What to do with the springs?

powerwagontim · Post by **powerwagontim** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 5:12 pm

OK, as the cab nears completion, I need to get my butt in gear and get the frame ready. I will have it blasted and do the paint myself. My question is the springs. I have heard of folks disassembling the spring packs, sandblasting each leaf, painting or powder coating each ndividual leaf and reassembling, sometimes even putting delrin sheets between the leaves so they are not rubbing on each other. Sounds good, but way more intensive than I feel like doing. Seems like sandblasting the assembled spring packs and painting them would look nice for a week or so, then be all rusty again, What are your thoughts on this?
Thanks,
Tim

W_A_Watson_II · Post by **W_A_Watson_II** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 5:38 pm

Tim,

I pulled the rear's compliantly apart and painted and re-assembled. I pulled the front apart as for as I could with out unfolding the tabs that hold a few of the leafs in, and painted and reassembled them. If I had come across some delrin or thin UHMW I'd put it in. However I get great flex out of my springs as with what I did. I do recommend the disassembley and painting as a minimum.

powerwagontim · Post by **powerwagontim** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 5:56 pm

Hi Will,
That seems to be the consensus over on the Power Wagon Forum too. What did you use for paint?
Thanks,
Tim

W_A_Watson_II · Post by **W_A_Watson_II** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 6:03 pm

When I did it in MI I used POR-15. When I replaced the fronts (weak) with NOS (from Vintage) I didn't have any good POR-15 left, so I used Krylon.

The sprint in the front is the one I did in MI with POR-15, the other two are the NOS that I took apart and painted with Krylon. the front spring is dirty, no that paint stayed on. The old fronts I had a block under to get the necessary clearances, the NOS have "added" leafs. I used new 3/8" G-8 bolts for the spring packs with Nylon Locking Nuts, and the bolt heads fit snugly into the axle with no modification so the axle is securely aligned and the packs tightly assembled.

Rick C · Post by **Rick C** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:35 am

I need to replace my fronts. What does VPW charge for NOS??
Thanks
Rick C

Post by **Cal_Gary** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 5:01 am

Hi Rick,
I got mine from VPW about 3 years ago at $100 each + shipping.
Gary

powerwagontim · Post by **powerwagontim** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 5:24 am

Anyone have the specs on a new spring? I.E. what should the arch be when its just sitting on the bench? With this info, I could assess the condition of the various sets I have here. Also, it appears that the winch trucks got the same front spring packs as the non winch trucks. My inclination is to use a set I have from a non winch truck as they wont have had the additional weight of the winch sitting on them for the last 50 or so years.
Thanks,
Tim

Post by **Cal_Gary** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 4:48 am

I have no specs info other than the arch measurement which should be 5.25 inches.
Gary

powerwagontim · Post by **powerwagontim** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 7:57 am

Thanks Gary,
Is that for the front or the rear spring?
Tim

Post by **Cal_Gary** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 6:40 am

Sorry I should have specified-front springs 5.25 inches. I don't know about the back.
Gary

Post by **Cal_Gary** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 2:12 am

I know this is a dirt-old post but I finally got the REAR spring arch by measuring my recently purchased springs-the arch is 8 and 1/4 inch from straight-line center of the mounting holes down to the top of the spring pack.
Gary

hbb · Post by **hbb** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 8:50 am

Gary
Have you checked on having yours re arched? that is a simple and cheap way of regaining the ride hight that you are looking for and they will keep that arch as long as you do not over load them. just a thought!

hb

Post by **Cal_Gary** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 4:38 pm

Mine have broken leaves, and John Bizal hooked me up on a new pair last year. I'm going to try posting these pictures in a moment.
Gary

hbb · Post by **hbb** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 8:35 pm

Gary
Broken leaves make it a whole different affair!

hb

What to do with the springs?

What to do with the springs?

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