I know it's a dirty word, but get 2 front shocks for an early 60's vw bug, king pin beam. That's what I've put in the rear of about every model A I've built
Here's the shocks i use. Vw, oil filled, and i like the measurements. And they are very reasonable too ! https://www.amazon.com/Empi-00-9650...t=&hvlocphy=9024067&hvtargid=pla-594381322714
I use a VW steering stabilizer shock on the front, $25. Same shock as SoCal has, I make my own brackets.
I bought 4 to do all corners. I really like the feel of them, to me gas charged are too stiff for these lighter cars.
lostone that is my thinking also. Maybe we should buy several, looks like they are getting rid of all the good stuff anymore.
I've done better with Amazon lately than anywhere else. I got a simple wiring harness, good enough for me, for $24! You can't buy the wire for that. And an edelbrock carb kit for $13? Hell that's golden
That style of suspension was very common in European Rally Cars and Road Racing cars in the late 60's and Early 70's. English "Works" Ford Escort rally cars and Ford Cologne Capri road racing cars were 2 examples. It was mainly done with sliders instead of shackles. The reason was FIA rules where they had to maintain the original style of suspension [but location devices and override springs were allowed to be added.] If you study the photo below, there is no front spring eye! the spring floats between 2 rollers. This is on a Mk1 Escort
^^^^ around here we call it a full floating rear end setup. The most popular is either a mono leaf with no center bolt and spacers on the u clamps to allow about 1/16" clearance between spring and spring pad allowing the spring just to float. Multi spring leafs get a center bolt but the bolt holes on the spring pad and perches are slotted to allow the center bolt/spring again to slide and float. Old school technology, not sure when it came into being on race cars but i remember doing them back in the very early 80's myself. Used to be the hot setup before the popularity of coil overs. Some even had a single bolt setup that allowed changing car height. I'll get a pic of the last one i did and post a pic early next week.
I believe Chrysler had something called a "Leaf Link" in their Direct Connection Handbook. Where the rear end was floated at the spring pad. In FIA the rules stated the original "Style" of suspension must be retained. I've seen a Group 1 Capri that had homemade leaf springs made out of thin strips of sheet steel . They even stretched the rulebook by having "dogleg" or "W shaped" springs [looking from top down]. That allowed them to run more Tyre in the wheelwell and still use the original mounting points and spring pad. It's known as innovation [sometimes called cheating]
That reminded me of an event that happened a couple weeks ago to me! My friend and I took a road trip to deliver a racing engine to our builder and then went on over to a very well known winning racer in that area. While we were there I noticed something on his car that they were obviously working on.... but I didn’t understand “ what “ they were doing, so I asked him what are you doing here as I took a drink of coffee from my mug . He replied mater of factly, “ Cheating! “ I blew a mouth full of coffee out! .... I knew folks did it, just never admitted it to just any one! He is a nice guy and when on to explain the modification. Bones
On my first '30 coupe on '32 rails i used 5 rear leaves... don't just remove the top springs, their arch is a factor in the ride... . Was wondering how many fronts do you guys use... got a good straight front off a little trailer ... it has 12 leaves... memory says i used 8 fronts 30 years ago ?...
This thread started about a year ago, and there were some suggestions for shock absorbers. Any thoughts on using the VW ones for rear of 34 Ford? Do you think weight difference is that much? Parallel leafs used for suspension.
I seeeeeeeeeee!!!! The floater rear end with the two "locator bars"/traction bars going forward with two heim joints to enable the axle housing to twist but NOT bind. IF.......the rear bars was welded solid to the axle the rotation of the axle(without bind!) to in effect lift the front of the car.....upon launch. IF the rear bars was dropped down about 6" with a heavy duty bracket and welded solid AND solid to the axle housing these bars (like Crites bars) would put a tremendous amount of lift toward the front mounting point possibly lifting the front end, while the same down force would plant the rear tires. That's why.........with this set up the rear section of the car actually lifts on full acceleration! The shock mounts with the 'wallered-out' holes on top allow the shock to pivot when the rear axle twists & plants the tires Cool. 6sally6
The Jalopy Journal
