Rear springs

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Rear springs
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Doug Wilson on Thursday, June 14, 2012 - 10:49 pm:

Like many T's mine is a collection of parts whose sum more or less equals a car. My touring is titled as a '21 as that is what the engine is, an October '21 engine by the serial number. How ever the engine is an obvious starter engine, while the body is not. The body came with no dash, and no evidence there ever was one. The coil box has an ignition switch mounted on it. I also suspect the body to be a '22 or '23, as it is 3 panels from the rear doors back and around, not 5 as a '21 should be.
I have a '27 drive train for it. My question is, If I remove the top 2 or 3 leaves, can I use the '27 rear spring on the '24 or "25 frame I have (the frame is another story)? The '27 spring looks like brand new with no rust pitting, while the '21(?) spring shows much age. I know there are many opinions, I have heard a T rides better with a couple of leaves removed. This would be too easy, what is the down side?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Allan Richard Bennett on Friday, June 15, 2012 - 04:47 am:

Doug, with the compound curves in a T rear spring, just taking a leaf or two out is noy a simple matter, unless it is the top two you are planning to remove. Taking others out lower in the stack will leave gaps between the leafs and the spring will not function as intended.

I did take two leafs out of my speedster and had the spring re-set. It was way too soft and bouncy.

For your consideration.

Allan from down under.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Karlsson, southern Sweden on Friday, June 15, 2012 - 11:23 am:

I think you can use the '27 spring on the earlier chassis. It may be a little lower than your original spring, but I think it would fit OK in the older rear crossmember. You can adjust the fit & height on a spring by bending each leaf in a large vice, getting better leverage with a large pipe that fits on the leaves (think exhaust pipe). I have 8 leaves in both my rear springs - guess you can't go wrong by keeping the original # of leaves.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Friday, June 15, 2012 - 11:47 am:

The spring from the '27 will work in your '21. Don't forget to use a leather pad.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Friday, June 15, 2012 - 12:02 pm:

You don't say whether you have a Ruckstell. If your rear spring is too low, it will bottom out on the ruckstell when someone is sitting in the back seat. A higher rear spring will fix the problem.
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Doug Wilson on Friday, June 15, 2012 - 07:02 pm:

No ruckstell - I'm just concerned that the rear of the car will be raised about an inch using the '27 spring


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Allan Richard Bennett on Friday, June 15, 2012 - 08:29 pm:

Doug, As far as I know, the 27 spring was set LOWER to lower the back of the car. It should result in your body sitting down a bit rather than up.

Allan from down under


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Doug Wilson on Friday, June 15, 2012 - 10:16 pm:

If you put an earlier frame back to back with a '27 frame, the rear cross member on the '27 is about an inch taller then the early frame. Setting the '27 spring on the earlier spring, it is taller, by 3 maybe 4 leaves(an inch)unless the older spring is sagging that much. I know the '27 front spindles I am using will lower the front of my car an inch, It wouldn't hurt my feelings if I could lower the back an inch also. I certainly don't want to raise it an inch. I was under the impression the springs in the back were different.
Doug


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Karlsson, southern Sweden on Saturday, June 16, 2012 - 06:04 pm:

Your older spring may be sagging, Bruce said they should be the same - most T's used similar 8 leaf rear springs from 1918-27 it seems: http://www.mtfca.com/encyclo/S-T.htm#spring
Some runabouts used 6 leaf springs, some sedans and pickups used 9 leaf springs.
You can take your 27 spring apart and adjust it a little lower if you like, ok not so much if you have a ruckstell. Might take some threaded rod and clamps to get it together again. Be careful when mounting the regular square headed screw..


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