Thanks guys for the input.
Being that these are old springs, I might consider the monoleaf option as
this will ultimately force me to replace the shackle pins.
As a side story:
I spent Saturday the 3rd relocating the driver's side shock mount.
Story is that the PO had it positioned incorrectly after installing power
steering. The result of this was a 11.4" inch distance (at rest)
mount-to-mount. Passenger side is 15.75" at rest. The shock was always
bottomed out...duh!
I went to Pacific Truck bone yard in Sun Valley CA and picked up the
passenger upper and lower mounting brackets. The existing upper mount on
the driver's side was torched when they welded it on leaving me with no
choice but to grind it off.
I then got the passenger side lower mount from the junkyard, swapped the
U-bolts, and remounted it pointing towards the rear. I used a strip of
wood drilled out to the passenger side length, positioned the upper mount,
and bolted it to the frame accordingly.
With the shocks having ample stroke, handling is much better.
Added note to you So. Cal truckers, Pacific Truck is right off of the 5
freeway on Sheldon St. in Sun Valley. They had some mightly interesting
stuff on their lot!
Tom B. '57 Stepside 3200
-----Original Message-----
From: craig k [SMTP:soundex@eden.com]
Sent: Saturday, July 03, 1999 6:31 PM
To: oletrucks@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [oletrucks] Leaf Spring Mods
>I have seen folks do this and it does make quiet a difference in the
>stance of the truck. If you count the longest leaf, which is one attached
>to the truck as 1, You will need to keep the 2cd one to keep the
>first one from developing a bow in it. I've seen folks remove the 3rd,
>5th or in other words every other one.
beleive me, this will dramatically alter the stance!
our truck had 1/2 the leaves deleted like this, and FAT tires when we got
it... sat about 5 inches of the ground.
rode like h*ck, steered like an oil tanker. bottomed out on to the rubber
stops when going over anthills.
replaced the springs, put on stock tires, much prefer the ride now.
steering box, however, is toast from the strain of turning those fatty
tires at low speed.
two comments: i think buying those monoleaf springs DESIGNED to lower the
truck is far more effecient (and, being new steel, they will actually have
some bounce left in them, something your old, cutup ones will not).
also, removing leaves will make your shocks take more of the load, and you
risk breaking the shock mounts.
just MHO.........
craig
caretaker of
stephanie's 50 3104 216 5-window deluxe
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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