| mhsprecher | -- 05-21-2017 @ 2:42 AM |
|
The front spring shackles on my 45 1/2 ton are worn. I have bought all new parts from C&G and plan to replace them next weekend with the help of an experienced friend. I would appreciate comments from others who have replaced theirs. The 42-47 trucks have a pair of semi-elliptical springs rather than the transverse spring found on other Ford products of the era. I am planning on removing the springs and pressing in the new bushings. Any helpful tips to share? How are the repro parts in terms of fit and quality? Thanks!
|
|
| len47merc | -- 05-21-2017 @ 4:27 AM |
|
Qualify up front I am not coversant on trucks but have performed this on '46 - '48 cars now 3 times. And I slept at a Holiday Inn Express last night. Assuming by 'bushings' you are referring to the shackle studs, one suggestion is to place the studs in the freezer the night before install. The few thousanths of tolerance you gain will ease insertion into the perches and help prevent distortion/mushrooming/damage on installation, particularly if you do not have the tool designed to remove and install them and plan on 'tapping' them out and in with hammers. Btw - shackles I've seen from C&G were later found to have been provided to them by Dennis Carpenter. Steve
|
|
| len47merc | -- 05-21-2017 @ 4:28 AM |
|
Wow - 1st time I recall doing that. Apologies for the double post - not sure how that happened. Perhaps another cup of coffee was in order before getting on the Forum this morning. Editing/deleting the double post herein. Steve This message was edited by len47merc on 5-21-17 @ 6:28 AM
|
|
| mhsprecher | -- 05-21-2017 @ 6:31 AM |
|
There is a shackle bolt and a bushing that goes into the spring eye. I bought the whole works, including the hangers. I like your freezer idea, though. It is worth a try!
|
|
| 42oink | -- 05-22-2017 @ 10:58 AM |
|
Greetings, When you say you are replacing the shackles on the front of your '45 1/2T and you have all the parts, are you talking about the bar that goes through the spring eye and the shackle bars (2 each side) ? If the shackle bars, inner and outer, aren't marked with the 21C- 5--- number, I have some NOS ones if you would prefer. Let me know. 42oink
|
|
| len47merc | -- 05-22-2017 @ 12:08 PM |
|
Just to qualify further mhsprecher, I was not referring to the bottom bolt and bushing of the shackle assembly that goes through the spring eye when I was referring to placing the shackle studs into the freezer overnight. I was referring to the top solid shackle studs or 'pins' of the shackle assembly that have to be driven or pressed out of their perches on the axles and then driven or pressed back in. The perches, on a car anyway and I am assuming on a 1/2 ton truck would be the same (assumptions are a dangerous thing I know), are on a bracket/arm attached to the axle and typically the bottom end of a Houdaille shock link is attached to the same bracket/arm. The shackle sets that I have purchased in the past contained these studs as well, given typically the ends become worn from the rotating sides of the shackels (as do the sides themselves). Freezing these studs/pins overnight makes the insertion process much easier. Perhaps I misinterpreted your reply - just want to make sure my comments were clear. Good luck! Steve
|
|
| mhsprecher | -- 05-22-2017 @ 4:05 PM |
|
I bought the brackets for each side, they look a little like figure 8s, the bolts that go through the spring eye and the bushing associated with that bolt. The rears are the problem. Two bolts each side. NOS would be nice, but I have what I have and want to work on the truck this weekend. The truck is a nice restoration, but is not concours level. The shackles, front and rear, attach to the frame. The shock link goes from the shock to the axle mid spring. The springs are a more modern arrangement, parallel semi elliptical springs, than what is typical of Fords of that vintage. An interesting change for 1942, given that the cars kept the old arrangement up to 1948. Change was coming while Henry was still around. My truck has an open drive shaft, too. I am out of town. When I get back home, I will take some photos and attach them so you all can see what I am looking to replace.
|
|
| mhsprecher | -- 05-29-2017 @ 7:04 AM |
|
I got the springs removed and the shackles out. Not an awful job, taking about three hours. I jacked the truck up and put jack stands just aft of the spring hangers, letting the front end droop enough to take the load off of the springs. The bolts came out easily. I then removed the springs. The shackle bolts were very worn, as were at least two of the bushings. The hardest part was using a hack saw to cut the old upper bushings out. With a press, the bushings came out of the springs easily. One even fell out and required brass shim to get the new one to stay in. My next chore is to disassemble the springs and apply a graphite spray between the leaves. The shock links are giving me some trouble coming out. I have NOS ones ordered from Southside Obsolete. Hopefully they will arrive in the next couple of days. I am looking forward to getting the truck back on the road see how it drives with the new parts. It wasn't bad before, surprisingly.
|
|
| mhsprecher | -- 07-16-2017 @ 7:57 AM |
|
Here are some photos of the project. This message was edited by mhsprecher on 7-16-17 @ 7:58 AM
|
|
| mhsprecher | -- 07-16-2017 @ 8:00 AM |
|
I had to add the photos one at a time.
|
|
| mhsprecher | -- 07-16-2017 @ 8:02 AM |
|
Old shackles. Lots of wear.
|
|
| EFV-8 Club Forum : | https://www.earlyfordv8.org/forum |
| Topic: | https://www.earlyfordv8.org/forum/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=17&Topic=10777 |