You would have thought a guy who owned a chrome shop would have known enough to bake off the hydrogen to eliminate the embrittlement! Goes back to my 20 years experience vs 1 years experience 20 times thing.

Could only find one picture of a Woods chassis and it is copyright protected. So here's a link: http://www.hotrodhotline.com/bazaar2/feacars/fc6877.php
Notice the springs are horizontal behind the axle, in front of the front crossmember. Never drove one, but since it didn't catch on I suspect it left something to be desired.