I just about have my truck down to the frame. The cab is the only thing left. I got my motor apart far enough to figure out that I don't have a Merc crank :-( The good news is that I only have 2 stuck pistons left :-)

I need to either replace or rearch the front springs, I figure this is a good time to do this work. I have a local company that will re-arch for me, but of course they will need info on the original specs.

I have also emailed Eaton Detroit Spring and Posie's to get a quote for new springs.

Can anyone suggest any other sources for new front springs? I would like to keep stock if I can.

The second question, does anyone know if the same front springs were used past '47? The local guy has info for '50s vintage 1/2 tons so if the springs are the same in later years he might be able to use the info he has.

 

'48-52 F-1 front springs have the same part number as the '42-47 half-tons (they're the same).

Mike

 

Thanks Mike,

That helps a lot. I will not only be able to give the info to the local spring shop but when I look at catalogs that don't list the older truck I will just go for the '48-'52. It seems like I have been able to find them around. Now I just need to go looking again.

Charles

 

Another good source for all things suspension is Chassis Engineering Inc out of Iowa, http://www.chassisengineeringinc.com
or even Pete and Jakes in Missouri. These in addition to Dennis Carpenter, Mac's auto and Spadafor

 

i used posies dual flex super slides, they work great about 2 inch drop. I believe they wre part # d152f for 48-52 ford f-1 they fit perfect...

 

Thanks again guys for the info. Jersey, I don't know if I want to do the 2" drop, I was hoping to keep the stock height.
Eaton Springs quoted $370 plus shipping
Posies quoted $476 plus shipping and said that for stock ride they are a custom job for them. (I could be wrong on the quote because the guy mentioned the stock springs, the normal lowered springs, and then the cost)

Both of these quotes are circa 2006

 

Are you sure your's need to be replaced? They appear to be flat or slightly de-arched under normal conditions. About 2" clearance to the frame bumper is where they sit.

 

Soule46, Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the same front springs were used up through 52. The difference is the shocks and steering.

 

I guess I repeted what 45ford said, sorry

 

The picture of the frame doesn't quite give you a good description. You can see the pass side spring pretty good there and it is okay -- If I remember correctly it was even okay with the body and engine -- a little forward lean, but then again I had almost no weight on the rear. The problem is the drivers side spring -- its probably another 2" lower and with just the weight of the frame the shackle is at about 30°.

So I am going through my options to try to figure what to do right now. I will not need to do anything until spring or so, I am saving up to buy a compressor and sandblaster -- I have a lot of rust to get rid of so I figure I might as well try to do it myself.

So for me I have the quotes above for new springs. The local guy (Being fair to that company I don't think I will name them here, if someone wants the name PM me) quoted me $20 per leaf to re-arch and said that there is no guarantee that it will hold!? He recommended to replace the longest leaf with a new one that he would make for $75 -- so he wants $430 to fix what I have. Now that I have the years I also know what to look for as far as used goes also. I can spend some time looking for something used -- but of course I am getting very leary about buying anything used anymore, I have been the idiot getting burned in all the deals (I just bought a pair of 59ab heads on ebay -- the guy said very good condition, and infact one of the 2 is very pitted. Of course that's very good condition for a 60 year old head, right :-) Of course then look at the truck I bought :-(

So since I have attention on the front suspension, I want to put tube shocks on the front (I have a '72 9" for the rear so it should be straight forward to setup the shocks). Can anyone give me good advice for shock mounts and setting them up for the front. Any good pictures will be helpful. Infact any good picts of the 48-52 shocks would be helpful (did they have tubes?)

Thanks

 

Soule, if you want a stock spring check out some of the places like Mac's or Dennis Carpernter. You can purchase new stock springs rather than trying to save worn stock springs, and they should be cheaper than these ones from Posies and such. Mac's lists some for about $125 online. This is a quick and easy way to go and cheaper.
For the shocks, I've used the front shock brackets from the '47-'48 passenger cars with good results. The holes line up perfectly with the frame holes, and it's really just a simple plug in thing. They have worked well enough that I bought another set of the towers from eBay for my '47 1 ton.

 

Pete and Jakes sells a stock spring if I'm not mistaken, it's Posie's without the reverse eye for dropping etc for about 150.00 at least thats what it was for my '41

 

Sorry, the prices above from Eaton and Posies are for the pair not each, just to be clear. At what point should I be concerned about the quality of the new ones from a company like Mac's? I assume they are cheaper for a reason (technically going cheap I found that I can get them from JC Whitney for $87 each). I suppose at this point I need to contact the companies and if nothing else see if they will give me some details about the quality issue.

Thanks again

 

I've never bought springs from Mac's.....but items I have bought I have NEVER had a quality issue with.

 

Hey Soule, Speedway motors now carries posies springs, for 48-52 they fit the42-47 also and if you order , by 1/15/07 if it is 400.00 or more the shipping is free. i just bought the rears this week they are beautiful.Also i purchased a great shock kit for the front I beam from no-limit engineering in california, it was a bolt on and it looks great, it uses heavy duty monroes, in the kit....Ill list part # s if you need them..