Rear crossmember question

[frontyboy]

I remember there was a guy making a lower crown rear crossmembers to lower a T. He used to vend at the old Bakersfield right behind me. He also had new polished aluminum disc wheels.I can not seem to find any information for him.

He made a replacement rear cross members that allowed you to lower the frame. I think it was a copy of the European cross member that was a lower profile than the USA ones.

Ant help would be appreciated

thnx
frontboy

[Mike Silbert]

To lower a Model T it takes a higher (not lower) rear crossmember.
That is what was done (and more) on European Model T Fords
They were called "Drop Frame" cars and had a bunch of special parts.
See
https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/3 ... 75948.html

[KBurket]

Antique Motor Sports out of La Habra CA used to sell polished aluminum disk wheels.
Looks like they have an eBay store now.
Maybe this is who you saw at the old swap meet?
https://www.antiquetmotorsports.com/products

[TRDxB2]

Antique Motor Sports out of La Habra CA used to sell polished aluminum disk wheels.
Looks like they have an eBay store now.
Maybe this is who you saw at the old swap meet?
https://www.antiquetmotorsports.com/products

Here is some more info on Antique Motorsporst & link to their eBay sight https://www.ebay.com/str/antique-t-motor-sports-llc
It doesn't look like they have them available nor a rear cross memeber.

This image is from the link that KBurket provided https://www.antiquetmotorsports.com/products

As I recall they offered the Z-Bracket individually or already welded to a rear cross member.

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s-l500.jpg (17.27 KiB) Viewed 180 times

The Z brackets are available but a different design (material & attachment method)

There are several methods to drop the rear axle. The one that involves a high arch is to cut a section of one cross member, cutout a section of the one on the frame and then weld in the cutout piece (the middle example)

I did see that there exists a high arch rear cross member see my next post

[TRDxB2]

Here is a discussion about European chassis that were dropped via different front spindles & rear crossmember https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/3 ... 75948.html

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For the front https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/1 ... 02362.html

[Dan McEachern]

Rootleib made the dropped rear cross members. They are on page 39 of their catalog and are listed as part # 823.

Not sure if they still offer them.

[Allan]

Would not a lower crown in the rear crossmember raise the car? Or is this a Northern hemisphere peculiarity?

Allan from down under.

[Aussie16]

Is Bill Bohlen your man? Still has a store on ebay.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ssn=bi ... 61.l161211

[AndreFordT]

This I found three years ago.

Maybe an Idea to do it your self.

Andre
Belgium

[TRDxB2]

Rear axle drop methods

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Lots of ideas here

[Allan]

Wow! there are 12 leaves in that front spring!

Allan from down under.

[TXGOAT2]

12 leaves looks crazy, but there may be method to the madness. If the leaves have low temper, or rate, it may take 12 of them to get the correct ride height. The stack of 12 leaves would have higher than normal inter-leaf friction, which can provide compression damping and some rebound damping if it is not excessive. Or maybe somebody wanted really high roll stiffness. Shocks would be a better solution, if only to save weight and allow easy adjustment. I wonder if they are stock Ford width... ?

[frontyboy]

Wow, each time I have a question or need information, you guys always come thru!!!!!!!

All reply's to crossmember information was yet again most helpful. So Monday I will contact Rootlieb and see if they still have the replacement rear crossmember. I thought I could fab one out of plate steel but it would be easier to buy one already engineered and ready to install.

So, you may remember I purchased this 13 speedster project all disassembled in a pile, $3000.00 out the door. that included a new Rootlieb speedster body kit, rebuilt engine unassembled, 6 wire wheels and new tires, perfect brass radiator, all restored E&J brass lamps. Lots of bits and pieces to go.

The project has been the cheapest part. Restored big drum Ruxstel rear axle, Roof 8 valve head, rebuilt front end, 4 new Rootlieb speedster crowned fenders, new transmission parts, hydraulic brakes and this list goes on.

I remember back when, if you wanted a cheap model t you asked your buddies if they had any extra t parts and pretty soon you had enough bits and pieces to make a fun project for very few bucks. My 1st model t was a '26 touring ran and drove, $45.00. 3 coils worked the 4th was dead. At swap meets back in the early 60's used coils were a couple of bucks but Not having the extra 2 bucks were drove on 3 cylinders. My point here is how things have changed. However the best part of this hobby is the model t people, always helpful, willing to give advice or point you in the right direction to help solve your problem. What a great organization and incredible model t people you meet along the way.

For all of you that have responded to my posts, I thank you and as an 82 year old guy that is now selling off my collection of cars, you better believe, the very last to go will be my model t's.

just sayin'

frontyboy

[AndreFordT]

It was indeed not a stock wide front spring.

Here is what it became after rebuild.
The front spring was replaced by a spring assembly with original spring leafs.
On the photos you can count 6 leafs but one small leaf is hidden by the support on the top and one short leaf at the bottom is added to fill up the support.
Note also the way the suspension was stablilized with two adjustable rods to the back. The original V- rod was to short because of the new place of the front axle.

Andre
Belgium