I'll soon be adding power disks to my 66 custom cab shortbed. I'm installing all new steering components, suspension bushings, wheel bearings etc. I figure to get the tightest, most quiet and smoothest ride possible, I'll start there.

But I wonder about other things I can do. The first thing I did when I bought it 6 months ago was to replace the u-joints. Still, I get some driveline vibration (I think that's what I feel).

Questions:

1) Anyone out there ever have your driveshaft balanced? Did it make any difference?

2) Cab to frame mounts: on one of my rear cab mounts the nut is not on one of the bolts.. The bolt does not extend through the "buscuit" far enough to get a nut started. It looks like the bolt is located behind the gas tank. I tried to grip it underneath with vise grip pliers to pull it through, but I couldn't budge it. The mounts look good however.

3) Bed to frame mounts. Mine does not have the rubber washers here.... should I install them?

4) Singing bed at 50-55 mph. Right at 50-55, I get one heck of a sound that sounds like it comes from the bed of the truck. I took a rubber mallet to the inside of the bed to see if there was a lose panel or something..couldn't find one. Clues anyone?

Any other advise on getting the smoothest possible ride? Of course I've had the tires all dynamic balanced, I guess I could go a step farther and have them balanced on the truck. Any advise is much appreciated.
Ken

 

[FONT COLOR="#0000ff" SIZE="3" FACE="Veranda"]
Don't forget to get the rear drums balanced and change your muffler bearings. :-) There's no limit to what you can do to try and improve ride. Somethings will make a difference others will be splitting hairs. Try to remember that this is a 60's era vehicle. [/FONT]

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Hi, A couple years ago I bought a 76 supercab ranger and it had a vibration that started at 40mph and stayed till 54mph. This turned out to be a small dent in the driveline as I had it replaced for 250.00 at the shop and the problem was gone.The carier bearing I had already replaced and the problem was not solved but I was told it too can have quite an effect on smoothness of ride. Lane

 

A few years ago I had a vibration that drove me crazy. After hounding my tire dealer numerous times for re-balance, re-truing, and anything else we could think of, they sent the drive-shafts to machine shop for check. The shop installed new u-joints at an exorbitant cost and then tack-welded lots of weights all over them. Guess what? Still had the problem. So I then took the rear shaft to a good friend with an industrial-strength lathe. He immediately chisled off ALL the weights while I cringed in the corner after having spent a lot of money on them, and then set about truing up the shaft on the lathe. He would use a monster "cherry" tip on acetylene torch to heat the protruding areas, and then immediately quench them with wet cloths. Took him about 15 minutes to get the dial indicator readings good enough to suit him, and my ride was absolutely calm after that. Guess the moral to this long story is you have to find somebody interested and willing to take the time to do it right!?! It probably won't be a money-maker for whoever does it. Good Luck, Steve

 

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 15-Feb-01 AT 00:49 AM (EST)[/font][p]>Questions:
>3) Bed to frame mounts. Mine does not have the rubber washers here.... should I install them?

No, the bed should lay right on the frame.


>4) Singing bed at 50-55 mph. Right at 50-55, I get one heck of a sound that sounds like it comes from the bed of the truck. I took a rubber mallet to the inside of the bed to see if there was a lose panel or something..couldn't find one. Clues anyone?

Install a bed cover, this should help with the sound.

Chris