Frame height without engine

[trogdor]

I'm looking to start tack welding in my suspension mounts. I have an ibeam spring-over front axle. The axle looks to be dropped about 2". With the front suspension mounted on the tires on, and no weight on the frame, the bottom of my frame rail is about 16" from the ground. Is that too high? I suspect my front spring will compress a bit with the engine on. I'm not looking for a low-rider but I don't want something that looks like a monster truck either.

 

[Randy Steel]

My frame is about 12 inches off the ground fully loaded. However, I'm probably sitting on the lower end...compared to others. Make sure you check/verify your engine ground clearance (oil pan clearance to the ground). You can probably get measurements of your engine and determine the clearance, but it may be beneficial to temporarily lower your engine onto your mounts and check the distance. Lastly, make sure you take into account your scruff line (clearance height to the bottom of your I-beam).

 

[Spanky]

My frame bottom is 10" off the ground. To me, 16" definitely sounds too high. Are your spring eyes reversed in the front? And tell me again how your rear axle is suspended . . .

 

[trogdor]

Yes, my spring is the reversed-eye type. The spring mounts over the axle on the perches. To the top of the transverse spring (where it bolts to the frame) is about 17 inches. That seems pretty high, but I don't know why. My axle is only 2" drop, which contributes I'm sure. The rear is just on a jack now, with the frame level.

 

[Spanky]

Your front axle is the "spring-over" type which means the spring sits on top of the axle. Most T-buckets us a "spring-behind" arrangement which brings the spring eyes down behind the axle. Also, my axle has a 4-inch drop, and I think a lot of t-buckets also use 4"dropped axles. It will be a challenge to get your frame low enough to look right. Maybe a kickup in the front, similar to the one in the rear. Are you a good enough welder to accomplish that?

 

[trogdor]

The kickup in the front is interesting. Like the 'z' looking frame? Yes, I could weld that. I'm not sure I like the look... I'll have to look at some pictures.

Is there any way to have spring behind with an ibeam axle and hairpins? Are there any examples I could look at?

 

[Spanky]

Check this out . . .

https://content.speedwaymotors.com/DigitalAssets/assets/charts/91035141_TECH_2022_1_optimized.jpg

 

[Neshkoro]

If you’re thinking of chopping up the frame you could remove the perch and make or buy another one that has a greater offset. With the spring loaded up with the engine, etc, the shackles should be at or around a 45 degree angle. You might be able to remove a leaf or two from the spring. From the pictures it looks like the top of the spring is about in the center of the round tube at the front of the frame. It’s a bit hard to tell from the angle of the pictures.

 

[trogdor]

Yes, the top of the spring comes up right about the center of the frame tube. Raising that up could be doable I think.

I'm wondering, I have these brackets where the radius rods connects:


Currently the spring mounts above these. I wonder if I could drill a hole in them toward the bottom or weld something on so that I could mount something like this so I could mount the spring lower:


That sort of looks like @Spanky 's setup if I'm seeing the picture correctly.

 

[409T]

I moved the spring from on top of the axle to behind by making my own bat wings.

 

[trogdor]

Could I install the spring perch upside down (so that the eye is facing down instead of above the axle)? Maybe I could put a long bolt through the perch hole and offset the shackle. Something like the crude drawing below.

EDIT: Nevermind. Upon further thought I'm pretty sure that is a bad idea.

 

[409T]

These might work......

Part #1248B 2 inch Suicide Batwings (pair) - Pete & Jakes Hot Rod Parts

Includes “T” Bolts and Nuts 2” Add ”c” for chrome

www.peteandjakes.com

 

[guilld]

Ron Pope sells a perch that is few inches taller made for a spring over mount.