Cab Spring Bolts

[jrodjared]

Does anyone know where I can buy these bolts with springs in them? They were for securing the cab to the frame.

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Here I have a long and a short one. It's hard to tell but I think the long one goes on the rear and the short one on the front, one on each side? Is that right?

Vintage says they don't sell anything like it and I should just use a plain bolt. I'm calling BS. Thoughts?

[RMS]

you are correct that two long bolts go in the rear. the sort one goes on the passenger side front and fixed (no spring) on the front driver side due to the death shaft steering column.

I would replace the shat grade stock bolt with a grade 8 and drill a new hole for the pin. if your short on springs a valve spring may do the trick.

[just me]

Just use a flange bolt or bolt and washer. You can determine (well enough) the spring rate by measurements. Replace the springs with die springs from your local industrial supply. You can stack two short ones with a washer between them.

[isaac_alaska]

another great source for hardware like this is usually mcmaster-carr
i'd be surprised if you can't find something that will fit the bill nicely

[jrodjared]

Sweet thanks for the placement info guys. It's been so long since I had the truck in one piece it's hard to remember how it all goes!

[Kaegi]

if the nuts screw on fine and not rusted on the shaft why replace? those bolts are huge and never fail. they didn't have the modern grading system back then but those bolts would probably test at about a grade 5.

[jrodjared]

The bolts were all around rough with the heads practically pitted down to nothing. Since I was in there I wanted to make them look somewhat uniform. First I tried Home Depot which was a waste of time, then I went to a local fastener supply place. Of course they had what I needed.

2x 8"x1/2" bolts with crown nuts
2x 5"x5/8" bolts with crown nuts
2" and 1.5" washers
Springs as needed
Cotter pins as needed

I was able to reuse the springs I had. They were a bit pitted but still serviceable.

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I haven't installed them yet so I can't confirm that it's going to work, but they look identical to what I took off so I don't see why it won't. I'll take a pic of it once they are in.

[Kaegi]

does m37 use a wood block under the front left mount with no spring like the WCs? what do they use under the rest of the mounts?

[jrodjared]

Not quite sure, maybe someone can else can chime in here? I actually have a block of wood under there now. Not sure what is supposed to be there.

[just me]

Look in the body and power train manual. It shows all the mounts and hardware.

[jrodjared]

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OK so after looking in the manual I found this nifty little diagram. I forgot that when I talked to Vintage about the bolts which they didn't sell, they did recommend these rubber pads (where it says B-Pad). The manual calls for one on each, but they said best to double up. Figured what the heck can't hurt anything. I did have to widen the hole a bit for the bolts to fit through.

So far I've got three of the four installed. They went in pretty easy. I should get the last one done tomorrow. Hope this helps someone down the road!

[Kaegi]

nice diagram thanks. answers my questions. I have a hunk of conveyor belt I cut stuff like that out of. really tough stuff.

[Elwood]

Hmmm...I was checking the cab mounting bolts and three springs in my pile of parts that used to be an M37, and noticed that I have a similar arrangement of two springs that match the description in the ORD 9 SNL parts book, and which were on the rear mounts if my memory is correct. But the third spring is larger in diameter (1.290") and slightly shorter(3-5/8" uncompressed). Not sure about the bolts, as I had to destroy two of them to remove the cab, but the two remaining ones are long and match the dimensions from the parts book.

Except the the book (section 1801) shows that all three of the springs and associated bolts should be the same. And yet, fig. 211 in TM 9-8030 (the one that jrodjared posted a photo of) seems to show different size springs between the rears and the right front mounts. So which one is correct?

[06boblee]

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All 3 of mine are the same size, '54.

[Elwood]

Thanks for posting that photo. Those springs look new!