I'm new here and I am tackling my first restoration project. I got my truck taken apart and the frame worked on and I am now ready to start putting the pieces back. I am working on putting the rear differential back on and notice in the Ford manual and other part book they show a rear U-bolt bracket on top of the springs. I don't seem to have them and I didn't throw anything away. I don't remember taking them off either. Can anyone with a 1949 F1 let me know if there are supposed to be any rear U-bolt brackets? If that is the case I will have to find myself some. If I do need them and if anyone has any sitting around I would love to get a set. Thanks.

 

The U-bolt plate on top of the rear springs should be held on by the tie bolt which goes through the springs. Unless you have dis-assembled the spring pack, they should still be there. Hopefully someone with more knowledge will chime in with more information.

By the way, welcome to FTE. Glad to have another Bonus Built owner on board. Lots of talented folks here who can answer just about any question you can think of. Don't be shy, jump right in join the insanity. Looking forward to following your project.

Gil

 

Thanks. That explains why I don't remember them. When I got the springs (front and rear) off I brought them to a local guy to have them re-arched. I bet he forgot to put them back on. I knew I wouldn't have thrown them away. What do you think the chances are he will still have them? Fat chance!

Looking forward to the wealth of knowledge. Thanks again.
WPKMIK

 

Welcome to FTE.

Well, if he doesn't or you can't find them, you might be able to get a set, or have a set made at a spring shop. Just out of curiosity are you talking about the "Spring plate" (8C 5708) that holds the tops of the U-bolts? Are you sure it's not stuck on the top of the spring and just gunked up

Here's what it should look like:

 

interesting... i sort of wondered if my rear springs were bad, but according to this picture 1/2 of them are bent/arched the wrong way. I should take a picture to show how bad they are. Truck was deffinately overloaded a few times.

 

PM me I've got an extra set. Also have the lower shock mounts for an F1.

 

Gearhead, new to this so PM I assume you mean reply. I check with the guy who re-arched them and he didn't recall any plates. What you would you want for them?

Also, Julie, that is a great photo, where did it come from? I could use a book with diagrams like that.

Thanks everyone.

 

Sorry I didn't pay attention to the fact that you are a new user. PM means private message and I don't think you can until you have 20-25 posts. I got your visitor message and replied. The plates spread the load of the ubolts.

 

Now keep in mind that it's been a few years since I've had an axle out of one of these things, but I'm not remembering that plate being attached to the spring. Mine had a hole is the center of the plate and just set over the nut on the tie bolt. The only thing that attached it to the springs was the the pair of u-bolts. That's the way the two or three I've been into were put together.

 

Wait, are those things supposed to curve, mine are nice and flat...

 

You may be right, BlueOvalRage. It has been more than a couple of years since I have had the springs off an F-1. I went out and checked my truck last night and could feel the head of the tie bolt so it may actually be sticking through the hole in the plate. I won't be able to say this in a few months as the bottom two leafs of my left rear spring are broken and I am going to have to replace them. At any rate, there should be a u-bolt plate installed on top of the spring pack.

Gil

 

I mistyped. How much will you sell them for?

I checked with the FAQ and I don't have access to PM. It must be after so many posts. Let me know a price and hopefully we can do business. Thanks.

I believe they sit on top as well, just like the front ones. Thanks everyone.

 

Oh lots of comments!!!

First, those plates are supposed to be there, if they aren't, I'm not sure just what it would hurt - if anything.

Next, yes folks, leaf springs are supposed to be arched and point UP on the ends (tee hee) if they are flat or God Forbid bending DOWN they are SHOT SHOT SHOT!

That drawing was from the Truck (Salesmans) Handbook. They are made for each year of truck. I've never seen one for a 49 for sale.....That picture is out of my 51 Handbook but the back F1 springs are the same 48-52 (and maybe earlier/later).

If you are lucky enough to find a Salesmans Handbook for sale, you will pay about $150 to $200 for it.

I have scanned most of the pictures from mine and they are posted in my gallery titled "Salesmans Handbook Scans" Look in the "Specifications" gallery for the Spring Specs Table.

Here are two pictures of what your springs SHOULD look like and the plate installed in my 51 F1.





PS In the pictures you will notice two rather large spacing blocks between the axel and the spring. They don't belong there. I have a Ford 9 3/8 reare end from a mid 60s Big Ford and 15 inch wheels on the back. The PO installed those blocks during the 80s to give the truck a "jacked up in the back" appearance. I plan to take at least one of them out. I like a little slope, but currently there's a dash more than I like.

It may be very possible that if the back springs were re-arched, and another leaf added, the plate may have been ommited in the re installation because the U-bolts were not long enough - count the leaves, there should be 10 of them on a stock application F1. You'll notice I have only 9 on mine. They must be replacements from an F1 Panel which had only 9 leaves.

 

If your planning on reusing your original springs be sure to install new U bolts. The originals are torqued (to max specs which I don't have off hand). The old ones will be stretched and won't have the strength to retorque.

 

They are very necessary. Without them, the spring can flex around the center bolt hole, which is a weak spot and leads to cracking. If your U-bolts stretch and lose tension, you'll start to get flexing near the center and start cracking leaves. I would think spring shops should sell something that will replace them.