Thread: different 39coupe suspensions

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i understand there are two types of suspensions on these cars.or two different types of coupes. im new to this car and dont have a front axle to identify. any one that can advise me of what chevy put in these old cars. coil springs or leaf? im a newbie thanks john

'39 Chevs came with either a coil sprung front, or a beam axle with two semi-elliptic springs. If it's got the spring hangers at the very front of the frame rails, and back on the rails just forward of the fire wall then it had the beam axle. If it had the coils there should be pockets for the springs or other hangers, on a plain roughly just behind the radiator. Unless the person before you who took off the suspension was planning to put in a MII setup and cut off all the brackets, then you'd just look for the impressions in the rails.

thanks uncle bob. my car is not here yet, ill be able to figure this thing out. since i have no axle, would it be better to get a ifs, low cost if possible, instead of a original setup. im still got some yung-uns in the house. so some what slightly financialy embarassed! by the way, why does it say ignore this member on the post board. did do something wrong, or register wrong. thanks john

. . . why does it say ignore this member on the post board. did do something wrong, or register wrong . .

You didn't do anything wrong. That little "iggy" button is on everyone's address block. If someone is bugging you, and you don't want to read what they say, you click on that, and their posts don't show up.

Don't click on your own though. I have no idea what happens if you ignore yourself . . .

thanks henry. john

Chassis Engineering has a lot of neat suspension stuff for yourChevy http://www.chassisengineeringinc.com...7-1939chev.htm . Check out their bolt in Pinto/Mustang IFS. I may look pricey but it will save you a lot of headaches. And headaches are the leading cause of burnout. A burnout is the reason there are so many unfinished rod for sale.

Originally posted by johnnybee
would it be better to get a ifs, low cost if possible, instead of a original setup. ...

Tough call John. That's why it sometimes better to buy as complete a car as you can. But, that's not your situation here. In part it comes down to what your real skills are. If you very good with things mechanical, if you're very good and methodical at measuring and set-up, and if you're a skilled welder with all the equipment you need (or have ready access to it through some other means) then you can do it fairly economically (always a relative term). People are putting Mustang II setups under these cars all the time, some even putting Nova/Camaro front clips on. So that means there are stock front suspensions looking for a way of being disposed of. If you look around real hard you might be able to come across one of these. I would recommend against the stock coil spring setup as it was junk when it was new, and trying to rebuild one to safe levels today would be pretty expensive. The beam axle setup worked pretty okay, but even if you got one, it would likely need a restoration too to be serviceable, which could be several hundred dollars. If you got ultra lucky you could stumble across an already restored stock setup that someone is taking out,...................but don't hold your breath.

On the other side is the Nova/camaro front clip. You can probably buy one of those for a couple hundred dollars, and if you work at it you can possibly find one that's not all worn out and needing lots of new parts right away. Again, slim chance, but more doable than the stock axle scenario. To do a front clip CORRECTLY takes some serious skill, or paying someone who knows how to do it (read $$). For the Mustang II you could look around for a stock Pinto/Bobcat/Mustang II and cut out the front crossmember with all the suspension pieces on it. These are getting harder to find so aren't as cheap as they once were, but then you're down there where there is lots of raw material to draw from. So check around. One of the members here, Brickman, did this over the past year on his late '40's Chev and posted pictures. Use the Search function at the top of this page and type in "Mustang suspension". Then there are many aftermarket crossmember kits on the market to mount the M II components as this is a popular swap. These kits (the good ones anyway, which means they aren't the cheapest.....up front) are designed specifically for a specified chassis and come with installation instructions. Again, you need to be good with measurements and welding. Companies like Heidt's, Total Cost Involved, Rod Shop, RB's, etc. sell them. Then there's another option for the less skilled that could be a good alternative. There is a well engineered system from Chassis Engineering that is a bolt in. While it's designed to bolt in with grade 8 hardware, my personal choice would be to back that up with some welds, but at least a fairly skilled amateur could do all the set up using their instructions and have it all in place so that he could take it to a welder, or have a mobile welding service come in, and just have to pay for the welding part. Here's their website so you can do some study; www.chassisengineeringinc.com

Just some words of caution based strictly on you self admission of being on a very tight budget. If you can't afford to do it right, you really can't afford to do it wrong. You need to make some serious assesments of your ability to get the job done before pouring in all the spare dough you have only to end up with something that's worse than you start with. Seen it happen too many times. And another reality is, whatever you guess it's gonna cost.............double it! Not trying to rain on your parade, just a dose of reality. Hate to see folks bite off more than they can chew and create a bigger problem for themselves.

hey there uncle bob, i think your right about the mustang suspension.thats the way i will go. i dont know what i was thinking when i bought this old girl. ive got plenty of things on the fire. i got a drivable 41ford truck thats stock. a 58 chevy that needs paint. my wife says i will have to sleep in the coupe now after she had a cow. i dont take any thing from my family,or short them in any way, i work hard and buy junk now and then. i think i have a disease called carnutitis! im out of control!!!lol. i guess im a poor jay leno. ill have her together soon. i really have to thank you for taking time to talk to me about my chevy. some other forums are really uptight about asking questions, and are not very friendly.well i better go find a six pack and a blanky to sleep in my new room! lol. thanks all you guys for the input. john

Originally posted by johnnybee
...i will have to sleep in the coupe now after she had a cow.

First, congratulations on your new arrival! Another bambino in the family always brings joy. Although changing diapers must be a job.

i dont know what i was thinking when i bought this old girl. ive got plenty of things on the fire. i got a drivable 41ford truck thats stock.

I think I can help you out here, since you've managed to get yourself in trouble again. I've got a buddy who drags his trailer down your way from time to time. Send me your address and I'll have him clear that '41 out of your driveway. I'm sure momma will be happy too. I'm here for ya!


i think i have a disease called carnutitis! im out of control!!!lol....some other forums are really uptight about asking questions, and are not very friendly.

Well, you haven't exactly entered an effective 12 step program here! There's a lot of that going on. As for the cranky, I don't know where you've been, but around here we get a lot of "one hit wonders". Guys that come on, ask a question, and then, when answered, never acknowledge the help that's been extended. You've gone a long way toward helping yourself by the simple act of saying thanks.........more than once. Both Bib and I were typing our answers at the same time and ended up giving you the same lead. Must be something to it huh.

hey uncle bob. went to chassis eng, lots of good stuff. i agree with the extra welding. its pretty busy up in the front end. prices seem agreeable. im sure ill do the rear also. dont like the old torque tube set up. i drive the 41 with the flat head and four speed stump puller, shes so slow. here in so cal i get a lot of grief from drivers when shifting slow. cal drivers used to be very courteous in the old days. in the last two weeks ive witnessed two terrible cases of road rage, for such small mistakes. one of them i pulled over, was afraid of a ok corral shootout. i was just behind them. holy cow what has happen to society today. may sound twilight zone-ish. but i like to drive early on sunday mornings thinking of the 40s or what it was like, a little slower, alot simpler life. no one pushing or rushing.i wasnt born in that time,im just guessing. i enjoy that peacefulness when im fat fendering early in the am. ill be bugging you now and then for carnutinformation. take care, john.