Thread: One Way To Build A Hot Rod Lincoln

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I just found someone to help Ken when he gets to the paint part of the build. She isn't cheap but when money is no object who cares?

Jack.

P.S. I hope this one isn't over the line.

Ken I think we need to return to your framework! How are things progressing? Sorry for the deviations I inadvertantly started here!

Send her over to help me, I could do with a hand

Originally Posted by Jack F

I just found someone to help Ken when he gets to the paint part of the build. She isn't cheap but when money is no object who cares?

Jack.

P.S. I hope this one isn't over the line.

That's one of the cleaner spring shops that I have seen......

Mike in Tucson

Steve,
I'll put you in the queue, she is in big demand.

Jack.

I think I might pay real money to watch the girl in the overalls run a jitterbug sander over Ken's springs.......AND I would pay money to NOT have to watch uncle bob's girl do anything......

mike in tucson

Originally Posted by Jack F

I just found someone to help Ken when he gets to the paint part of the build. She isn't cheap but when money is no object who cares?

Jack.

P.S. I hope this one isn't over the line.

I would like to teach her how to MIG weld See what see does with some of those sparks
Ken

Well i wouldn't mind standing by to rub in any burn cream !!!

Originally Posted by Ken Thurm

I would like to teach her how to MIG weld See what see does with some of those sparks
Ken

uh uh uh.thats is a goos frame rite there!!!

Steve - This is the stuff that makes doing this more fun. Uncle Bob's female library is so BIG I bet he has to put them on a separate computer

Well I went to my guy that does the springs yesterday and got a real education on spring manufacturing.
I'm thinking this is pretty sophisticated stuff in this day and age...Not!
Here is the process,
First they cut the main leaf to the proper length. Then they turn it up on it's edge and make a 45 degree cut the width of the spring. This is done so when the eye is rolled it will lay flat against the width of the spring and make a true 360 degree opening for the bushing. Next it is heated so they can stick it into the manual machine that work's like a stretcher or shrinker, where it crabs the spring with serrations to pull it in and around the mandrel that creates the spring eye. He uses some sort of brass busings like Henry did instead of rubber. Once it's cooled he lays out where the bends will take place. This springs needs to be 40" wide, center of bushings, with a 12" rise in the center for rear end clearance.
This is the part that blew me away, this guy knows from experience how for and in what location to bend this on a manually controlled hydraulic press to get the correct centers and rise. It took him about 5 minutes to finish the main leaf. He made about 3 corrections and he nailed it.
I had to leave, but the front spring and the other rear leafs should be done today. I will follow up with the rest of this as soon as I get them back
Ken

Some more of the spring

[QUOTE=Ken Thurm;422226]Steve - This is the stuff that makes doing this more fun. Uncle Bob's female library is so BIG I bet he has to put them on a separate computer


Ken, the computer at NASA doesn't have enough gigabites to handle kindly old Uncle Bob's collection! You have to figure how much space each one of his cuties takes up!!

You are right about spring shops still operating in the dark ages, kinda like Blacksmiths. When I had the rear spring built for my 27 years ago I got a glimpse of how they do it..........lots of heating cherry red in a kiln and beating into shape with hammers. To show you how prices have changed, the one they did for me 23 years ago was $ 20.00. I had another main leaf made by the same people a couple years ago and it was $ 118.00! I was a little shocked to say the least.


Don

Don,
I still can't get over the skill of this guy that made the springs. To see a real camercial craftsman like this guy these days is rare. He didn't call today, I hope I get them tomorrow so I can drop them off at the heat greater. I'm anxious to polish them, watch after all this heat they won't polish
Ken

Hey Ken, that "looks like" Atlas Leaf Spring in Industry?

They just made me some custom lenght springs for a vintage trailer repair.

Yes John, that's who is doing this. Great family!
Ken