[Dugg]

Greetings from the snowy hills of Colorado,

I have a Chev 10 bolt rear end (Yes Paris, I'm cheap - it was only $20.00 .. and almost complete) and a Model A rear spring. I picked this spring for my project because of it's great looks and Australopithecus afarensis ride quality.

So, now I'm wondering how far apart I need to weld on my mounting brackets and therefore how much to spread the spring to mount it.

If the picture loads you can see my brackets, hangers and shackles. I'm hoping my read end is wide enough..... There's something you'll never hear a woman say.

[Deuce]

It depends on the weight of your vehicle ... IMHO

Spring rate ... or how much the spring compresses with the load on it ... factors in. I would try to see a original Model A and measure the width between the eyes of the spring .. on a running Model A ... then look at the shackles ... that work best if they are @ a 45 degree angle ... hanging from the hanger to the spring. Or just spread the spring a inch and a half to two inches ... figure in the distance for the shackles to be @ 45 degrees and then hang the hangers.

Years ago when I hung a 57 Ford rear end under my 32 using the original buggy spring ... I used a kit from PSI ... and I spread the spring 1.5 to 2 inches, took in account the hangers @ 45 degrees ... worked great

[Youngster]

dugg....I can measure the one I have tomorrow for you.

I'm curious about your spring mounts. Are you planning on bolting them to your housing? From your pictures it looks like the brackets you made are drilled for that purpose.

One other thing, your spring, if you blend in the wear ridges on the leaves and radius the bottom of the ends of leaves, you will get a better ride. It helps to reduce the friction between the leaves.

Youngster

[home brew]

Originally Posted by Youngster

dugg....

I'm curious about your spring mounts. Are you planning on bolting them to your housing? From your pictures it looks like the brackets you made are drilled for that purpose.

One other thing, your spring, if you blend in the wear ridges on the leaves and radius the bottom of the ends of leaves, you will get a better ride. It helps to reduce the friction between the leaves.

Youngster

I am sure that he will be welding those brackets to his rear axle... I think the holes are to attach a four bar or ladder bar set up.

As Youngster says if you radius the bottom and ends of the spring you will get a much better ride. As well you may want to look into installing teflon/nylon strips or buttons between the leaves so they will slide even better.

[Dugg]

Thanks guys,

Actually the two smaller holes were nothing more than a way to hold the plate down on the mill table when I cut'em out.

I may have to make new ones for the 10 bolt rear end and bolt them through the backing plate mounting holes depending upon the recommended spread of the spring. Another reason to make new ones is that the 10 bolt tubes are smaller in diameter next to the backing plates if I find they need to be welded there.

If I mount them on the backing plate flange, I'll have to cut holes in the backing plates to access the hanger nuts for drum brakes. Or, find or make hats for yet unknown discs and then mounting brackets for equally unknown calipers - all to clear yet unknown wheels.

It seems like every part relies on having the part next to it in order to make tiny steps forward in progress

[powerrodsmike]

Originally Posted by Dugg

It seems like every part relies on having the part next to it in order to make tiny steps forward in progress

I heard someone say one time that one modification begats 13 more.

Later, mikey

[Youngster]

Dugg...The spread on a Model A spring is 46''. I could be wrong but if my memory serves me the narrowest 10 bolt is something like 51'' flange to flange.

Putting a chassis together is akin to a puzzle. Guess that's why I like this part of a build so much. I sometimes hate the idea of a body and fenders covering my chassis.

Youngster

[pasadenahotrod]

The perches on my Model A rear are 49.5" eye to eye.
Shackles are 1.5" each side so that makes the spring eye installed spread 45.5".
When installed most Model A springs, front or rear will have the shackles resting horizontally until loaded. Then they drop to the commonly "desired" 45 degree angle.