The Ford Barn

MurphyJ · 10-29-2012, 05:12 PM

Now that I have switched over to 16 inch wheels and tires, the rear end of my 1930 ford pickup looks way too high and I wish to lower it down. Any help, suggestions or recommendations will be most appreciated. Thank you

BILL WILLIAMSON · 10-29-2012, 05:29 PM

Yo, Murphy,
Bigger rear 16" tires look good & also looks "ERA-CORRECT!" and gives it a little neat lookin' "RAKE" Bill W.

Charlie Stephens · 10-29-2012, 05:31 PM

If you have the truck spring that may be your problem. I put a roadster spring in my '31 RDPU. Do you plan to carry anything?
Charlie Stephens

switchkid0 · 10-29-2012, 05:36 PM

Reverse-eye mainspring, and remove a couple of leaves?
A 55 gallon drum of booze in the back might settle it right down.

glenn in camino · 10-29-2012, 07:45 PM

Sorry, I don't mean to offend, but, your pickup looks funny. Put the 19s back on.

MurphyJ · 10-29-2012, 08:24 PM

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Thanks guys for your valuable input. Don't plan on carrying in the bed other than a bunch of tools and about 50' of 1" rope!

brokenspoke · 10-29-2012, 08:54 PM

T spring

bykerlad · 10-29-2012, 09:32 PM

MurphyJ,you planning to tow someone`s steamship

BILL WILLIAMSON · 10-29-2012, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glenn in camino

Sorry, I don't mean to offend, but, your pickup looks funny. Put the 19s back on.

Glenn, Glenn,
So's does that mean Vermin, my Avatar '29 looks funny??? The Dog growled when I showed him your SQUARE portholes in your side curtains, now mind you, that's HIS opinion, not mine! Bill W.

MurphyJ · 10-30-2012, 07:51 AM

Is it possible to lower the rear end of my pickup by removing some of the spring leafs? Has anyone had success with that approach?

switchkid0 · 10-30-2012, 08:13 AM

Reversing the eye in your main leaf will give you 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches of drop, removing leaves will also lower it some. I think the prevailing wisdom is to remove a leaf, leave a leaf, remove a leaf... and so on, until you have achieved your stance. An added benefit is that you should become very proficient at installing and removing the spring.
Also, as someone mentioned above, using the T spring brings it down as well, but I don't know by how much.

Chris in WNC · 10-30-2012, 08:32 AM

I'd try the Roadster spring first. then you can keep the truck spring intact so you or the next owner will have it when wanted......

spdway1 · 10-30-2012, 08:30 PM

Put the 19's back on, as Henry intended!

Jim Brierley · 10-31-2012, 10:48 AM

Reversing the eyes on a rear spring make it really difficult to re-install the spring. I put a T spring on my widebed. On my tudor I removed 3 leaves, keep the top leaf as it is contoured to fit into the crossmember. I tried carrying a keg of good booze in the bed but it kept evaporating, usually when I was visiting with buddy's!!!

MurphyJ · 10-31-2012, 11:30 PM

Thanks again gentlemen.
Any further wisdom and advice on this subject will be appreciated.

Stan/MO. · 11-01-2012, 07:00 PM

A question on this same subject. I bought, and installed a completely restored frame and running gear for my 30 coupe. My question is...the rear springs have what looks like plastic strips between the leaves. This made the spring so thick that they had to turn the the part of the U clamp that goes against the spring upside down to make it reach the clamps. Now... can I take just enough leaves out to make the U clamps fit as they should,which would put it back to proper ride height,and if so ,how would this effect the ride. If this will not work, what would you suggest I do to get the clamps on properly? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
ttt

Mitch · 11-01-2012, 07:50 PM

Take out the plastic strips.

Mikeinnj · 11-01-2012, 07:50 PM

What is the difference in actual frame height between a truck with the stock 10 inch spring and one with a 7 leaf roadster spring ? Does anyone know?

BILL WILLIAMSON · 11-01-2012, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdway1

Put the 19's back on, as Henry intended!

Speed,
And then you'll put the pants BACK on your AVATAR?? (Fat Chance!!) Bill W.

Charlie Stephens · 11-01-2012, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stan/MO.

A question on this same subject. I bought, and installed a completely restored frame and running gear for my 30 coupe. My question is...the rear springs have what looks like plastic strips between the leaves. This made the spring so thick that they had to turn the the part of the U clamp that goes against the spring upside down to make it reach the clamps. Now... can I take just enough leaves out to make the U clamps fit as they should,which would put it back to proper ride height,and if so ,how would this effect the ride. If this will not work, what would you suggest I do to get the clamps on properly? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
ttt

Also remember there were different clamps for different springs.

Charlie Stephens

10-29-2012, 05:12 PM	#1
MurphyJ Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 153	Need to lower rearend, help!! Now that I have switched over to 16 inch wheels and tires, the rear end of my 1930 ford pickup looks way too high and I wish to lower it down. Any help, suggestions or recommendations will be most appreciated. Thank you Last edited by MurphyJ; 10-29-2012 at 05:21 PM.

10-29-2012, 05:29 PM	#2
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Need to lower rearend, help!! Yo, Murphy, Bigger rear 16" tires look good & also looks "ERA-CORRECT!" and gives it a little neat lookin' "RAKE" Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

10-29-2012, 05:31 PM	#3
Charlie Stephens Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,034	Re: Need to lower rearend, help!! If you have the truck spring that may be your problem. I put a roadster spring in my '31 RDPU. Do you plan to carry anything? Charlie Stephens

10-29-2012, 05:36 PM	#4
switchkid0 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 15	Re: Need to lower rearend, help!! Reverse-eye mainspring, and remove a couple of leaves? A 55 gallon drum of booze in the back might settle it right down.

10-29-2012, 07:45 PM	#5
glenn in camino Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Camino, CA. Posts: 3,086	Re: Need to lower rearend, help!! Sorry, I don't mean to offend, but, your pickup looks funny. Put the 19s back on.

10-29-2012, 08:24 PM	#6
MurphyJ Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 153	Re: Need to lower rearend, help!! Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Thanks guys for your valuable input. Don't plan on carrying in the bed other than a bunch of tools and about 50' of 1" rope!

10-29-2012, 08:54 PM	#7
brokenspoke Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Anderson, Texas Posts: 275	Re: Need to lower rearend, help!! T spring

10-29-2012, 09:32 PM	#8
bykerlad Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: australia Posts: 37	Re: Need to lower rearend, help!! MurphyJ,you planning to tow someone`s steamship

10-30-2012, 07:51 AM	#10
MurphyJ Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 153	Re: Need to lower rearend, help!! Is it possible to lower the rear end of my pickup by removing some of the spring leafs? Has anyone had success with that approach?

10-30-2012, 08:13 AM	#11
switchkid0 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 15	Re: Need to lower rearend, help!! Reversing the eye in your main leaf will give you 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches of drop, removing leaves will also lower it some. I think the prevailing wisdom is to remove a leaf, leave a leaf, remove a leaf... and so on, until you have achieved your stance. An added benefit is that you should become very proficient at installing and removing the spring. Also, as someone mentioned above, using the T spring brings it down as well, but I don't know by how much.

10-30-2012, 08:32 AM	#12
Chris in WNC Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Spruce Pine, NC Posts: 1,458	Re: Need to lower rearend, help!! I'd try the Roadster spring first. then you can keep the truck spring intact so you or the next owner will have it when wanted...... __________________ our next Model A is out there in the unknown......

10-30-2012, 08:30 PM	#13
spdway1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Chicopee, MA Posts: 1,403	Re: Need to lower rearend, help!! Put the 19's back on, as Henry intended!

10-31-2012, 10:48 AM	#14
Jim Brierley Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 4,092	Re: Need to lower rearend, help!! Reversing the eyes on a rear spring make it really difficult to re-install the spring. I put a T spring on my widebed. On my tudor I removed 3 leaves, keep the top leaf as it is contoured to fit into the crossmember. I tried carrying a keg of good booze in the bed but it kept evaporating, usually when I was visiting with buddy's!!!

10-31-2012, 11:30 PM	#15
MurphyJ Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 153	Re: Need to lower rearend, help!! Thanks again gentlemen. Any further wisdom and advice on this subject will be appreciated.

11-01-2012, 07:00 PM	#16
Stan/MO. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Hannibal, Mo. Posts: 124	Re: Need to lower rearend, help!! A question on this same subject. I bought, and installed a completely restored frame and running gear for my 30 coupe. My question is...the rear springs have what looks like plastic strips between the leaves. This made the spring so thick that they had to turn the the part of the U clamp that goes against the spring upside down to make it reach the clamps. Now... can I take just enough leaves out to make the U clamps fit as they should,which would put it back to proper ride height,and if so ,how would this effect the ride. If this will not work, what would you suggest I do to get the clamps on properly? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, ttt Last edited by Stan/MO.; 11-01-2012 at 07:06 PM.

11-01-2012, 07:50 PM	#17
Mitch Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 182	Re: Need to lower rearend, help!! Take out the plastic strips.

11-01-2012, 07:50 PM	#18
Mikeinnj Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northern New Jersey Posts: 1,262	Re: Need to lower rearend, help!! What is the difference in actual frame height between a truck with the stock 10 inch spring and one with a 7 leaf roadster spring ? Does anyone know?