The Ford Barn

Ross/Kzoo · 12-08-2013, 07:09 PM

I'm going to reverse the eyes on the front springs and would like to know which leaves to leave out on my speedster. There are no front fenders, bumper or aprons so the weight has been reduced and I don't feel that need all of the original leaves.

Pete · 12-08-2013, 08:13 PM

To start, assemble every other leaf with a total of no more than 6.
You can check the spring rate easily with nothing more than a yard stick.
It will be trial and error on assembling the spring with various leaves.
Assume you weigh 200 lb. measure the height of the front end at a certain point.
Step up on the frame and measure the height again. If the car goes down 2 inches, you have a 100 lb per inch rate. This is a good starting rate. After the car is all done, check the handling and see if you want to go lighter or stiffer.
If you are not sure what "good handling" is, find an EXPIERENCED race car driver and let him advise you.
The final results will be, how many races you won all season.

QGolden · 12-08-2013, 08:31 PM

I think Pete has it, sounds more thoughtful than what I did. I left a few out of the front, tomorrow I can look to see which ones. Too dark and cold out there right now. I chose mine based on what someone else did. HOWEVER I have not driven it yet, still in construction mode. But I'm gonna' save Pete's comments as a backup plan.

V4F · 12-09-2013, 11:08 AM

I set the ride height to what I want by removing until it is where I want it to be . maybe the hard way , but it works for me .

Ross/Kzoo · 12-09-2013, 01:24 PM

I reversed the eyes this morning and left out the #2,4,6 and 8 leaf. With 3" of snow out there I haven't taken a test ride yet but my initial drop is 1" but after it settles in it may go down another 1/2 to 1". It would be nice to drop another 3-4" if I could do it at low cost and suffer in the driving arena. Thanks for all the info.

Logan · 12-09-2013, 08:03 PM

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I didn't use a reversed eye spring, but I only left 5 leafs in the front. Deleting every other one, and then took out some of the smaller random leafs. It works pretty good.

Ross/Kzoo · 12-09-2013, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logan

I didn't use a reversed eye spring, but I only left 5 leafs in the front. Deleting every other one, and then took out some of the smaller random leafs. It works pretty good.

Did you notice the before and after height?

QGolden · 12-09-2013, 09:34 PM

I should think you should get pretty near two inches between the reverse eyes and taking out 4 leafs.

12-08-2013, 07:09 PM	#1
Ross/Kzoo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Richland Mi. Posts: 1,172	Which front leaves to use on a speedster I'm going to reverse the eyes on the front springs and would like to know which leaves to leave out on my speedster. There are no front fenders, bumper or aprons so the weight has been reduced and I don't feel that need all of the original leaves.

12-08-2013, 08:31 PM	#3
QGolden Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Alton, NH Posts: 1,231	Re: Which front leaves to use on a speedster I think Pete has it, sounds more thoughtful than what I did. I left a few out of the front, tomorrow I can look to see which ones. Too dark and cold out there right now. I chose mine based on what someone else did. HOWEVER I have not driven it yet, still in construction mode. But I'm gonna' save Pete's comments as a backup plan. __________________ It's not what people think they know that will hurt them, it is what they think they know that aint so! -Mark Twain. It is the very things that we think we know, that keep us from learning what we should know.- Unknown

12-09-2013, 11:08 AM	#4
V4F Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: ca. Posts: 2,522	Re: Which front leaves to use on a speedster I set the ride height to what I want by removing until it is where I want it to be . maybe the hard way , but it works for me . __________________ V4f

12-09-2013, 01:24 PM	#5
Ross/Kzoo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Richland Mi. Posts: 1,172	Re: Which front leaves to use on a speedster I reversed the eyes this morning and left out the #2,4,6 and 8 leaf. With 3" of snow out there I haven't taken a test ride yet but my initial drop is 1" but after it settles in it may go down another 1/2 to 1". It would be nice to drop another 3-4" if I could do it at low cost and suffer in the driving arena. Thanks for all the info.

12-09-2013, 08:03 PM	#6
Logan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 1,055	Re: Which front leaves to use on a speedster Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I didn't use a reversed eye spring, but I only left 5 leafs in the front. Deleting every other one, and then took out some of the smaller random leafs. It works pretty good. __________________ Cowtown A's

12-08-2013, 08:13 PM	#2
Pete Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wa. Posts: 5,407	Re: Which front leaves to use on a speedster To start, assemble every other leaf with a total of no more than 6. You can check the spring rate easily with nothing more than a yard stick. It will be trial and error on assembling the spring with various leaves. Assume you weigh 200 lb. measure the height of the front end at a certain point. Step up on the frame and measure the height again. If the car goes down 2 inches, you have a 100 lb per inch rate. This is a good starting rate. After the car is all done, check the handling and see if you want to go lighter or stiffer. If you are not sure what "good handling" is, find an EXPIERENCED race car driver and let him advise you. The final results will be, how many races you won all season.

12-09-2013, 09:34 PM	#8
QGolden Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Alton, NH Posts: 1,231	Re: Which front leaves to use on a speedster I should think you should get pretty near two inches between the reverse eyes and taking out 4 leafs. __________________ It's not what people think they know that will hurt them, it is what they think they know that aint so! -Mark Twain. It is the very things that we think we know, that keep us from learning what we should know.- Unknown