Later rear in earlier car...

PeteVS

PeteVS

Well-known member
Back in the day, my brother picked up a '48 rear (Merc) to put into a '32. That is finally coming to pass. The Merc that the rear was in was lowered with l-o-n-g shackles. I made up some shorter plates and got some sleeves turned to use "hot rod" shackles. Trouble now is that the shackles hang straight down and I don't have a Panhard bar to keep the body centered, etc. Is there, or, does anyone make a main leaf short enough to get 45 degree shackle hanging? Thanks!!
 

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I believe the 48 reared / spring is a little wider than the 32' can you use the 32 spring with 48 reared?
 
'42-'48 Fords & Mercs were designed to use the straight down shackles, that's why they have a panhard bar. More leaves won't fix that, only a shorter main leaf will fix the angle of the shackles.
 
That '48 rearend is much wider than the '32 and that is not a great look. Now if you're using it for a sawmill or a garden tractor, who cares? Just using it because you have it is obviously up to you and your taste, but think about it. Must be more to this than you're saying or it may look pretty lame. Good Luck: Fred A
 
The rear already has the right mount for the anti-sway, so why not just get a stock '48 bar, shorten it the requisite amount, and bolt the Ford bracket on the other end to your frame? You might not even need to shorten it...a '48 tank is right width for a '32 frame, so dimensions back there are very similar.
 
Bruce Lancaster said:
The rear already has the right mount for the anti-sway, so why not just get a stock '48 bar, shorten it the requisite amount, and bolt the Ford bracket on the other end to your frame? You might not even need to shorten it...a '48 tank is right width for a '32 frame, so dimensions back there are very similar.
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Not too much room between tank and rear crossmember.
 

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Hmmm...looks like about 50% of the room needed if sway bar is right up to spring. You don't own any fenders, so could you just slide the tank back an inch?
Or be a traditional rodder...just lower the jack and it will make the space it needs automatically! :)
 
PeteVS said:
Back in the day, my brother picked up a '48 rear (Merc) to put into a '32. That is finally coming to pass. The Merc that the rear was in was lowered with l-o-n-g shackles. I made up some shorter plates and got some sleeves turned to use "hot rod" shackles. Trouble now is that the shackles hang straight down and I don't have a Panhard bar to keep the body centered, etc. Is there, or, does anyone make a main leaf short enough to get 45 degree shackle hanging? Thanks!!
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I thought a 32 had a curved spring to fit the 32 curved cross member. How does the 48 merc spring fit the 32 cross member? You could have the spring leaves recurved, that will shorten the spring but might raise the car some. Walt
 
The curved spring is a problem. Without that, the easiest thing to do is figure how long your main leaf needs to be and start cutting with a torch. Stock piston pins are the same diameter as the spring eyes, heat the spring and roll the eyes around the piston pins.
 
I modified the spring leaves to fit the crossmember. All edges were radiused and polished with no grinding marks left to start cracks. Monday, I'll see if I can find a local spring shop to give me a price to make up a new leaf.
 

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Zeinith Spring in Duluth, MN. 218-624-5779 made a new main leaf for my 35 (someone had "modified" it with a torch). I sent them the origional I had even though it was messed up, and they made me a new one the way I needed it. Cost was real reasonable, about $35 if I remember correctly. Talk to Bruce when you call them. Service was fast too.
 
Check out the width on a 37-40 rear end. I didn't think a 48 rear end fit real well under a 32?? Spring shop should be able to make a spring for you.
 
PeteVS said:
Back in the day, my brother picked up a '48 rear (Merc) to put into a '32. That is finally coming to pass. The Merc that the rear was in was lowered with l-o-n-g shackles. I made up some shorter plates and got some sleeves turned to use "hot rod" shackles. Trouble now is that the shackles hang straight down and I don't have a Panhard bar to keep the body centered, etc. Is there, or, does anyone make a main leaf short enough to get 45 degree shackle hanging? Thanks!!
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TRY Any 35 to 40 MAIN LEAF, shorter if i recall.
 
The problem is that although the '48 rear is wider over the drums, it is actually narrower at the spring hangers. So, an earlier spring would be way too long. Looking to have the shackles at the 45 degree angle, as on earlier cars, the '48 spring is also too long since it seems to have been designed with the shackles hanging straight down from the rear to the spring. Without a panhard bar, which I don't have room for, the body would sway from side to side with the vertical shackles.
 
PeteVS said:
The problem is that although the '48 rear is wider over the drums, it is actually narrower at the spring hangers. So, an earlier spring would be way too long. Looking to have the shackles at the 45 degree angle, as on earlier cars, the '48 spring is also too long since it seems to have been designed with the shackles hanging straight down from the rear to the spring. Without a panhard bar, which I don't have room for, the body would sway from side to side with the vertical shackles.
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I've mounted a '46 axle under a '36, and the 35-36 spring was the correct length to give angled shackles. The pre-35 springs are narrower than the 35 and later ones, and grinding them will only creat stress risers and alter the spring rates. Start with a 32-34 rear spring design but with the correct length fabricated (or buy another axle).

Steve
 
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