Assembled new brake hardware on the rear axle. Used ‘40 type backing plates and drums for the conversion to hydraulic. Getting late so this is where I stop tonight.. I’ll start again on it this weekend.
Enviable project... completeness in renovating front axle is 'textbook'. Most would assemble running chassis, then grumble because there aren't any REAL front end shops left. Noted replacement spring bushings, where is their source? (I also have '32 front main leaf)
I sourced the spring bushings from the Early Ford store. From what I understand, however, is that 32 used a unique size bushing. I’m not certain if my reversed eye main leaf is 32 or later, but they seemed to fit just fine for me.
I disassembled the rear leaf spring pack to clean, paint and install the reversed eye main. Leaf no.2 was shortened to fit within the reversed eyelets.
I installed new bushings in the reversed main leaf. Also painted, greased and assembled the leaf stack today. I had to shorten the two clamps as I removed leaf number four from the bottom. Curious to see how the changes will impact the lowered stance.
Another Hamb member discovered it in pieces where it was being stored. It had been entirely disassembled some time during the 60’s.
I learned that 1932 spindles will not bolt directly to a 1940 backing plate. I purchased adapter rings and also notched the backing plates to accommodate the smaller bolt pattern on the spindles.
Loosely bolted together here, but I’m not sure I like the look of the notches sticking out from behind the spindle flange.
I drilled the backing plate bolts for cotters, cut some washers to fit around the spindle center, and assembled the front brakes finally.
@HellsHotRods turned the front drums down for me. Its hard to find a modern brake shop capable of mounting early Ford drums on their equipment. Thanks Dave!
cleaned and disassembled the stock pedal assembly. ..Then chopped off the original actuating arm for the mechanical brakes.
I took advantage of @HellsHotRods shop space and helped myself to his Tig welding equipment while visiting earlier today. I welded the beginnings of an actuating lever on the opposite end of the stock pedal arm, so that the pedal will now have a pushing effect for the master cylinder plunger.
I forgot to mention that these machined spacers were necessary to form a mating surface for a grease seal at each front drum when mounting ‘40 style brakes on ‘32 spindles. They have a slight press fit at the base of the spindle axle.
Prepping an 8ba motor this morning that I built last year. Snyder cam, converted to early distributor and heads, zephyr valve springs, high volume oil pump and truck pan.
Some grinding to the mounts required along the water pumps to get these 32 motor mounts to bolt up to the 8ba.
I needed to swap the timing gear cover with a 3-bolt type in order to accommodate a Lincoln V-12 distributor. I also cleaned and painted the block M200 Antique Ford Green.
I managed to find an original Kurten converted Lincoln distributor, and had Tyrell Pennington restore the unit to perfection! He does beautiful work and I’ve been anxious to mount it to the motor. The coil has been converter to 12v. Having grown up in Southern California, I enjoy finding and learning about local speed equipment manufacturers. Kurten Aero-motive operated out of Alhambra during the 1940’s. Owner Jim Kurten produced about 50-60 of these to my knowledge and proceeded to share his knowledge with the Spaulding brothers of Monrovia, CA.
The Jalopy Journal
