Technical Leaf Springs and getting the front a tad lower

Hi -
I have the 7 leaf spring front end (whole front is a Pete&Jakes setup) and would like to try and get it down another inch. I've read on people removing specific leafs to get the front to drop some more and was just looking for some advice. Maybe remove the top two and put a spacer in? Would the spacer(s) go to the bottom?
Thanks in advance -

 

is that a new build? how many miles? they do settle some after a while

 

Been sitting for about 6 - 7 years... Not that many miles.

 

You can drop it lower with a mono leaf...I’ve had one on my model a coupe for over 5 years. And putting one on my 32 build. It’s easily adjustable with spacers.


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I'm a little leery on the mono leaf, nothing against what you are running though! I'd rather just adjust mine to try and get where I'd be happy.

 

Top 2 leafs and about the 4th 1 down out will do fine, what engine?

 

I'm no expert but I would say that if you remove the longer leafs you would end up with a softer spring as well as lower, as they give some support to the leaf below it. On the other hand, if you remove the shorter leafs you would not loose the stiffness as much as the shortest ones are not much more than a spacer, so to speak. I think if you want to get as low as possable, and not bottom out, you would want a stiff spring (so it would have less travel) as well as shorter. So if this thinking is right, I would remove the shorter ones and install spacer under the spring stack.
Does all this sound right?

 

I use to take mine to the spring shop and have them flattened to about 5/8" bow.. Even monoleafs...

 

It's a SBC 350 to a 700r4

 

Thinking remove and pop a couple of these in the bottom under all the springs.
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Leaf-Spring-Spacer-1-3-4-Wide,5230.html

 

You can probably remove the two top short leaves and put the Speedway spacers in at the bottom to regain the overall clamping thickness but it will only get you down 1/2". With some driving time it may settle some more.
Scrap metal 48 has the best idea but it would ruin the chrome.
It looks good, if it drives good why mess with it?

 

You don't have much clearance between the spring and the frame now. Be careful!!

 

Well, my frame is notched for the spring. I was thinking there would be enough for 1/2" - 1"?

Also, it's steel to steel. I know I probably sound nuts, but I really would like to know does anyone offer a rubber pad/isolator for between the frame and the top of top spring leaf?

 

I have never seen one, but wondered about this also, as I am currently doing my front spring.
I don’t believe it would be necessary, and I don’t believe it would work.
For a rubber mount to be effective it would have to be reasonably thick and then the centre bolt could move off centre or cause wobble.

Just my thoughts......

 

I actually found a front spring pad at the Early Ford Store of CA. Gonna go that route

 

For the spring to crossmember insulator I just use a short strip of the same webbing used between the body and frame. Will keep down the squeeks, yet still allow the centerbolt to fit into the crossmember hole.

If you plan on lowering the axle an inch, how much travel will remain between the top of the axle and the bottom of the spring clamp? That is your critical clearance, which looks like only about 3 inches now. I'd hate to see you bottom your clamp out on the top of that brittle cast iron axle.

 

Looks like your at your scrub line now. With a fenderless car , I don't see the reasoning behind lower it anymore.

 

Pictures and details ?
Thanks

 

There may be a spacer on top of the springs already. I would check that before I started loosing leaves.