Help me pick a rear leaf spring kit for my 46

[paintman]

Ok guys I need some help and guidance. I want to fix all the %$&* that the previous owner did to the ass end of my truck. I have no idea if these are the original springs but I was told the rear is out of a 69 Camaro. As you can see some of the leafs have been removed and the straps that hold the leafs together were left all loose. Furthermore the P.O. ran the truck without shocks (told me it road to stiff so he took them off).

What I would like to know is there a specific kit available for a 46? Everything I see starts at 47. I was told however that 41-55 all share the same chassis dimensions from the firewalls back. Is this in fact true? Can I just use a kit made for a 47. Do I even need a whole kit or can I just buy new leaf springs and mount them in the existing carriers. Can I just keep the existing springs and try and tighten the straps? See I told you I need guidance! I was looking at this kit...........
http://www.classicperform.com/Store/...ks/4754RLK.htm

I also plan on installing a under bed fuel tank. Probably a mustang. Here's some pics of the carnage the previous owner threw at his truck






I would like to keep the truck with the existing stance. The springs are 54" long from eye to eye. and I am at 6 1/2" from top of axle to bottom of frame rail.


Thanks for all your help guys, have a happy New Years!

[Tx Firefighter]

Two things....

-All the old stuff I've ever built, I've run Posies springs and been extremely satisfied with them. Posies list their part number for your truck as CT32-46L. Here is a link. Page forward to page number 40 and they list the springs for your truck. They catalog the 46 as different than the 47 and newer.

http://www.posiesrodsandcustoms.com/.../pages3247.pdf

-Second, that rearend doesn't ring to be a 69 Camaro to me. You're running what looks to be 5 lug truck rally wheels which have 5 on 5 pattern rather than the Camaro's 5 on 4.75 pattern. You might double check that before going too far down the road of assuming it's a Camaro unit.

[paintman]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Two things....

-All the old stuff I've ever built, I've run Posies springs and been extremely satisfied with them. Posies list their part number for your truck as CT32-46L. Here is a link. Page forward to page number 40 and they list the springs for your truck. They catalog the 46 as different than the 47 and newer.

http://www.posiesrodsandcustoms.com/.../pages3247.pdf

-Second, that rearend doesn't ring to be a 69 Camaro to me. You're running what looks to be 5 lug truck rally wheels which have 5 on 5 pattern rather than the Camaro's 5 on 4.75 pattern. You might double check that before going too far down the road of assuming it's a Camaro unit.

Hey txfirefighter! thanks for the info. I'm assuming that your recommending that I just buy new leaf springs and remove the appropriate amount of leafs to get me back down to the desired ride height?
Can't I just take the existing springs and have the strapping re-installed?
As far as the rear I don't know for sure I was also told it had a 3.73 gear in it.

[Tx Firefighter]

I kind of gathered that you were looking to start fresh with new springs. Otherwise, you can have a spring shop rework your current ones very inexpensively. They can replace the spring straps and bushings and whatever else you desire for dirt cheap. Last set I had de-arched (to lower) and new bushings installed for 120 dollars out the door. Much cheaper than the Posies springs if you're willing to keep your current ones.

[paintman]

Here's a little more info on the rear. on one side of the housing it sez GM57
on the other side it sez 3896839 and then the letter N directly underneath the numbers.
Not sure if I want to buy new or just freshen up what I have that's why I ask the experts!

[Tx Firefighter]

I replied to your thread on the HAMB. Neat truck.

[paintman]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

I replied to your thread on the HAMB. Neat truck.

yea it seems to have offended a few people when all i was looking to do was give people a laugh. they seem to be a little up tight over there. that's why I like this site so much.

[Tx Firefighter]

You've got a neat truck with a neat look. If you're happy with the setup overall, I'd just hammer the springs clamps closed further and build a pair of matching lowering blocks and call it good. Focus your efforts and money on other issues that you turn up on the truck.

The spring clamps are simply there to keep all the leafs aligned with each other. The gap on top of them where the missing leafs would go are a non issue. Just crimp them down a bit. As long as the spring leafs can't splay apart in different directions, they're doing what they were designed to do.

[paintman]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

You've got a neat truck with a neat look. If you're happy with the setup overall, I'd just hammer the springs clamps closed further and build a pair of matching lowering blocks and call it good. Focus your efforts and money on other issues that you turn up on the truck.

The spring clamps are simply there to keep all the leafs aligned with each other. The gap on top of them where the missing leafs would go are a non issue. Just crimp them down a bit. As long as the spring leafs can't splay apart in different directions, they're doing what they were designed to do.

Thanx a bunch TX. Ive read alot of your posts on other threads and you always seem to give the best advice! I think thats the way I want to go I really want to focus my cash on a set of custom headers and a rebuild on my 250. Besides I still have to spend coin on putting shocks back on the dam thing and a new fuel tank.

[Tx Firefighter]

Look at it this way, once you have the bed back on the truck, a fellow would have to lay down on the ground to see under there and criticize your truck.

And, if he's laying on the ground doing that, he's in the perfect position for you to stand on his neck.

[CHIZZLER]

well said tx."stand on his neck"hey paintman nice truck.do you have a build thread yet?

[paintman]

Originally Posted by CHIZZLER

well said tx."stand on his neck"hey paintman nice truck.do you have a build thread yet?

Not yet Chizz, I probably should get one started over in "pre 47" but with your build already over there I would be somewhat embarrassed.

[CHIZZLER]

we need some more builds going on over there.its REALLY SLOW.your truck is bad a**.look forward to your build thread.

[paintman]

So at lunch time today I took my leafs to a local spring shop just to see what they would charge for a rebuild. Take them apart. clean them, re stack with new clamps and centering pins, new bushings. anyone care to take a guess as to what they quoted me per spring??????????????????????????????????

[Tx Firefighter]

Well come on with it. I'm on the edge of my seat here. You know what my place charges. Is your place on crack ?
Posted via Mobile Device

[paintman]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Well come on with it. I'm on the edge of my seat here. You know what my place charges. Is your place on crack ?
Posted via Mobile Device

Crack you say? It must be some potent crack. Mind you this is New Jersey so everything is a premium. But I think $175 per spring is a little much. Granted they guaranteed the springs would look like brand new when they were done.

That's right $175 per leaf!!! So he gave me a few more options. first we looked at Eaton spring building new ones (1 3/4"x 54") that would match exactly what I have. That would have been around $250 per spring brand new. Benefit of that would be the fact that I wouldn't need to drill new holes to install new hangers.

So next we looked into complete kits from TCI, and LMC. Those complete kits run around $540 for all the goodies. Shocks, hangers, leafs, cross member, etc. Problem is the leafs are around 6 inches shorter then the ones I have and also are 2 1/4" wide. the width is really not a concern but I would still have to drill all new holes for the mounts.

It was the owner of the shops opinion that my best thing to do is just order a unit from TCI online and be done with it because apparently there not even going to stock 1 3/4" wide material anymore because its not used much. I guess he was a pretty stand up guy as he said I would do just as well ordering them myself as he doesn't get any discount on the kits.

[Tx Firefighter]

What about just rebushing the main leafs ? What did he quote for that part of the job ?

You could easily disassemble them, have you main leafs rebushed, do you own clean and paint and reassemble. You'd be out the bucks for the bushing work and two new spring center pins and whatever paint and prep ran you for materials.

[paintman]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

What about just rebushing the main leafs ? What did he quote for that part of the job ?

You could easily disassemble them, have you main leafs rebushed, do you own clean and paint and reassemble. You'd be out the bucks for the bushing work and two new spring center pins and whatever paint and prep ran you for materials.

Never asked the price for a re bush. I would assume probably 50 per spring maybe more. Pretty much the hourly rate in this state for any auto work is 7080 bucks. Now I know what your thinking. it should only take about 20 minutes to push 4 out and 4 in. he seemed to think that it would be best to get away from the 1 3/4 wides. Again He made know effort to sell me new springs. although he did tell me that He would take my money any way I wanted to do it.