Model A ride height

[J Witt]

Can someone tell a set of measurements for my '31 roadster for the ride height? By ride height, I mean the stance of the car measured from the ground to some hard point on the body or frame. I'm trying to determine if the springs are the correct arch for this car.

Thanks,

John

[Mike V. Florida]

See if this helps;

[J Witt]

That helps a lot. I thought the car was sitting too high in the back and it is actually 3 1/4 inches too high, just about right in the front, maybe a little low.

The story I got from the PO was that they had used a 4-door sedan chassis for the car and put this Rootlieb roadster body on it. I suspect the fordor spring is still in there instead of a roadster spring, however the spring only has 7 leaves. The shackles are oriented quite a bit toward horizontal though.

I wonder if I can start removing the top leaves to get it down to the right height, or if the better route (more expensive) is to change the spring for the 7 leaf one Snyder's sells (A-5560-CX), assuming that spring has thinner leaves/lower spring rate.

The other option would be to have the spring de-arched at a spring shop, if I can find someone to do that.

Thanks,

John

[Mike V. Florida]

OK here is some rear spring info,

Damn I thought it was bigger!

[Mike V. Florida]

This gets attached to the next post


From a post by Tom Wesenberg,

Someone asked several days ago what the letter codes are on Marco's rear spring chart. I probably can't find the question now, so I'll just post a new thread with the chart and guide.

A is for body style 55A, 130A, 140, 295A (10 leaf)
Tudor, Delux Delivery, Town Cars

B is for body style 35A,B; 45A,B; 49A; 50A,B; 68A,B; 190A (8 leaf)
Phaeton, Coupes, Fourdor Steelback, Vicky

C is for body style 40A,B (7 leaf)
Roadster

D is for body style 60A,B,C; 130A,B; 155A,B,C,D; 165A,B,C,D; 170A,B;255A (10 leaf)
Fordor Leatherback, Delux Delivery, Town Sedan (Murray & Briggs), Fordor (Murray & Briggs)

E is for body style 76A,B; 78A,B; 79A,B; 82A,B; 85A,B; 150A,B; 225A (10 leaf)
Pickup, Panel Delivery

Thanks Marco for all the time you spend to do research and post valuable information!

[Mike V. Florida]

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Here is the picture,

[J Witt]

Terrific information. I've ordered a spring expander so I can get the rear spring out. I suppose the last information needed is the lengthwise dimensions of the various leaves. Seems like I should be able to build up a spring pack that works from what I have, or perhaps maybe some of JWilli's stock.

Special thanks to MikeV and Marco.

John

[Jwilli]

Marco is MAGNIFICENT.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Jwilli

Marco is MAGNIFICENT.

Marco the MAGICIAN has done his disappearing act.

[J Witt]

I have the rear spring out and sure enough it has ten leaves. So next up is to take the spring apart and remove some leaves.

Does anyone have suggestions as to which ones to take out. My goal is to not create any localized bending which could lead to breaking the spring, and yet end up at about the correct ride height for a roadster.

Man, that's a heavy chunk of steel. I'm a little old man, going to have to get creative when it comes time to put the spring back in.

John