The Chassis

Image Standard front spring mounts
The front spring sits on top of the axel in its standard mount.
Speedster front
The front spring has been moved back from its standard position.
Image
Image
From the Laurel brochure of the day
Standard spring attachment to rear
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Image
Lowering the rear
This page details the modifications to the frame and suspension of the vehicle.

Front lowering.

When the front spring is moved back from its standard position, it effectively increases the wheelbase by the width of the spring. This results in a wheelbase increase of approximately 5cm.

Modification of the height of the vehicle results in other modification requirements. Firstly, the radius rods.

In the top photo, these are the rods that run from underneath the axle at the spring joint and meet at the transmission case where they are secured.

In the speedster, the standard radius rods have been kept. But because the vehicle is not effectively 5cm longer at the front, the radius rods require a new bracket to affix to the front axle. In the 2nd photo, this results in the large bracket holding the spring.

This type of modification also requires a longer starter crank handle.

Rear Lowering

In the first photo, you can see the standard model T rear leaf spring mount. The spring bracket attaches directly to the rear of the frame - highlighted.

To lower the rear, a bracket is fitted to the rear of the frame (where the standard springs attach - highlighted) which has the effect of raising the height of the location that the rear spring attaches to the vehicle - thus lowering the car.

As is the case today, vehicle engineers knew back then that an increased wheelbase and lower center of gravity provided better handling to the Model T.



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