by mo_1040 Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:32 pmMy '67 has the shims...
+16
Nightmoves
ChevyVanMan1
67a 100 pickup
crazee
mo_1040
savage
veefre
itruns
G-Man
Digz
Scott
Kakster
BvrWally
gp70
VANagain
donivan65
20 posters
My Springs are Sprung
mo_1040- Number of posts : 645
Location : Hibbing, Minnesota...The land of 10,000 rednecks
Age : 53
Registration date : 2008-07-04
Nightmoves- Number of posts : 2214
Location : Old Hickory Tenn.
Age : 64
Registration date : 2008-11-17
Continuing saga on springs,this time:2nd gen. rear
When I bought my van,it had broken rear spring@ eye.I got a set courtesy of Wideload from one of his fleet.Took the to spring shop for added leaf & arch back to 6 5/8,stock.Ole guy called me,went down there,this what he ran into.
Obviously one was replaced on donor van.Which is correct? The difference is toward front.The measurements are from C/L of center hole & C/L of eyelet. Is one front,one rear? Did 10's & 20's use different springs? The big "E" is stamped on the shorter one.I gotta get mine out pretty quick,double check.Thought I'd throw this out there to scratch your head.Any suggestions?
When I bought my van,it had broken rear spring@ eye.I got a set courtesy of Wideload from one of his fleet.Took the to spring shop for added leaf & arch back to 6 5/8,stock.Ole guy called me,went down there,this what he ran into.
Obviously one was replaced on donor van.Which is correct? The difference is toward front.The measurements are from C/L of center hole & C/L of eyelet. Is one front,one rear? Did 10's & 20's use different springs? The big "E" is stamped on the shorter one.I gotta get mine out pretty quick,double check.Thought I'd throw this out there to scratch your head.Any suggestions?
Last edited by Nightmoves on Tue Jun 08, 2010 2:40 pm; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : left out something)
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12248
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
The center bolt is not really in the center of the spring,,,,,,the long ends go towards the bumpers,,,,,,,,
Nightmoves- Number of posts : 2214
Location : Old Hickory Tenn.
Age : 64
Registration date : 2008-11-17
OK,I meant rear.Still got two different lengths on short side.Just wondered if there were 2 different types of springs.
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12248
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
Well the important one is the top leaf ,,,,,,you need the long side to go towards the bumper,,,,then you could have 2 more straight leafs,,,,,put them on with a bolt stuck in them,,,,,,you will see right away how they fit ,,,,,spin it 180 degrees if they dont sit in the center,,,,,,,if a leaf has been added or made up, it might not match up exactly,,,,,,you just want smaller leafs below the top one,,,,,,,sometimes they use a safety leaf that wraps around the top loop on the top leaf,,,,,,and not all bushing holes are the same size,,,,,,sometimes they use a bigger bushing on one side of an axle ,,,,,so there are variables,,,,,,so what is causing you the problem? are you just trying to make a spring up with old leafs or having something new made up or added to your springs?
Nightmoves- Number of posts : 2214
Location : Old Hickory Tenn.
Age : 64
Registration date : 2008-11-17
Yeah,what my intentions were to take old set,re-arch,put a helper between two original leaves.When I came up with different measurements on top leaf,got concerned,thinking it would be out of skew when sittin on pad.
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12248
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
You definately need the top leafs on each side to be exactly the same,,,,,,or you will be going down the road cattywampus
BvrWally- Number of posts : 946
Location : Earlyville,Ohio
Registration date : 2008-05-19
cattywampus .......boy I haven't heard that term in awhile??? lol
B.W.
B.W.
Scott- Number of posts : 1651
Location : Anoka, MN
Age : 54
Registration date : 2008-05-20
You might check with Econopoor to see if he has springs from that one he just chopped-up. I think he said the rear axle has six lugs, if so it could have been a G20, which would mean an extra leaf.
Nightmoves- Number of posts : 2214
Location : Old Hickory Tenn.
Age : 64
Registration date : 2008-11-17
Got my springs back the other day & installed.The one good spring I had was correct to one of the pair I had donated to me at 22 3/8.We're still confused where the shorter one came out of.Going by Dons way of measurin(floor up),I am at right at 6".
Going by Scotts way of measurin from top of differential tube to frame bottom,I am at 7 3/4".
For springs re-arched,leaf added,all bushings,U-bolts,bolts & washers,I'm in this just under $220.Good deal?...I dont know.But now its new through out & dont look like a dog draggin its tail.
Btw...thanks Don for the torque specs.I wouldn't have known.
Going by Scotts way of measurin from top of differential tube to frame bottom,I am at 7 3/4".
For springs re-arched,leaf added,all bushings,U-bolts,bolts & washers,I'm in this just under $220.Good deal?...I dont know.But now its new through out & dont look like a dog draggin its tail.
Btw...thanks Don for the torque specs.I wouldn't have known.
Scott- Number of posts : 1651
Location : Anoka, MN
Age : 54
Registration date : 2008-05-20
That's good news, glad you got it worked out, and I think you did pretty good @ $220.
One less thing on the long list right?
One less thing on the long list right?
Digz- Number of posts : 3794
Location : United States Six Lakes MI
Registration date : 2008-05-17
If you got all that hardware it sounds like a very fair price to me.
Nightmoves- Number of posts : 2214
Location : Old Hickory Tenn.
Age : 64
Registration date : 2008-11-17
Thanks y'all,I feel better.Yeah Scott,thats one less thing.But are we ever 'really' done? Seems like every time I crawl in that thing,I see something else. 
richie61- Number of posts : 445
Location : Van Nuys, CA
Age : 63
Registration date : 2010-01-04
Someday Moe we'll be done. I've been finding losts of things when I'm under there too. So we just fix them and move on to the next thing. Just mark it off the list and if it's anything like mine, it's a long one!!
Optik- Number of posts : 25
Location : Cincinnati, OH
Registration date : 2010-06-15
donivan65 wrote:And this would be the bushings for the 1st Gen, 1964-66 leaf springs,,,,,,,,,,
I just today started looking for a shackle kit for my 65. Are the parts in the picture for front or rear springs or do they work for both? Also what brand is the shackle kit part # for?
Thanks for posting that up!!!
-Tim
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12248
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
For sure the black HB 930 2nd Gen bushings, (that need to be shortened), fit ALL the shackles on a 1st Gen. And and the orange neoprene ones with that sleeve, replace the metal cartridge ones, unless you got that one larger
spring that shows up on some vans. I think the next best thing for shackles would probably be the rears off a 55 Chevy car, Danchuk #062
spring that shows up on some vans. I think the next best thing for shackles would probably be the rears off a 55 Chevy car, Danchuk #062
Optik- Number of posts : 25
Location : Cincinnati, OH
Registration date : 2010-06-15
awesome, thank you!
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12248
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
The 1st Gen springs are 2" wide,,,,,the 2nd, 2 1/2" and IF you get the factory stuff, the bolts have shoulders on them to prevent you from squashing the hell out of the bushings if you overtighten them. But aftermarket stuff just uses regular bolts and side plates,,,,,,so it depends on what you want,,,,,,sideplates are pretty easily available,,,,,,or just make your own,,,,,,,,
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CHEVY-TRUCK-55-59-REAR-LEAF-SPRING-SHACKLES-/230463174525?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35a8acf77d
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CHEVY-TRUCK-55-59-REAR-LEAF-SPRING-SHACKLES-/230463174525?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35a8acf77d
Scott- Number of posts : 1651
Location : Anoka, MN
Age : 54
Registration date : 2008-05-20
Leaf Spring Pads
I haven't tried these, but was looking for them when I rebuilt mine.
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/KeywordSearchCmd?Ne=1%2b2%2b3%2b1147708%2b1147708&Ntt=gm+leaf+spring&Ntk=all&langId=-1&storeId=10001&N=4294966371+1143204+4294915513&catalogId=10002&Nty=0
I haven't tried these, but was looking for them when I rebuilt mine.
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/KeywordSearchCmd?Ne=1%2b2%2b3%2b1147708%2b1147708&Ntt=gm+leaf+spring&Ntk=all&langId=-1&storeId=10001&N=4294966371+1143204+4294915513&catalogId=10002&Nty=0
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12248
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
You would probably have to drill out your spring perch and u bolt plate for them to fit properly,,,,,,they fit over the center bolts,,,,,,,,
wdaguy- Number of posts : 157
Location : tucson
Registration date : 2009-02-10
Where can I buy the leaf spring bushings and or kit for 64???? Thanks
[quote="Optik"]
[quote="Optik"]
donivan65 wrote:And this would be the bushings for the 1st Gen, 1964-66 leaf springs,,,,,,,,,,
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12248
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
I got the pieces from a spring shop,,,,,,,,Hard to find the metal cartridge that goes in the front of the springs , so I used the red neoprene ones with a sleeve in it,,,,,,,,they don't make the rear ones anymore, so I cut down these HB930 ones to fit,,,,,,I cut the red ones down too,,,,,,,now this place shows some promise of having the HB 930's and maybe the cartridge if we get a good measurement off an old one and see if they have something that fits,,,,,,or look for those red ones and a sleeve to replace the cartridge.
http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=8959
http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=8959
67a 100 pickup- Number of posts : 1319
Location : ann arbor, mi
Registration date : 2009-01-29
Call springs'nthings 1-800-903-9019 or you can check them out at http://www.springsnthings.com/ I have used them for parts for the dodge and they have been great to work with.
Rick's 66 Chevy Van- Number of posts : 331
Location : Denver nc
Age : 65
Registration date : 2011-03-06
don how much would these tires and wheels cost and what size front and back?Also want to make sure of size is right for disc brakes later on.What to make my 66 a daily driver so make the tire size easier to steer.
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12248
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
Well,,,,,,these vans came with 13" wheels and tires,,,,,,, mine are 15" Rocket Mags with P205/70R15 tires. Are you looking for new tires and rims for your van? M1Dadio made the Disk Brake brackets for Chevy Vans and knows about the clearance required IF you add front disks to your van,,,,,,,and the wider the tire you have,,,,, the harder it is to park,,,,,,,
