[Crosley]

Trying to help a guy with this axle - spring setup for a proper cross member to mount it.

Been looking at Speedway Motors cross members for model A and 32 Ford. Also looking the U bolt mount kits for the cross member

Chassis will probably be a 2x3 inch square tube type.

Will need some hairpins, clevis parts from axle to frame too

Are we headed in the proper direction here?

[OneMoreTime]

Got a question? Is it to be a suicide front or conventional like henry made it? One comment is that I would go with 2x4 for a bit stiffer chassis..Early fords were 6 inch in the belly of the chassis and tapered front and rear..

Crossmember can be as simple as making a plate drilled in the center for the spring bolt and 4 bolts for the clamping of the spring and then weld that to a piece of tube for the crossmember..make another plate with the same bolt pattern to clamp the spring..You can make the hairpins and batwings as well..

Sam

[Crosley]

as you look at the photo.. the spring is on top of the axle. Not gonna be a suicide type suspension with spring behind axle line.

I've received some ideas for building a cross member from tube

[Frisco]

Originally Posted by Crosley

as you look at the photo.. the spring is on top of the axle. Not gonna be a suicide type suspension with spring behind axle line.

I've received some ideas for building a cross member from tube

Just for clarification: A 'suicide front end' is called that when the spring/axle combo is mounted in front of the front crossmember. The spring may be in front of, directly above or behind the axle.

For the application you are asking about, if you install a Model A style front crossmember and then the spring is installed in it, you would have a more typical 'stock' appearing early Ford front end. Lowering is best done by reversing the spring eyes (this gives about 1") and using a dropped axle. The spring can be installed in front of, above (more typical) or behind the axle. Choosing where the spring is installed will alter the wheelbase and may cause interference with the frame rails.

If you choose to run a tube type front crossmember with the spring mounting plate welded to the front of it in any number of height locations, you then would have what is called a 'suicide front end'. This configuration enables you to lower the front end without any spring or axle changes. The spring can then be installed in front of, above or behind the axle.