[gator412]

Hi all,

I have a 1955 2nd series Chevy truck that I will be replacing the leaf spring shackles and the front pins. I was wondering how can I tell if I have all the tension / pressure of the leaf springs so I do not have it "pop" out and possible hurt me. Or will it even pop out? Just trying to be safe here.

I did do a search but didn't find anything about this. Thanks in advance for the help.

James

[cboy]

James,

I see you are from CA so this might not be a problem for you. But here in the midwest a '55 (or even an '85) will have the shackles pretty much seized with rust and corrosion. Have you checked yet to see if you can even loosen them up? When I took apart my '81 F-150 I couldn't salvage anything except a couple of the leafs. Even with the torch I couldn't get some of the stuff apart. Hopefully yours will be in much better shape. Just be forewarned that they can be a real bear if there is too much corrosion.

[willys36@aol.com]

Jack up the frame with the jack lifting the frame or bumper. Lift it until the wheels just touch the floor which will guarantee all the load is off the springs. Put jack stands under the frame rails just behind the springs and you can strip out the whole suspension and replace it easily.

[gator412]

Thanks guys for the answers..

Cboy, I do have rust on the springs but it is just surface rust and dirt. I am putting in power steering and had to move the drivers side lower shock mount from the front to the rear of the spring at the axle. The bottom leaf was slightly angled so I tapped it with a hammer a couple of times and it aligned right back up. This leads me to believe the leafs are not rust welded together. Thanks for the help

Willys36, thanks again for the help. I will do as you say on the post. This is the second time you have helped me! Maybe I'll just bring my truck to Bakersfield...your not to far away..... But really thanks again. (I'll post a pic of the finished steering column you helped me with later)

[willys36@aol.com]

I keep threatening to take the Willys to the Passo car show but never do. You should start a Project Journal so we can follow along on your progress. Since you are going w/ power steering have you considered my super-duper Monte Carlo clip conversion? See it in my Project Journal.

cboy; Don't forget, this is KALIFORNIA! If it weren't for all the rivers coming out of the Sierras and providing lots of irrigation water, 75% of this state would be a world class desert! About the only rust we ever see is in picture post cards and the Project Journals of you poor souls in the rust belt!

[poncho62]

Is that why you Kalifornians are so "mellow"?

Don't have to worry about all that *&%$$^ RUST..........................

[gator412]

Hey Willys36, I like the straight axle look in the front so there will be no grafting for me. I am trying to make a daily driver but want an old look also.

I was looking at how to start a journal...so I will get one going today.

Thanks again for everyones help....ahh Poncho, yea we are like mellow yellow (refer to willys36 car color) here on the left coast dude.

[willys36@aol.com]

Originally Posted by poncho62

Is that why you Kalifornians are so "mellow"?

Don't have to worry about all that *&%$$^ RUST..........................

Yep.

Originally Posted by gator412

Hey Willys36, I like the straight axle look in the front so there will be no grafting for me. I am trying to make a daily driver but want an old look also.

I was looking at how to start a journal...so I will get one going today.

Thanks again for everyones help....ahh Poncho, yea we are like mellow yellow (refer to willys36 car color) here on the left coast dude.

OK, I did the same thing on my '53. How about adapting a Toyota Land Cruiser PS gear like I did? Keeps the stock look w/ power.

[gator412]

I bought the Chevy Duty kit for installing a 70's Chevy steering box. I am almost through with the install. I used a jeep steering joint set up. I had to adapt the original rag joint with the box to fit the jeep steering joints. It all turned out pretty good. I need to take some pics of the jeep steering joints and shaft. I am waiting on the power steering pump brackets from CPP. The next hurdle will be the pulleys. But I think I will be OK due to the engine set up with a double pulley already...we'll see.

One thing I noticed about the jeep steering joints and shaft are that they are out of phase. Everything I read says the u-joints should be aligned. But the jeep ones are not. Go figure.