Rear axle tubes and rear spring

Phred

Phred

Senior Member
I came home form a restorer's garage with most of a pickup truck of Model A parts. Some treasurers, some stuff that was taken off of cars for a reason, and some rust. Among the stuff:

8 rear axle tubes, some with the welded seam on top and some with the seam on the side. Is one style tube more desirable than the other, or are both types not uncommon?

An 8 leaf and a 10 leaf rear spring, both complete. Are these worth saving?

Thanks in advance Fordbarn!
 
The axle tubes are just for different year cars and are not rare or desireable. It's the race one the end that determines if they are any good. Should be same measurement all around. Usually measured side to side, and then top to bottom where the wear would be.

Yes, the springsare worth saving, the 10 leaf is for a heavier car, Tudor, Fordor etc, and the 8 leaf could be for a roadster or coupe.
 
I have learnt to my cost NEVER EVER throw any model A part out no matter in what condition . Some one will for sure will need it . If the axle halves are smooth and no serious external rust with good perches and races they are certainly worth keeping.Apart from the seam weld they also differ in the diff carrier race location . The later ones the race lands are set closer for a "tighter" clearance.

John Charlton in cool damp morning but have had 2 weeks of lovely dry weather England.
 
In the judging guidelines is states the following:

Except for the very, very early A' the axle housing had the welds facing forward from early 1928 to March 1929.

The weld faced upward beginning in November 1928 to the end of production.

Beginning in March 1929 through March 1930 the welds faced downward.

As you can see, the judging guidelines are confusing. There seems to be some major overlapping. Maybe there will be some clarification's in the next revision that is coming out. I have some of each kind of axle housings - mostly worn however.
Rusty Nelson
 
john charlton said:
I have learnt to my cost NEVER EVER throw any model A part out no matter in what condition . Some one will for sure will need it . If the axle halves are smooth and no serious external rust with good perches and races they are certainly worth keeping.Apart from the seam weld they also differ in the diff carrier race location . The later ones the race lands are set closer for a "tighter" clearance.

John Charlton in cool damp morning but have had 2 weeks of lovely dry weather England.
Click to expand...

Sir, ...where have you been?? :)
 
Non serviceable rear axle housings can serve many useful purposes- Jackstands, bar stool bases, end table bases, etc etc.

You can make alot of neat stuff using junk parts. I plan on making a coffee table out of a Model A Windshield Frame that is too rough to use on a car.
 
Geo. H said:
correction: eight leaf not for a roadster. Roadster uses 7 leaves.
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Yes, you are right, BUT, if you count the leaves, there are 8. One is a DUMMY!

There is actually 8 pieces that make up a rear spring for a Roadster. In Marco's chart , the last or bottom piece is short and is referred to as a dummy leaf. This makes up the space so it will tighten up in the rear crossmember. Anyone who is new to the hobby, or uninformed, would count the number of pieces, and come up with 8.
 
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