28 Chevy Roadster

[logride]

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=90824&highlight=reversing

This is good info on reversing your own springs. I did it on the rear springs of my 32. I used a friends press and wasn't to hard.

[28chevyguy]

thanks for the info !! awesome !

[madmike3434]

There are truck spindles 1940--54  on axles and also 49--54 passenger car spindles , which are also same as corvette 1953--1962, yes gm used that front end passenger car under their vettes.

You most likey will have to mount the steering arm off the steering box facing upwards.  You might have to heat and bend the steering arm on the spindles.  You may have to bend the front steering cross tie rod arms or use spacers to get the tie rod bar above or below the front springs. 

If that's so you will have to make a new tie rod bar using 1" SPS tube with 1/4" walls and 3/4" inch heim or spherical rod ends instead of the tie rods, because the spindle steering arms will have to be untapered and drilled out to 3/4" for GRADE 8 bolt that goes thru the arm.

Decisions on what to do can only be determined once the axle is mounted in place and see if there is possible interference with the fenders edge.

Disc brake kits for the front sprindles are available for the passenger car and much more difficult to find for the truck spindles.  We had to modify the truck adaptors somehow   ?......its was around 1973--74 it was done and I do not remember.

For the rear end, you need a rear end thats 56-57 " wide, so your tires sit inside the fenders,  commonly 9" ford rears  are that wide .

mike

[28chevyguy]

OK great info... will be keeping the 6 lug drums as well.  who knows maybe i wont drop the axle.

[madmike3434]

If you want your ride * down on the ground*  and * in the weeds *, you really need to have a KUGEL  or a HEIGT ........IFS  .  Its way simpler than all the beam axle stuff. That's why I took all the old stuff out.

plus with the adjustable coil over shocks, I can easily raise and lower the front end with a special spanner .

mike

[28chevyguy]

looks like back to the wood shed .

[madmike3434]

altering the spring eyes by reversing them, de-arching and flattening the springs is only going to take you so far.  Once its all done you will have to make your next decisions if its what you want height wise.

mike

[28chevyguy]

I agree .   great advice thanks !

[28chevyguy]

had a friend stop by today,  he will be helping me mount the column up ,  I plan on using a '55-'56 chevy truck manual column and gearbox .  My buddy who is a great fabricator suggested making a C cut , notching the frame in  to mount the column straight rather than with the taper of the frame, then fill solid, that way the gearbox will be flush to its mounting service rather than angled/ making a shim plate .    This is pretty much the last big hurtle then onto more easy going stuff.   Im using a 50's Axle with juice drums ,  anybody else doing anything similar?

[vette59jdwl]

28 chevy guy  Yes  we are doing something similar.We are using  Hydralic brakes on the 32 chevy front axle and using a 1984-250 chevy 6 cylinder engine with a 5 speed from a chevy S-10. We are also using a 1989 Dodge D-50 rear axle that bolts right into the 32 chevy  all this retains the 6 bolt chevy bolt pattern.We are using a 1965 mustang master brake cylinder with two distribution blocks one for the front and one for the back that way it will have 4  seperate brake lines two seperate systems in one and the master brake cylinder will be in the trunk.So far i still have the 32 original steering column.

[28chevyguy]

thats a pretty slick set up !!     wow original 32 column .  does anyone know the deal with the steering splines being at an angle with these old tapered frames? it would be to my understanding you want the spline square with the car itself , not the taper.  hence the C notch i was going to do.   I have the 28 column but it scares the crap outta me so i wont be using it.

[vette59jdwl]

Are the JOINTS in your front end loose or are you clips slidding  there is a youtube on a 32 chevy truck  some fellow up in the hills  does a complete rebuild on a 32 chevy truck front end  maybe worth the look  shows how to rebuild and also the drag link.He has kept all the 32 chevy original front end under his rockabilly hotrod.  go see   vette59jdwl

[vette59jdwl]

 In cas your wondering  (and i will take input on this one )  If i was going to change anything on this restomode I think it would be to go with electric steering and rack and pinion for a set up.
HAS ANYONE HAD ANY EXPERIENCE WITH ELECTRIC STEERING   Thanks  vette59jdwl

[28chevyguy]

thanks vette !      I know i should update the stuff but using 50's chevy front axle + 55 chevy column, im a sucker for that ancient look...

does anyone have any input on my steering situation... im starting to wonder if im overthinking... should i post pics to make it easier? Thanks !

[TFoch]

I think if you can get the steering column so the wheel is straight and not angled, I think it will be much more comfortable to drive.  I didn't have to notch my frame as I'm using a rack but I used two U joints so I could keep the column square to me.