Got some more done today! Had to order some 7/8x 3/4 split sleeves to fit in my stock main leave in order to use Speedy Bills “universal “ Shackles! Also I am gonna have to build a spring spreader. Even getting the single leaf on there temporarily, was hard. And thats with the loose bushings. All thread, pipe, nuts, flat stock, ought to do it! I think I am going to paint the 3rd member, and the wish bones cast aluminum, black drive shaft. Ought to go with the graphite and cast iron paint on the engine!
Made a Spring Spreader real quick, ill have to fine tune it later when I get home. Sharpened them a little bit more, and maybe tape them up, for less scratching. I included some close-ups,if somebody’s interested, they can make something similar, (however it won’t work on a reversed eye-Spring)
When I was putting the header panel in my coupe; I discovered that the plated finishing washers at the hardware store were no longer shiny. Picked up the dull stainless version as I had to polish the screws anyway. Used my go-to method of holding them in a chunk of wood to keep the buffer from flinging them off into some never-to-be-found-again corner. Thought if it worked for sheet metal screws; I could drill undersize holes and thread the machine screws in for polishing too. Lot quicker and easier than doing them one at a time in the rod coupler I used before.
Heres a better view! It works killer! I still think I am gonna attach the wish bones and build the spring in place. There is alot of pressure with the whole spring together.
You will be cursing on the next step, those curved springs do not want to play nice and just stack up. Instead, due to the curve, the stack wants to tip over. Not just a matter of a chunk of threaded rod and they all sit still, you will get very creative with lots of clamps...best wishes
Oops, I got that on the wrong thread; I think I was going to say something about your spring spreader and got distracted. Sorry to get into your story.
maybe glue a thin piece of leather on each end to avoid scratching... I haven't done this job, but springs under tension make me flinch. Could you add tabs at each end so the wedge can't slip out, and maybe a 'cage' so the additional leafs are held straight? Like this, but on both sides.
Thanks, gave me an idea. Not worried about the wedges they are solid. But stacking the sideways curved leaves could be a problem. So I am going drill 4 holes in my work bench and put 4 rods to hold the spring standing up, and cradle it as I build it. And an extra long threaded rod as I screw it down Just keeping the liner in there might be a problem because it’s straight and not curved sideways.
I got it now! I got a whole bunch of quarter inch threaded rod and some nylon tubing to slip over the rods so they don’t scratch the spring, and it’ll hold it in place on the workbench in an upright position. And a 3/8 Rod to tighten down spring stack. I also borrowed a heat gun. I’m going to hand form each piece of poly liner for each leaf. To keep them mostly in place. You cant Glue them down because they are supposed to slide! But I think that’ll do the trick! Now I see why shops like SoCal use 40 Ford rear Springs! No concave compound curve, just straight.
What a bitch!! My fixture did not work. Had to lay the spring on the floor with several clamps. Put the side bolts in and then tighten the center bolt! Liner says NO! bunched up! And wont go in no matter what! The ends are are tapered now, and I greased each leave so or should be fine. Oh well done!!!!
Yup!!! You were Spot on!! Damn double curved spring Sucks!!!!! But its in!!! Have a little touch up to do and no liner!!!
Pardon my ignorance on these but when you put weight on it and the spring goes downward will this spring end and or shackle bump that shock bracket or what ever that bracket is?
Nope. its behind the shock mounts, and when the weight is on the car, the shackles are at a 45* Angle. So they pivot in a downward arch when they move so they wont hit the gussets either. If that makes sense? It is a tight fit between the spring and the axle with the shock body, so I’m hoping my new speedway stainless shocks will fit because the body is a little bit bigger in diameter. Heres so better angles of where the shock goes. And how far the hanger is away from the lower mount.
Yeah it’s an illusion! Yeah and I really hate that freaking double curve spring!!!! Don’t buy the poly urethane with the edges on it for those types of springs! You have to use the clear wide stuff, and then cut it at the same curve I think, but I’m not gonna worry about it ! Ford didn’t worry about it. Plus they’re tapered and beveled now so they ought to move a lot better than factory!
I painted my springs with spray on graphite. We used to use it on helicopter shit. If you prime it well enough it seems to stick. It should work to soften the ride.
Rear is in!!! Just need to assemble the guts! The front is next! It will be easy! I don’t have to take it apart, it was already rebuilt right before it was parked inside year’s ago, it will be a pain wire wheeling it in one piece but oh well, masking tape, and 2 tone it like the rear!
Well couldn’t help myself! I took the front end part anyway! I started with knocking one of the shackles out just to see if there was tension on the front spring like the rear and the shackle came right out so no big whoop! So then I soaked it overnight with some WD-40, put two spring clamps on there backed off the center bolt then backed after C clamp and there’s absolutely no tension! You would think because of the engine it would have a lot of tension on the front spring. But I guess it gets the tension when the weight of the engines on it and the unsprung weight relieves it in the front. Where the rear has tension all the time! So the front end is so simple I’m just gonna take it apart except for the spindles. Since I want to paint the wishbone silver and the axle charcoal. We’ll see if the spring perch bolts come out if not then I’ll have to paint around those. stay tuned folks! happy Father’s Day to those fathers!!!
Little more done, Only 2.5 hours today, plus its 102 here In Nor-cal! I’m glad I had extra spring perches! I completely destroyed the old ones getting them out! So now I can paint the axle,wishbone, and tie rod separately since I’m doing two-tone!
Really Kicking butt now! Have to replace the tie rods though! I got the bright idea to put one of those torque converter type lock nuts on there, instead of the castle nuts to avoid cotter pins, and tje sucker locked up, and spun the tie rod so I tried to cut the nut off and accidentally cut into the threads. So leaving it for now, and gonna continue building the chassis, and the n Ill worry about it. Would have had the 3rd member in also if I wasn’t dicking with that for an hour! Overall, The thing is coming along nicely! And looking Bitchin’! What do y’all think of the 3 colors? Black, Aluminum! And Graphite. It will go great with the Engine. I think. And still look old school Hotrod?
The Jalopy Journal
