MTFCA Forum

I’m in the process of putting a much better frame (thanks to Charlie Gagel) under my 26 RPU. I’ve got the leaf springs all apart to paint them and apply Slip-Plate. My rear set has 8 leaves. Is this the correct number?

26/27 sedans and heavier vehicles used 9 leafs.
I would go with the 8, just how much weight are you planning on hauling?

Well, I gotta haul Cathy around. Maybe 10 leaves if she packs a cooler?

Sometimes the seemingly simplest questions require a very complicated answer. I have two 1926 roadster pick-ups. The earlier of the two was originally sold as a roadster and it had 8 leaves in the rear spring. The later of the two came from the factory as a pick-up and it has 9 leaves in the rear spring. I am the third owner on both pickups, (my father was the second owner of both). I'm sure neither rear spring was ever changed from what was supplied by the Ford Motor Company. I guess the short answer would be-- either 8 or 9 leaves will work, it just depends how much load you are planning to haul. I hope this helps. Regards, Bill

Thanks guys. I’ll stick with slippery 8 and have a nice soft ride.

It all depends on how accurate you want to be. All pickups were supposed to have 9 leafs. It really doesn't matter if you don't care.

If you want 8 leaves, fine. Very unlikely someone will crawl under to count. However, if you want 9 in the future, you will need to remove the spring and replace the through bolt with a longer one.
Norm

You can vary the tire pressure for a softer ride. I find 2 of us with no load rides nice @28#. When I am carrying a heavy load, up to 40#.
27 roadster P/U.

Related question. A friend is building up a depot hack and would like to add a leaf to the rear spring. How is that done? Do you have to buy an all-new spring pack?

No on the all new spring pack. But it’ll depend on the year of his depot hack if he wants to be original. The new and improved Model Ts utilized a ‘flatter’ front and rear spring. Probably the easiest and quickest is to disconnect the entire rear end and spring from the frame with the latter on jack stands.. then attach 2 large C clamps tightly onto the ends of the 2nd to the top leaf. Now remove the bolt and install the extra spring leaf. But he’ll have to use a ‘19-‘25 leaf if that’s his present spring and a ‘26-27 spring leaf if that’s his present rear spring,

Thanks George. it's a 1922. We'll be pulling the rear end for some work so this will be the time to do it. Now to find some springs.

BTW - You may not remember me but we met on the 2019 Covered Bridge tour in Indiana. One day we all took a wrong turn down a farmer's driveway and the guy from California (we met a couple that needed a ride) was driving and stalled my '17 touring. We all tried to crank with no luck and ended up pushing it down a slight hill towards his barn to get it started..... it was a hot day for us, probably not for a Texan Anyway, I don't know if I said thanks....but thanks!

FWIW...My Depot Hack came with a brand new 9 leaf spring in the rear...previous owner didn't have it made, bought from a T supply house.

It rides like there is no spring in the back period...maybe because I never have a load, but I sure do feel it up front!

Dave Young wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 24, 2022 9:56 am

Well, I gotta haul Cathy around. Maybe 10 leaves if she packs a cooler?

Man you're cruisin' for a bruisin'!!

Howdy Tim !! Sure I remember that wrong turn event and meeting your entourage. Happens to me on every tour. Makes it more enjoyable...

George - I forgot to ask, do you add an extra 2nd or 3rd spring? If a 3rd, do you trim it to an intermediate length?

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As to the wrong turn...in our defense, the instructions could have been better. That happened to us a couple of times on that tour......
Just happened upon this photo. Trying to get the old buggy running again. When hot it was really hard to crank and the starter sometimes couldn't turn it over unless you cranked it beyond compression. I eventually got a 12 volt, modern geared WOSP starter and have never had a problem yet. Starts first time, every time, hot, cold, whatever.

Came across this photo....I think we'd all tried cranking and were trying to figure out what to do next. Found out that pushing works good if you've got a few folks that can give it a shove without falling over (oldtimers joke.)

Ha! What an adventure ! As I remember, the ladies pushed your touring too. ....,No ones going to look up to the inside of your rear frame crossmember. Just ensure you have a long enough rear spring leaf bolt and put a shorty on top of your spring stack. Don’t forget the rubber or leather pad on top.