Folks I want to use 1/4 springs to support the rear of the MOdel A.. here are the items i have considered 2 options 1) buying poises springs 2) save some money for diapers buy (2) 20" trailer springs double eye type shift leafs to one side and redrill Does anyone see an issue with the structural concern of the main leaf having a hole? I am following 26T thread on drilling the leafs sounds like a B-tch to drill.
I've built several chassis with 1/4 elliptic rears using the Posie springs and P&J ladder bars. The first 1/4 setup I ever built 20 years ago used a 40 front spring cut in half and redrilled for the spring bolts. I used the springs on the top and a pair of bars on the bottom with a panard. See the car every year at the LARS, it has over a 100,000 K with no problems.
I've posted this several times and should be in the archives,I used 57 Chevy rear springs ,short stiffer front half on the front ,weaker longer half on the back. Plasma cut two holes thru them ,bolted them on the underside of the frame (reinforcement inside)and they worked great on a Model a with a SBC.
depends on the trailer axles!!! if they came from mobile home,they will not have the flex in them for any length of time they are not designed to have that kinda use.they will snap......Im using the Posies 1/4 set-up under the back of the Pie Wagon
as for drilling holes use a masonary drill bit sharpened the same as a metal drill,i have drilled through files no problems with these. they are inexpensive and the tips are usually tungsten carbide.
I made my quarter elliptical springs from original 36 chevy pickup front springs. since I started with two semi elliptical spring packs, I cut the springs about an inch and a half away from the center bolt , instead of cutting them directly in the middle. this allowed me to use the original centerbolt location, so no drilling is required.
After what I've been through I would agree with this. It's worth the price of the extra spring to not have to drill. I haven't finished mine yet and I doubt I will. Learned a lot about sharpening bits though! It's easy once you get it down.
I checked on getting an eye put in too. It can be done and you,d still come out ahead of the posies kit. However the time I have in mine now I wished I had sprung for the kit. If you take everyones advice here you can build a cheap elliptical setup. Just don't learn the hard way like me!
I had a buddy with a mill drill my springs.We used a masonary bit, plenty of oil and the mill set to run real slow.
I have used both...posies and homebuilt. It all depends on how much money you have laying around versus what is your time worth ...and do you take pride in building it yourself.
I did have to drill one leaf on each sping pack. I made the third leaf out of what was left of the main leaf. I did this so I would have a spring eye at the rear of the pack. I also reversed the arch of that leaf. after I get everything mounted I'll post some pics of them.
anybody put something like teflon between those springs? I'm doing a setup like this and wonder about "sticktion" between the leaves.....
I used 2 trailer srpings taht were rated at 1500lbs apiece then cut them in half. I am using these in the front on my 47 stude project.
I did a tech on this last year. Its not as hard as you think to drill leaf springs. Drill press and good drill bits and the ability to sharpen a bit is all it takes. I've built several 1/4 elliptical front suspensions using model a front springs.
See if some of our English HAMBers can send you a pic of the early Jaguar that ran 1/4 elliptic style rear sprngs. i know it was the model with the narrow rear axle and had a kidney shaped grille. I guess the model AA truck also ran that type of deal.