MTFCA Forum

I have a 26' T coupe and putting another chassis together for it. Just wondering, are all the rear spring u-bolts the same on the T's? TIA!

things to consider:

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/70 ... 1512837540
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/82 ... 1519346407

Scott:
Thank you for that info. Very informative! From what I can see, looks like I have an 8 leaf in my coupe...
Steve

Mark Chaffin has a pile of originals on the forum. I think it's a good buy. They are mostly the late style which you need.

Sorry, I didn't read your request carefully. Yes, the eight leaf U bolts are the same, however the nine leafs are longer.

A picture stolen from MTFCA

While the photo Frank posted shows U bolts of different lengths, I believe they have the same application. If you square up the top corners to the same height, the split pin holes are also at the same height, indicating that they are for springs of the same number of leaves. Sure the threads are longer, but to accommodate an extra leaf, the split pin holes need to be 1/4" lower. Perhaps they are in other examples.

Allan from down under.

Alan

that picture is included in the first link I provided. Each part has it's own part #, one for 8 leaf and one for 9 leaf spring, and as measured in the original clearer photo, the distance to the cotter holes are 3 1/2 and 3 5/8 inches, respectively.

I was expecting the flats on the inside of the u-bolts to be longer on 9-leaf spring. Besides leaf count are there other differences?

Frank

on a quick analysis, that seems to make sense, but if you look again, you see that the flats go over the frame...the same frame for both 8 or 9 leaf springs...so the flats don't need to "grow" for an additional spring leaf thickness...just the length of the reach, down to the retaining plate.

Scott_Conger wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 19, 2020 10:55 am

Frank

on a quick analysis, that seems to make sense, but if you look again, you see that the flats go over the frame...the same frame for both 8 or 9 leaf springs...so the flats don't need to "grow" for an additional spring leaf thickness...just the length of the reach, down to the retaining plate.

Scott, I don't enough experience in frame sizes differences... So the depth of the rear cross member is the same for a each spring size?

Yup, it is

I could use a pair of these. Not easy to find.

Today I have been packing my trailer for the Ballarat Swap Meet next weekend. I measured the rear spring U bolts in the trays and found four with split pin holes at 3 and 3/8" and three others at 3 and 3/4", a difference of 3/8". This makes more sense to me than Scott's measurements where the difference is just 1/8", not enough to allow for an extra 1/4" thick spring leaf. Ours are likely Canadian production, but that should make no difference.

Allan from down under.

Let's add another variable to this. What if you have a 26-27 Touring or Sedan with a (goose neck) spare tire carrier? I have heard that the spring hanger bars are half as thick as the other models in order to screw the nut above the hole to insert the cotter key. I believe the order on a 26-27 Touring should be 8 spring leaves, goose neck spare tire carrier, spring hanger bars, nut and cotter key. Can anyone verify this and confirm that the hanger bars are thinner on the Tourings and Sedans?

Since we're on the subject, there are two styles of 9 leaf spring clips, yes, that is what Ford calls them! Early and late. They had to modify the clips when the new style 26-7 rear cross member came out. The early one won't work on the late rear cross member. I assume the eight leaf would have been modified the same way.

Larry

If you have a part # on a different clip than the normal 9 leaf clip, please share.

Rear spring clips for the 8 leaf 3 1/2" long clip and 9 leaf 4" long clip (Fordor and Pickup) on the Improved car are the same, except for length and style between the two, they all fit any rear crossmember.

9 leaf:
There are different rear crossmembers, the early Improved car got one similar to the '25 but wider, the later '26 got a revised longer, that has flanges on the crossmember. Those flanges are drilled with holes for the spring clip to pass thru as noted by the crossmember on top in the photo.