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Hi everyone,

I'm getting ready to set the cab back on the frame (even if it is only temporary) and I am wondering as to what is the purpose of the springs on the cab bolts? Was the engineering thought that it would give the cab more flexablility when off roading? Does it somehow provide a smother ride? Any thoughts on a better way to engineer the system to make it more modern?

Good 4 question....I don't want to play 20 questions today...

Thanks in adavance for your help.

I think it is for flexibility off road allows the cab and frame more movement. That way body mounts won't crack or bend. Just my 2 cents worth.

Correct-it's for flexibility. Don't crank the nuts down so tight that there isn't any gap within the springs-this defeats the purpose.
Gary

What doesn't make sense to my little brain is that three out of the four bolts have springs (Ok I get the flexing part) but the front drivers side one doesn't. What's up with that?

The cab would wander around on it's mount too much if all 4 had springs. There would be extra wear on the steering column also if that part of the cab wasn't bolted tight.

Ah ok... I get it. I wonder how the truck would do if one bolted the body to the frame using rubber body mounts much like what is used on modern trucks eliminating the springs? Of course the steer colume would be modified for power steering with and hanging brake peddles.

It would work fine because I don't think you will be doing cross country driving on rough terrain in a fully loaded truck.

Just be sure to match the rubber bushing height to the spring height. Spring height should be measured compressed as if the cab were installed.

T. Highway wrote:It would work fine because I don't think you will be doing cross country driving on rough terrain in a fully loaded truck.

Why do you say this? Are you implying that I will never drive the truck off road with a full load? Or are you saying that it wouldn't work in that kind of condition? I'm looking for a workable alternative to the traditional set up can you elaborate?

Are you thinking of placing the mounts between the cab and the chassis at all 4 points like on modern trucks ? I would say that as long as you are going to re-work the steering column and pedals you will not have any problems. The springs that your thinking of replacing with "Rubber mounts" are below the chassis mount so you would not have to compensate for any height. But you are going to have a problem with fitting the sheet metal. fenders, hood... What do you think ?

Sal

I wondered that myself. The original set has a thin rubber pad or fiber paper gasket type material which I think was more for antisqueek than anything else. They were what maybe 1/4 inch think? So if I used a modern rubber bushing even at 1" thick I would have to adjust the front sheet metal accordingly. This is why I'm asking the question.

Has anyone done this before with any success or am I blazing a new trail here?

What would be the benefit of re-engineering the cab mounts? The original setup seems to work pretty well.

Brett

Brett wrote:What would be the benefit of re-engineering the cab mounts? The original setup seems to work pretty well.

Brett

I am with Bret’s thinking, but I also understand your questioning the system and why it was built the way it was. I guess that is 60 year old engineering methods. It made someone appear to be real smart in the coach works.

hb

If you build a frame to flex adequately for serious off road use you must also attach a body in a way that can tolerate the frame's flexing. The Dodge Boys had their thinking caps on back then. I doubt it was a grandstanding effort by anyone in Coach!

Grandstanding or not they were made that way because an enginer said so! and the military bought it!

hb