 bones, spring in front.

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  27. evintho
    Joined: May 28, 2007
    Posts: 2,363

    evintho
    Member

    '27 roadster. '38 front end, spring in front.

    [​IMG]
     
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  28. sloppy jalopies
    Joined: Jun 29, 2015
    Posts: 5,256

    sloppy jalopies
    Member

    spring in front... cause it was cheap... did that on my first rod, a '30 roadster pick up...
    you could get one out from under every '39 to '48 ford or mercury... you got the axle, wishbones, spring, spindles and brakes all in one shot... IMO ... ugly as sin.
     
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  29. I run a spring in front set up on my '30 tudor. If you go that route and are splitting the bones you will have to "adjust" the spring mounts/perches. most people just pie cut and bend the bones behind the forged mount area to get the correct mounting distance for the spring. I heated and reshaped the forged area, I think it looks better than the cut and sharply bent bones. The one good thing about cuttinig and bending the bones is it leaves more room for turnning radius, Tire not hitting the bones.
     
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