Has anyone ever seen a tbucket will rear leaf springs? Will it work? What are the pros and cons of it? The bucket I just bought has them. My bed is 42" long and my frame past the kick up is 40" long so there is plenty of room. Just would like to hear some other peoples thoughts on it?
Parallel leaf springs
- Thread starter Jeddie
- Start date
baddawgcustoms
Active Member
I don't see anything wrong with using them at all on a car like yours that has such a large bed to cover them up. I think aesthetics is the only reason not to run them on a typical t-bucket, because most just don't have a kick or body that long to hide the kick back down in the rear to mount them. If your bed covers them up I would let-em-ride! And yes I saw one metal bucket with a large bed that used them and the bed covered them up perfectly. You could not tell it had them without pics under the bed.
Screaming Metal
Active Member
Well dude, that rear spring attachment to the frame needs to be stiffened some, with a gusset or a cheekplate. That lumpy looking weld where it attaches to the frame is making my eyebrow quiver.....
Yep, its different....but like Zandoz and ExJunk said....it does have its uses if you want to go that route. Could do that with a monoleaf on each side, no more than a bucket weighs....
You could use one of those springs, turn it 90 degrees and fashion up a frame mount for a more conventional T setup.....
Yep, its different....but like Zandoz and ExJunk said....it does have its uses if you want to go that route. Could do that with a monoleaf on each side, no more than a bucket weighs....
You could use one of those springs, turn it 90 degrees and fashion up a frame mount for a more conventional T setup.....
Screaming Metal
Active Member
Yea, I'm afraid I'd have to redo those too.... 
....
And don't forget a rear driveshaft safety loop....I'm eyeing the centerline of that rear loop....Hum....
....And don't forget a rear driveshaft safety loop....I'm eyeing the centerline of that rear loop....Hum....
Hotrod46
Member
I have seen a bucket with parallel leafs. A guy at a local car show had one that he had bought set up like that. He was complaining that it rode so rough that his wife wouldn't go anywhere with him in it. It only took one look to figure out why. Whoever built it didn't use any shackles! Both eyes on the (trailer type) springs were bolted straight to the frame! I tried to explain it to him, but he kind of got an attitude and I gave up. Could've been fixed with a little work, though. At least yours has shackles. As the others said, it should work OK with a little gusseting. If the ride is too stiff you might be able to remove a leaf or two from the spring pack.
Those welds look like stick weld done with mild steel rods. Something like E6011 or E6010. Most likely done with a small AC welder that didn't have enough heat to burn in good. That tubing looks like 1/4" wall. It's going to take a decent sized welding machine to get a good weld on tubing that heavy. Also, be sure to grind most of that old weld out to get rid of the hidden slag that is sure to be there based on the appearance of the welds. If you're going to use MIG or TIG, that slag will play hell with your rewelds. If they are really dirty, you might even have to go with a flux cored wire or a plain old stick welder, something like E7018. Those processes are more tolerant of less than clean base metal.
Good luck and have fun.
Mike
Those welds look like stick weld done with mild steel rods. Something like E6011 or E6010. Most likely done with a small AC welder that didn't have enough heat to burn in good. That tubing looks like 1/4" wall. It's going to take a decent sized welding machine to get a good weld on tubing that heavy. Also, be sure to grind most of that old weld out to get rid of the hidden slag that is sure to be there based on the appearance of the welds. If you're going to use MIG or TIG, that slag will play hell with your rewelds. If they are really dirty, you might even have to go with a flux cored wire or a plain old stick welder, something like E7018. Those processes are more tolerant of less than clean base metal.
Good luck and have fun.
Mike
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