hey ya'll, so i'm planning a T5 swap into my 37 ford panel delivery. when i do the swap, rather then use the stock rear and wishbones i'm planning on changing the rear to a ford 8" and was thinking about a 4 link set up. so i would like some feedback as to what would be the way to go. triangulated, panhard bar, or a watts setup. also, how about spring set up. coilovers, leaf springs, shocks, bags? so many choices i was hoping for some opinions from folks who have done this swap before. wanting to make the changes so the truck will be a bit more friendly on the highway. thanks PS currently the truck currently has a 59AB but i have a 8BA i'm building that will be going in as well. cheers!
Have you considered going with parallel leaf springs rather than ladder bars or 4-bar? In a way it kind of simplifies things, and will handle the power of a flatty just fine, even a hopped up one. Here's a Speedway kit, there are several other options out there. https://www.speedwaymotors.com/1935...rral&utm_campaign=100221046&utm_term=17011751
There’s your answer right there, unless you really want to make it more complicated than it needs to be
Parallel leaf will get the job done. Simple and cheap. If you want to go with a multi-link type suspension I don't think you can beat a 3 link with a panhard bar.
Pete and Jakes ladder bars. Stock rear leaf, or an aftermarket replacement for the same. Aftermarket spring hangars.
I've done quite a few customer Fat Fender chassis with the 8 inch Maverick rear and a Chassis Engineering Parallel rear leaf kit. It's a bolt in and they've worked good. Tooting my own horn a little but if you use my Cornhusker R&C T5 kit and a 39 pedal assembly the FH-T5 install is also easy. For the center X give 40ragtopdown on here a try. His X member kits fit and are priced right.
Yep; that's how I'd do it. Actually did it on my avatar except sbc instead of FH and Doug Nash trans instead of T5. Current project is '41 p/u FH, t1740 Trans open drive to banjo rear with buggy spring.
hey thanks for the replies. i like the idea of the parallel leaf set up. it looks like its easier and cheaper than the 4 link. how is the quality on the speedway kit? thanks again!
Ian Russel used Speedway parallel spring kit on his buddies car . It also had a OT front suspension grafted on . Use what your wallet can handle. Maybe find a donor car and remove the springs, mounts and rear axle . The spring pads on the axle will probably need to be relocated. Just keep a build sheet in the glovebox for future reference.
Plans for exhaust ? Parallel 4 bar + panhard allows good room for mufflers and tail pipes over the axle and out the back. Tri-angulated 4 allows good room for mufflers but can be tight for tail pipes over the axle. Draglinks + panhard do not leave much room for mufflers. Whatever bars you use, be sure to use rubber/neoprene joints, not heim / metal on metal. Watts link is cool but is unnecessarily more complicated. Coilovers are very common just be sure to not to use to heavy a spring rate springs. Air bags offer lots of adjustability. Traverse springs are more traditional.
Built a nice 36 Ford with Mustang parallel leaf springs ,tube shocks, nine in rear, and 5 spd trans. Had to reposition the hole only in the main spring to get it centered in the frame frt to rear. Made all of my own bracket rt frt and rear. 8 in will work fine if u want the 5 on 4.5 pattern(small Ford,Mopar) Rear of frame will need to be boxed to have a nice,strong base to mount your shackles to,but also boxed the frt mount assembly as well!
so i just went to order the rear leaf spring kit from speedway and it's on backorder with no date of when it will be back in stock. anyone know of another supplier that might have it? thanks
If you go for ladder bars, the ones I got for my A from Roadster Supply are beautiful. Glad I bought them over Pete and Jakes just for the forged parts alone. Same price.
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