The Ford Barn

larry harding · 02-15-2023, 08:41 AM

i finally found a useable(needs a little work) frame for my project. now for other challenges...
1. i want to reverse the spring eyes to lower the stance of the car. i've heard about taking the main spring and working it straight and then curving it the other way. seems like a lot of work. can't the spring be heated and the eye bent the other way the quench in oil to re temper? i've done that on other various springs with good luck. several years ago i had a spring shop shorten the leaf spring on a project i was working on. i think they used a rosebud to heat the spring end, rolled a new eye the quinched it.
2. you tube videos of speedsters show what looks like a "t" gas tank sitting up on edge rather than laying flat. don't know if they are using a special tank or making one with the filler in the edge. i think i can fabricate a tank if i can find the neet brass fill er neck and cap. any suggestions?

nkaminar · 02-15-2023, 10:01 AM

Reverse eye springs are available from the hotrod supply places. Sorry, I don't have a name but you can do a search. There was a thread here on the barn a few months ago on this very subject.

I like the modified frames where the spring perches have been raised up to lower the frame. It all depends on how much work you are willing to do and what the final form you have in mind.

jeepguy1948 · 02-15-2023, 12:06 PM

As the previous poster said there are multiple sources for reverse eye springs, don’t even consider messing with them yourself, it’s just not worth it. There are sources that will sell you only the leaf with the eye reversed or a complete spring pack. I bought “Super Slide Reverse Eye Lowering Springs from Posie’s and couldn’t be happier (Chris and Todd are great guys to deal with). If you want to go even lower it is ok to remove some leaves from the pack (keep the very top leaf (that’s obvious as that’s the one with the eyes) and the very bottom leaf, all others are fair game, removing every other leaf is the norm) since your speedster is even lighter than a stock car you are going to want “soft” springs and “soft”shocks.

Jim Brierley · 02-15-2023, 01:29 PM

I've found that Speedway Motors has the best prices. You can also remove a few leaves to lower the car, a speedster is light, so they don't need full springs. Speedway also has their "Speedster Reunion" coming this June. The museum itself is worth the trip to Lincoln NE, plus they have a great tour, dyno time, two dinners and of course free run of the museum.

larry harding · 02-15-2023, 05:19 PM

the young guy on you tube who is building a hot rod with a jag motor reversed the eyes on his spring manually. it took him six plus hours using a tube bender. there has got to be an easier way.
any body know any thing about the "t" gas tanks used on the you tube speedsters?

AZ_Nick · 02-15-2023, 05:30 PM

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Front is easy if you have a ring roller, rear isn't worth the trouble if your time has any value. The local spring shop charges me about the same as a new one to do it properly.

lrf · 02-16-2023, 12:14 AM

I have a reversed front spring from "JAKE'S. Tried selling them at the lbmtc swap meet for a $100 and there were no buyers or looker. Next swap meet I go to will be model a club sponsored. They'll sell there, I hope.

Martinbuilt · 02-16-2023, 09:17 AM

I just bought a reverse-eye main spring (front) from old yankee speed. I think it was about $140. Took my stock spring apart, reassembled it with fewer leaves on the oys main.
i think i got 1"-1.5" drop out of it, so not a huge difference.

02-15-2023, 08:41 AM	#1
larry harding Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: western n.c. Posts: 398	future speedster progress/questiond i finally found a useable(needs a little work) frame for my project. now for other challenges... 1. i want to reverse the spring eyes to lower the stance of the car. i've heard about taking the main spring and working it straight and then curving it the other way. seems like a lot of work. can't the spring be heated and the eye bent the other way the quench in oil to re temper? i've done that on other various springs with good luck. several years ago i had a spring shop shorten the leaf spring on a project i was working on. i think they used a rosebud to heat the spring end, rolled a new eye the quinched it. 2. you tube videos of speedsters show what looks like a "t" gas tank sitting up on edge rather than laying flat. don't know if they are using a special tank or making one with the filler in the edge. i think i can fabricate a tank if i can find the neet brass fill er neck and cap. any suggestions?

02-15-2023, 10:01 AM	#2
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,993	Re: future speedster progress/questiond Reverse eye springs are available from the hotrod supply places. Sorry, I don't have a name but you can do a search. There was a thread here on the barn a few months ago on this very subject. I like the modified frames where the spring perches have been raised up to lower the frame. It all depends on how much work you are willing to do and what the final form you have in mind. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

02-15-2023, 12:06 PM	#3
jeepguy1948 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Posts: 735	Re: future speedster progress/questiond As the previous poster said there are multiple sources for reverse eye springs, don’t even consider messing with them yourself, it’s just not worth it. There are sources that will sell you only the leaf with the eye reversed or a complete spring pack. I bought “Super Slide Reverse Eye Lowering Springs from Posie’s and couldn’t be happier (Chris and Todd are great guys to deal with). If you want to go even lower it is ok to remove some leaves from the pack (keep the very top leaf (that’s obvious as that’s the one with the eyes) and the very bottom leaf, all others are fair game, removing every other leaf is the norm) since your speedster is even lighter than a stock car you are going to want “soft” springs and “soft”shocks.

02-15-2023, 01:29 PM	#4
Jim Brierley Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 4,102	Re: future speedster progress/questiond I've found that Speedway Motors has the best prices. You can also remove a few leaves to lower the car, a speedster is light, so they don't need full springs. Speedway also has their "Speedster Reunion" coming this June. The museum itself is worth the trip to Lincoln NE, plus they have a great tour, dyno time, two dinners and of course free run of the museum.

02-15-2023, 05:19 PM	#5
larry harding Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: western n.c. Posts: 398	Re: future speedster progress/questiond the young guy on you tube who is building a hot rod with a jag motor reversed the eyes on his spring manually. it took him six plus hours using a tube bender. there has got to be an easier way. any body know any thing about the "t" gas tanks used on the you tube speedsters?

02-15-2023, 05:30 PM	#6
AZ_Nick Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 17	Re: future speedster progress/questiond Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Front is easy if you have a ring roller, rear isn't worth the trouble if your time has any value. The local spring shop charges me about the same as a new one to do it properly.

02-16-2023, 12:14 AM	#7
lrf Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: long beach ca Posts: 171	Re: future speedster progress/questiond I have a reversed front spring from "JAKE'S. Tried selling them at the lbmtc swap meet for a $100 and there were no buyers or looker. Next swap meet I go to will be model a club sponsored. They'll sell there, I hope.

02-16-2023, 09:17 AM	#8
Martinbuilt Member Join Date: Nov 2022 Location: Near Pittsburgh Posts: 77	Re: future speedster progress/questiond I just bought a reverse-eye main spring (front) from old yankee speed. I think it was about $140. Took my stock spring apart, reassembled it with fewer leaves on the oys main. i think i got 1"-1.5" drop out of it, so not a huge difference.