MTFCA Forum

Here is a car that I believe has the wrong size front spring. I count nine leaves, which leads me to believe the spring is for a TT truck? The problem being encountered is that there is not room to tighten the castle nuts up to the hole for the cotter pin. Now I assume the smart and easy thing to do would be to drill new holes, but being as I’m not the smart kind I won’t be doing that. Can I simply remove a couple leaves in the current spring? And if so which ones? I have a larger TT spring carrier but I’ve never done such a swap.

Much obliged!

That spring is a mess, with heavy corrosion on the lower leaves. I'd look for a replacement. Your front crossmember may have had repair work done to it too. Look for evidence of welding and a repair plate on the top area of the crossmember where the spring clamp sits. Whatever you do, you need cotter pins in the spring clamp nuts. Taking out leaves will probably leave that tired old spring too flat.

Tadpole wrote: ↑

Sat May 04, 2024 12:37 pm

Here is a car that I believe has the wrong size front spring. I count nine leaves, which leads me to believe the spring is for a TT truck? The problem being encountered is that there is not room to tighten the castle nuts up to the hole for the cotter pin. Now I assume the smart and easy thing to do would be to drill new holes, but being as I’m not the smart kind I won’t be doing that. Can I simply remove a couple leaves in the current spring? And if so which ones? I have a larger TT spring carrier but I’ve never done such a swap.

Much obliged!

You have multiple issues besides 9 leafs.
The front spring clip looks short in the threads too. It looks exactly like a TT front spring clip or someone cut off some threads. Does it have a cotter pin hole?
-- --
Encyclopedia
1918-1921
FRONT:7-leaf non-tapered. Main leaf drilled for oilers.
REAR: 8-leaf, non-tapered, with main leaf drilled for oilers.
1922-1923
FRONT: Same as 1921.
REAR: Same as 1921 plus 9-leaf spring added for the Sedans.
1923-1925
FRONT: Same as 1921
REAR: Same as 1922 but 6-leaf spring added for the Runabouts. 1925 Pickups supplied by the factory used the 9-leaf spring.
1926-1927
FRONT: New 8-leaf spring used on all cars.
REAR: 8-leaf spring for all cars except the Sedans that used a 9-leaf, both the same as used in 1925. The 6-leaf was discontinued.
Note: Accession 166 at the Ford Archives, which contains “Process Sheets” which detail various assembly operations. Indicates that the spring leaves were lubricated with a mixture of graphite and an air-drying paint. This mixture was painted on the leaves as they were assembled. The paint bound the graphite in place so that it wouldn't be squeezed out from between the leaves as the springs flexed.

None of the springs had duplicate leaves. Remove the duplicates and see if you have a seven or eight leaf spring. Then note whether the U-bolt looks natural in length to allow a cotter pin without compromise.

Thank you all a bunch, I think I have a combination of an old TT spring (It has no duplicate leaves) with a regular car front engine mount/spring clip (It does have cotter pin holes in the threads, they are under the nuts). Using the knowledge and assessments you guys have provided, right now I am planning to do a swap of the front engine mount/Spring Clip with the longer TT one I have. I haven't found any local spring for sale in better shape, but I agree with Mr. McNallen that this spring is pretty rough and removing one or two leaves will drop me too much in the front.

I will do some research on swapping the engine mount/spring clip, but I always get good information from those with experience on the forum, so any insight you could spare would be most appreciated.

Tadpole wrote: ↑

Wed May 29, 2024 12:11 pm

....this spring is pretty rough and removing one or two leaves will drop me too much in the front.

I will do some research on swapping the engine mount/spring clip, but I always get good information from those with experience on the forum, so any insight you could spare would be most appreciated.

Don't remove too much or this could happen!

I know exactly what you mean! Got it done last night, thank you all again!