Keeping you in Suspense
Okay, so R&C isn't a truck magazine, but we know virtually all of you run a truck as a parts chaser, not to mention that more early trucks are being built as rods or customs as they offer affordable early body styles. However, the hard-riding stiff truck suspension, especially in the rear, can get worn pretty quickly. Total Cost Involved obviously thought so too, hence their new leaf spring kit for '37-54 Chevy trucks.
Though the axle pads require welding to the housing, the remainder of the kit is a bolt-in deal, including 2 inch lower-than-stock leaf springs, shackles, shock absorbers, mounting brackets, axle U-bolts, lower shock plates and upper mounts on a crossmember, hardware and instructions. Sounds like the perfect way to easily add strength and durability to your pickup's rearend! For more information contact TCI at (866) 925-1102 or www.totalcostinvolved.com.
Fill 'er Up
If you have a brake master cylinder under the floor, it's not always in a position that's ideal for an access door, such as under the seat, but you'll need to be able to access it when it comes time to top off the fluid. Or maybe you won't, especially if you are using a Mustang or Corvette style master cylinder, as A Plus Rod and Kustom offers these neat remote fluid reservoirs for just such applications. The master may be under the floor, but filling the fluid is easy with the remote reservoir mounted on the firewall, or even inside the car if you're a smooth firewall fan.
Available with standard black rubber hose, or the optional stainless braided hose as shown, the kit includes the aluminum remote reservoir and bracket, hose (in 36- or 48-inch length if you opt for the braided version), fittings, and a ball-milled master cylinder cap and brackets. For more information contact A Plus Rod and Kustom at (812) 925-6710 or www.aplusrodandkustom.com.
Getting Air
As air suspension gets ever more technical, AccuAir has released a new line called e-Level, electronic leveling systems and air management packages that offer a range of features, such as: Three programmable heights, TruPosition height sensors that provide accurate leveling regardless of load, a Touchpad that accesses the three programmable heights and controls each individual air spring or front and rear as a pair, a Plug-n-play wiring harness for ease of installation, and a key chain remote.
The e-Level also offers a number if industry firsts, such as a Ride Monitor Mode that adjusts as needed while driving or parked, anti cross-loading for balanced spring weights, automatic calibration to any air suspension system on any vehicle with no user programming required, and the capability to monitor vehicle voltage by automatically turning off the compressor at 10 1/2 volts to prevent a dead battery. For more information contact AccuAir at (877) 247-3696 or www.accuairsuspension.com.
Get in Line
If you've mounted brake and clutch master cylinders under the floorboards in your project you'll know what limited clearance is left over for running the exhaust. Heck, even a single brake master cylinder takes up most of the space! Engineered Components Inc. has run into the same problems, prompting the introduction of its new under-floor inline brake and clutch pedal assembly. The unique design uses an offset bellcrank allowing the master cylinder or booster to be mounted behind and inline with the clutch master, providing more clearance for pedal linkages and exhausts.
An added advantage is that the pedals and pivot shaft are installed from the front, requiring virtually no side clearance for their installation. Mounting systems are available for a number of boosted and manual installations and are supplied with pedal pads and hardware. New ECI "Full Round' and "Flat Round" pedals are available as an option. For more information contact Engineered Components Inc at (860) 872-7046 or www.ecihotrodbrakes.com.
Fender Benders
Whether you're replacing tired old originals or building a new car, Brookville's new 18-gauge fenders are faithful replicas of Henry's originals, and you'll be hard pressed to tell them from NOS items. The fenders feature all the original contours and mounting holes, and are edged just like the originals by Brookville's craftsmen on the same type of beading machines used by FoMoCo back in 1932.
Famed of late for their complete roadster and coupe bodies, Brookville has been producing precision body parts for over 36 years, and can also supply '32 rear fenders as well as a full set of Model A fenders and valances. For more information contact Brookville Roadster Inc at (937) 833-4605, or www.brookvilleroadster.com.
Boxing Rings
If you own a plasma cutter, making your own boxing plates isn't too much of a chore, but you'll never match the die stamped belled holes that these cool boxing plates from Ionia Hot Rod Shop have in them! The same holes are also available in the company's center crossmember kits for A-V8 and '32 Ford chassis. The boxing plates incorporate the C-notch design of the JW Rod Garage frame rails, while the crossmember is a C-channel X-member with universal floating transmission plates, featuring both round and oval belled holes along with pedal assembly provisions.
Both products are constructed from 10-gauge hot rolled, pickled and oiled steel, providing a clean welding surface that prevents scaling, with the transmission plates made from 7-gauge. For more information contact Ionia Hot Rod Shop at (616) 527-6051.