Suicide front end help, much apprrciated!

Posted By: Washburnin

Suicide front end help, much apprrciated! - 01/11/12 05:15 AM

I have 1935 dodge truck with factory suicide doors and want to put a
Suicide front end under it. Im using as an axle a 1950 chevy straight axle.
Has anyone done anything like this and maybe have some pictures and/or advice? Parts or plates needed, batwings? Ive never built a suicide front end so all info is helpful! Thank u!

Washburnin

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: Suicide front end help, much apprrciated! - 01/11/12 06:43 PM

here are a few pics of front ends that might help. Ron...

Posted By: dogdays

Re: Suicide front end help, much apprrciated! - 01/11/12 07:16 PM

With so much talk of suicide I think it's time for an intervention...
R.

Posted By: 36PLYM

Re: Suicide front end help, much apprrciated! - 01/11/12 07:29 PM

Why is it called suicide?

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: Suicide front end help, much apprrciated! - 01/11/12 08:44 PM

Quote:

Why is it called suicide?

I found this explanation

A suicide front end is a straight or dropped tube or I-beam axle mounted in front of a transverse spring.The shackles are mounted to the wishbone or a bracket on hairpins and a single perch on the front of the frame.The term was coined in the thirties when guys used this method to get their cars really low.With no crossmember over the spring and no frame above the axle if any link in the system would fail the frame would drop straight to the ground with deadly results.Running this setup was like playing Russian roulette with your car.Hence the term suicide...

Posted By: bboogieart

Re: Suicide front end help, much apprrciated! - 01/11/12 09:29 PM

Ron those are some great pic's. Any or all of em yours?
I like the pin striped one a lot. That first one looks really scarry. Am I missing something or are there no springs and it is riding on just shocks? I dig the ply wood front runners for mock up. good idea.

Posted By: rrbrucea

Re: Suicide front end help, much apprrciated! - 01/11/12 10:49 PM

First one has leaf springs beneath the frame and axle...

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: Suicide front end help, much apprrciated! - 01/12/12 12:25 AM

Quote:

Ron those are some great pic's. Any or all of em yours?
I like the pin striped one a lot. That first one looks really scarry. Am I missing something or are there no springs and it is riding on just shocks? I dig the ply wood front runners for mock up. good idea.

no none of those are mine, I just saved the pics for Ideas for future projects

Posted By: Washburnin

Re: Suicide front end help, much apprrciated! - 01/12/12 04:22 AM

Those pics are great and i got in touch with a guy by the last name Lahr's outa KY. Since i had a chevy front end no batwings would really work and this guy, Mr. Lahr's makes a whole bolt on suicide kit and pins all for a little over 300.00 if anyone has a chevy front end and wants to make it a suicide Get with me and ill gladly get the number. Also ill post pictures of it just for general references of what his kit looks like after assembly. Thanks for the pics posted again its very much appreciated!

Posted By: Bull1tt

Re: Suicide front end help, much apprrciated! - 01/12/12 02:24 PM

Yep, Ron Lahr. I bought the same setup a while back. Designed for parallel leaf spring axles to mount a transverse spring onto. Any make axle can be used.

Posted By: Washburnin

Re: Suicide front end help, much apprrciated! - 01/12/12 08:14 PM

Any pictures of it? Id love to see what the final product can and should look like for reference. When i spoke to mr. Lahr's on the phone he was totally the most helpful guy one could ask for and just over the phone was knowledgable enough to know and solve my problems. Thanks everyone for all the help!

Posted By: bboogieart

Re: Suicide front end help, much apprrciated! - 01/13/12 12:51 AM

Quote:

First one has leaf springs beneath the frame and axle...

I see em now, kinda hidden. Those must be a half spring each side.
Still looks scarry, probably the idea, huh?

Posted By: bboogieart

Re: Suicide front end help, much apprrciated! - 01/13/12 12:54 AM

Quote:

no, none of those are mine, I just saved the pics for Ideas for future projects

right, makes sence.

Posted By: moparx

Re: Suicide front end help, much apprrciated! - 01/13/12 02:13 AM

Quote:

Quote:

First one has leaf springs beneath the frame and axle...

I see em now, kinda hidden. Those must be a half spring each side.
Still looks scarry, probably the idea, huh?

that is called a "quarter elliptic" suspension. can be a good choice in some instances.