The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 1949 Chevrolet 3100 Overload Spring Bumpers? Photos attached!!

Everyone wanted to know what overload spring bumpers I was looking for. Here are the photographs of what I need:

[URL=http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/atldoverde_58/media/overloadspringbumpers_zpsc4dfd29a.jpg.html][/url]

[URL=http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/atldoverde_58/media/overloadsprings2_zpsd73fcf8e.jpg.html][/url]

I can't picture where this at on the truck?? I'm not that familiar with the lever shock set up on the early truck. Is this the bumpers on the front suspension??

John

John, These bumpers go on the frame at the rear of the truck. The overload springs ride on these bumpers when you have the bed loaded down.

I've never seen overload springs for a 1/2 ton. Usually only 3/4 ton and up had overload springs on them.
John

And the ones I have seen do NOT have a rubber bumper on them.

I have never seen those either. They almost look like bump stops.

Well guys, You may not have ever seen overload springs on a 1/2 ton, but there is always a first! These came on my truck which only had 2 previous owners. The owner before me did the paint and body work and the owner before him was a farmer from Topeka, Kansas. The guy I bought the truck from said everything on the truck came on it as is when he purchased it. Now, does anyone know where I can find these overload spring bumpers, or the rubber inserts for these bumpers?

Got me where to find replacements? Might try Steel Rubber Products or Metro rubber see if they have anything you might adapt or use.

John

I don't know if this will help, but on my '46 half ton project, overloads were installed and apparently used frequently. I've seen at least two others with these same overloads. As I understand it these were all aftermarket additions and are not shown in the accessory catalog.

I recall seeing replacements rubber bumpers, but don't recall where. They were outrageously expensive IMO. I decided to make these myself, given the truck was never going to be used to haul grain or other heavy loads again anyway.

An inner rubber slab from a skid steer tire was used. Regular tire rubber was tried, but it was much to stiff and wouldn't flex enough to fit into the bracket.

I can post photo links if anyone is interested.

Just FYI....my 37 did not have them but two other 37's "original" 1/2 ton pickups I've seen and worked on had them.

Like they've been saying, there were lots of aftermarket
overloads being made.
Here is a set that came off of a 1950, 3100 just recently:
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/154946233
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/154946234

DG

My 1954 3600 came with overloads that I believe to be aftermarket as well. Im the second owner of the truck, which was originally a farm truck here in MT. Seemed to be called Body Bouys, I haven't been able to find much info on them. Pretty interesting design tho.

Pics are near the bottom of the first page under 'suspension' if you click on the link in my signature.

Don't think they are quite what your looking for, but Classic Parts sells a front axle bumper (P# 74-921) that may fit your overloads, or could be modified to.
On that note, if you can find a nice solid chunk of rubber you could probably make your own.

Chooglin

Here by PM request are some photos of the rubber bumpers I made from the solid inner rubber tire from a skid steer. The rubber is dense, but not as dense as regular tire rubber. A band saw was used to make the cuts and followed up as needed with a razor knife to clean up edges for fitting. I suggest wearing a dust mask when cutting the stuff and wearing gloves. It smells foul and leaves a nasty, hard to scrub odor on hands otherwise.
New rubber bumper
Rough cut rubber bumper replacement
Template for rubber bumper replacement
Old rubber bumpers used for template
Rubber bumpers installed on brackets fore and aft above spring overloads

You can see the overload springs that were a dealer option in 1950 in some of my bolt bucket pics. Nothing that looks like what you have in your pics, but 49 could be much different.

my 1951 3100 Chevrolet pickup had the same set Denny shows above in his post.I still have them put away,you don't see them very often.


Tim

Dint see them Deve, think you could post a link to the page????

DG

Might be this one

...link...

Think I've found the rubber inserts that may work.Found them on Metro Rubber Products website under universal parts Pt# XB11. $30.55 a pair. Going to measure and give it a try.

That's it. Thanks!

Ah yes, thanks Gus, blink an eye and you can miss those little buggers.

When you say dealer option are you talking about an aftermarket
item like JC Whitney or Western Auto, that the dealer might install Deve???
I don't think I've ever seen any like those, don't look
substantial enough to give you much of a boost.

Denny G

It looks like there was not GM dealer option (RPO) "helper" auxiliary spring for 1949-standard ( RPOs ) or 1950-standard ( RPOs ) 3100/3600 Chevrolet truck.

There was a GM RPO heavy-duty 3100 rear spring-set in both years, but it looks like they were still a semi-elliptic set of springs.

As posted above, Dealer/Owner added non-GM auxiliary springs were available.

I think it was Jim Carter that told me that they are very rare, dealer installed option. Not sure what that means. I have a second set for my next project. I don't see them very often for sale. Kind of like the underbed spare tire carrier lock and a few other things that don't come up for sale very often. They are designed specifically for this vintage chevy or gmc truck since they fit the spring perches exactly right. Not for certain on anything. I wasn't there like you. LOL! Chevs of the 40's sells the new rubber bumpers for them.