Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[buzzy bee]

Hi

Thought I better have a stage two resto section, to post in, instead of lots of seperate topics.

I have taken the rear leaf spring off this evening, and it went with one hell of a bang!(nearly lost my hands!) I have found some shackle pins, but they have rubber bushes, not metal ones like the old ones. The old ones have come out of the sring, but they are really stuck in the other part. The ones in the spring, have completely worn away.

I also need to make some longer shaccles, for these new pins, simmilar to the ones that have come off. What metal do the shackles need to be made of? Will some bright be ok?

Also once done the bushes/shsckles etc, got to wrestle to get it back on, I am going to bring a few big G clamps back tomorow from work, hope they are big enough, to sread the sring with the aid of some box section!

Got to take my rad for recore on saturday morning, and my door to be paint matched. Then either do this spring, or start rubbing/stripping the back body down.

Cheers

Dave

[47Jag]

Dave,

Can you not make a spreader? Get some threaded rod (as big a diameter as you can find, 3/4 or 1" ) a piece of tube about 3' long to fit over the rod. Half the tube and flatten one end on each half, put the rod with a couple of nuts into both tubes. The flats go up against the outside spring clamps and as you turn the nuts to make the tube 'grow' the spring flattens. That's what the factory tool looked like.

Art

[Rick]

I might have a good rad tucked away somewhere

R
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[buzzy bee]

Hi Art

I will make one tomorow, then I will have options on what to do.

Cheers

Dave

[buzzy bee]

Rick,

How much do you want for the rad, is it definately good?

Cheers

Dave

[Rick]

[buzzy bee]

Hi

Ok, cheers

I have been looking around this morning at work, for some threaded bar for this spreader, and can't find any big stuff, so, I have found a hydraulic power pack. I am goin gto go and get my spring at dinner, and then adapt the ram ends with some tube and plate. I think it should work, only issue could be the bolt and grease nipple that holds the leaves together, and sticks down a fair way, and may get in the way off the ram.

I have also got a few clamps as a back up, and also some decent ratchet straps.

I think I will use the straps anyway as a safety measure. If I am putting my head near this thing, I will want some back up if the ram springs off or something!

Anyway, hopefully it will work, should have enough pressure! Something like 25 ton.

Cheers

Dave

[Rick]

I've only ever done the front spring, a combination of G clamps and a small trolley jack did the job. I think the rear spring might be a bit beefier.

R
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[buzzy bee]

Hi

Made the "special tool", and have just nearly flattened out the old spring, so easy! Think I might market them!

Will get some pics of it! Wether it will be as easy on the truck is another matter!

Cheers

Dave

[47Jag]

Dave,

What sort of royalties can I expect??

Art

[buzzy bee]

Hi

Well blo**y h**l!!

Got the spring on just!

Despite nearly loosing my fingers when a pice of 40mm box bent whilst spreading the spring, the thing is on! Taken me 4 or 5 hours, and the rubber bushes seem to have come out a bit, but it will stay like that!

Just to tip it off, the blimin chassis, is still 1 1/4" out at the back, so that must mean the spring was fine!

Must be the chassis is twisted, although the lean did seem to get worse from the start of 2008 to the end, so god knows, anyone got any ideas?

I am tempted to get the bucket on the loader or the 2cx, and bring it down on the high side to level it up!

OOO it did make me angry tonight!

Cheers

Dave

[buzzy bee]

Hi

Well, dropped my rad off, with Radiator services, so he can get me a quote first, he needs it during the week to quote for cores, then bought some paint, got primer and topcoat and some black for the wings.

Then have been rudding pannels down all afternoon, until about 8ish this evening, more tomorow.

Cheers

Dave

[oldgoaly]

Hi Dave!
How did the radiator turn out? did they "boil it" in a lye solution? or ultra-sonic type of cleaner?
tt

[buzzy bee]

Hi

I never got it done at the first place as they wanted over £250! I am waiting for the rallies as a friend has used a company, well a guy in a shed and he paid just a little over £100. Just need to get his contact.

Cheers

Dave

[Rick]

I checked that spare rad I have over the weekend, it doesn't look quite as good as I remembered

R
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