Well I took a couple of hours to start this job today. As I suspected, the right rear spring has at least two broken leaves, and the front U-Bolt is frozen in place. Everything else loosened up ok so I stopped after lathering up the U-Bolt area where it passes through the mounting perch. Hopefully this will free it up ( I also have a bottle jack waiting to "influence it" upward, and a torch with MAPP gas if the bottle jack option fails). Felt good to get back at it-procrastination was creeping in and I was feeling guilty. Of all things, my wife is now recommending that we make the ALCAN Highway convoy next year, so I better get to work!
Oh, I also pulled the fuel tank and am having it hot-tanked and resealed. I passed on the full-on tank job (primer, paint, dent repair) because the guy insisted on cutting open the tank to get at the side baffles. Since the tank looked 95% clean inside I went with the more economic option = no cutting.
I will now be able to weld in the missing well nut for the bed access panel, too.
More to follow,
Gary
Last edited by Cal_Gary on Fri Jun 17, 2011 5:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Cal_Gary
1954 M37 W/W
MVPA Correspondent #28500
G741.org Forum member since 2004
Gary,
Leaf springs, fun. I recall having a time getting my u-bolts out as well. Enjoy your repairs.
That ALCAN trip looks like it is going to be fantastic. It would be fun to bunk in the back of the M in the Alaskan wilderness. I thought about it, however I would need to find a sponsor for the fuel cost for the trip and having to flatbed my rig to the BC starting point
David
HingsingM37
1958 M37B1
1968 M101A1 Trailer
MVPA# 33078
"Do Not Take Counsel of Your Fears"
General George S. Patton Jr.
"Those who pound their guns into plows, will plow for those who do not".
You might have noticed in the Swap section that I'm looking for a rear U-bolt. That is because my frozen one refused to budge. I ended up with my Dremel tool cutting both sides in order to free the spring from the mounting. Once I cut through, I removed each spring pin retaining nut and bolt then cranked out both spring pins with my impact wrench. Of course, both spring pins and the spring shackle and bushing are wallowed out so bad that I've had to order replacements. Those pins aren't cheap-$25 bucks each and I'm ordering for both sides-that's $150 and I must also replace the spring shackles (and the aforementioned U-bolt).
So after I got the broken spring out I removed the lower shock nut and bushing, carried the lower spring shock mount out into "swinging" range then used my Mapp gas torch to heat the area around the now-former U-bolt remnants then drove them out of the mount with a BFH. I then set the new spring into place and saw first-hand just how much arch I'd lost with those dead-tired springs. Since I'm waiting on mounting hardware I will now weld up the missing well nut as well as re-welding part of the rear cross-menber (yeah, someone ripped it out at some point before I bought the truck). Since the fuel tank is still in the radiator shop I don't have to worry about welding too close-there is also ample room to get under and tack it up.
More to follow,
Gary
Oh yeah Joe, I'm taking pix and will see if I can download them this weekend....
Cal_Gary
1954 M37 W/W
MVPA Correspondent #28500
G741.org Forum member since 2004
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