Getting ready to tidy up the rear end on my '66. Obviously the PO cut the spring and made some modifications but I'm not sure what he did or why. Does anyone have a clue what he did here? guessing lowered a bit and de-stiffened the springs.

Also, does anyone have a pic of an original setup?

 

I dont know how many springs are original, but It would seem to me like that extra one was added to allow it to carry more weight without flexing as much. Its jerry-rigged thats for sure.

 

It looks like the PO added a Helwig helper spring set, and then later cut most of it off!

 

It would appear that your truck may have been used to haul a D9 Caterpillar Bulldozer in the bed at one time.

 

anyone have pics of a stock setup?

 

Sorry mine is an F250 with 11 leaves per side in the rear, quite a stack of metal!

 

i have a couple of pics.






mine are 5 pack springs, i think they came in 7, 9 and 11 spring packs as well

 

the springs that you have are the same as my '66
only someone hacked the ends off of the auxiliary
leaf.
Yeep, it's a hack job alright.
I think that they came with like, 3 different leaf
configurations for different load limits that one is
the middle one, 1650 lbs. Me thinks. I saw that on here
somewhere.
they obviously annoyed the owner of a torch at one
time in the trucks life.

 

where would one find a replacement auxiliary leaf? Is there a part number?

 

here is a link to John's F-funhundreds, if they don't have it, they will know where to go.. But I would start in the junk yards first of all!

https://secure25.securewebsession.co...shop/index.htm

 

As far as function, your pics look like it would work like original.

Cutting ends off shouldn't have lowered ride height any.

(As others have said)At sometime someone added a aftermarket "overload spring" which didn't effect ride when the truck was "empty". When loaded heavy enough, the overload spring would touch the extra brackets bolted to the frame and start helping hold up the load.
Later someone torched the ends of the added leaf off for whatever reason making it all useless.

Yes I would want to remove it, but it would be to tidy it up as you said. Wouldn't be any other effect.
Bad part is you need to round up some stock length u-bolts & possibly u-bolt plates & misc.

 

C3TZ-5588-A .. Auxillary Spring-Use w/5 leaf spring pack-1963/66 & 6 leaf spring pack-1963/65 only / Obsolete

No Ford Dealer or obsolete parts vendor has any.

"As original" 1965/66 F100 2WD:

5 leaf, 950 lb. load rating.

6 leaf, 1,250 lb. load rating.

9 leaf, 1,650 lb. load rating.

Any spring shop can make new springs, but do you really need it?

Your truck has the 5 pack spring set. If you don't require the extra spring, either leave the remains of the auxillary spring in place or remove it.

If you remove it, you will have to replace the U-bolts, as they're too long to use w/just 5 leafs.
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1965 F100 4WD as original: 7 leaf, 1,450 lb. load rating; 11 leaf, 1,950 lb. load rating.

1966/69 F100 4WD as original: 6 leaf, 1,250 load rating; 9 leaf, 1,650 lb. load rating.

 

I used to have a heavier set in my truck but I had a fab shop build me factory spec 950 lb set. Rides much nicer. For those heavier loads, I have a set of 2,500 lb air bags I installed. Have had the air bags in for 15 yrs now. Work great. The air pump is mounted on the frame just under the cab. The air control/gage in mounted under the dash.
Nice set up.

 

The pic in post #7 has a good view of
the axle vent hose and how it is attached
to the frame, that was discussed a while
back, looks original.
Mine was rotted off and plugged.
Caught that when I did the brakes.
Just tryin' to build me some post #s
Peace

 

I think I found an auxiliary spring at the pullapart. This one is off of a '65. Might need a coupla bumpes but it looks to be in decent condition. Is there any way to tell from my VIN tag which springs came on this truck originally?
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