Rear parallel leafs on a Model A?

Nice work on your project and thanks for sharing the link to the Uni-ball that is a great idea and well priced.

 

doesn't anybody remember the Shay built A roadsters, they had the pinto rear springs. they also had a spare tire rack or steamer trunk to hide the shackles. my friend had one and i drove it. it rode very nice on ghetto roads, (pot holes, cracks etc) where i was driving. the pinto springs are shorter from the center bolt to the shackles.

 

I am building a "A" PICKUP and z'd the frame and extended it the full length of the bed for a trailer hitch . Used 2x4 tubing for the extension and '53 Chevy pickup front springs and brackets. The Chevy springs are short and easy to find. Simple and Hamb friendly. This truck will be used to deliver and the unsupported bed length was also eliminated.

 

That photo pretty much visually shows why to not use parallel leafs.



The uncluttered simple look of Henry's unsupported bed at the rear is one of the major visual cues that makes these look "right". Less is more:

 

It sure ain't for everybody but it is do-able, was also trying to hide the Reece hitch.

 

"Looking right" is why the beds are generally shortened. I want to use mine to enjoy it,not perpetuate one of Henry's shortcomings. The unsupported bed was one of Henry's mistakes on the "a".

 

looks like that leaf spring set up in the pics coulda been pulled off and have a clean looking rear with out that hitch and silly roll pan to cover the hitch cause it look like the shackles are not hanging oddly low. and maybe the stock model A bumper will help cover the leafs if he was going with a traditional looking approach and not a street rod.

 

Has anyone used trailer springs theyre only 25in 3 leafs and very cheap ?
Trailer sales have them laying all over.
Northern Hydraulics $22.00.
They come in different spring rates.
With all the brackets and Ubolts

 

Model A pickups did not have a rear bumper.
The pic was posted to show that a rear parallel set of leaf springs could be installed.
Nobody else has come up with a better pic.
The vehicle posted is what it is.
The towing hitch is not going to be removed or roll pan for the benefit of this thread.
I respect the individualism of hot rodding as long as it is done with good quality worksmanship.

 

here is a set up i finished up this past weekend.

 

Well its been many years now since i posted the build pics from the rear parallel leaf spring model A pickup. The update is im still driving it every day with absolutely no problems with the leafs. This upgrade to a model A rear is amazing!

 

Very light car...esp in the rear.
Light enough springs to provide a nice ride?
No provisions to eliminate spring wrap-up?
Factory mono-leaf rear parallel springs without traction bars and such had a BAD case of wheel hop.
No wheel hop during hard acceleration?

 

Headlights and visor look wrong plus pickups did not have rear bumpers...
Looks cluttered like mine at the back.

 

I think you were judging it by the mock up pictures. More leafs were added. No wheel hop, not any spring wrap, nothing. been driving it hard with its fuel injected motor ever since .

 

your hate and bad aesthetic eye inspired that build. Thank you . Best decision i ever made.

 

kingpins, your truck looks great! I'll bet it rides and handles nice to....Carry on.

 

Light car like a Model A you could use quarter eliptic with a Panhard bar. You wouldn't need to extend the chassis for rear shackles. Very easy to fabricate.

 

Thanks buddy i appreciate that. It rides so damn good it's ridiculous! I'm super happy with how it turned out and the performance of it.

 

Thanks kingpins, for your reply. No judging here, just genuinely curious for future reference. The wheel hop I was referring to is a memory of some late 60s GM cars with mono leaf rear suspensions. Without traction bars, they would hop like crazy. The worst I ever experienced was in high school. Dumped the clutch, driving my buddy's 68 GTO 400 4spd. OMG... bam bam bam bam bam! I thought I broke his car.
I like your truck a lot.

Sent from my VS835 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Darn good-lookin truck. I really like the look and functionality of the bumper. (I'm the type that would push/pull with that bumper)

 

Like wise with my build buddy and possibly think about sticking to the thread subject instead of shit canning others just because they don't meet your expectations...

 

Kumbaya my Lord, Kumbaya...