The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline spring hangers buggered?

Hi all,
I just picked up a 3100 frame (my old frame has cracks). Unfortunately, the previous owner cut the heads off the spring hanger bolts.
a) how can I get the bolts out with the head cut off?

b) He also shaved off the outer face of the eyebolt of the hanger casting a little with the saw. Just enough to make the face uneven. I hope this is not a critical clearance - Can I just grind it flat? Or use a washer to build it back up?

or do I need to replace all the spring hanger castings

So much depends on the condition of the bolt and the hanger. I would try to remove the bolt. It is a robust bolt so there is some metal to work with. You might put a nut on the end that was cut off. Weld in the center and see if that will work like the original head. Or you could try to get it to move from the other end by backing the nut to the very end and welding it to the bolt. You will have to cut it off to finish removing the bolt. If the hanger has only minor damage then square it up as best you can. Then check the fit of the new bolt to decide if it will need to be shimmed with a washer. Unless the hanger is badly compromised I think you will be OK. It won't go all the way through and out the other side so it does have to come out the way it was put in. The nut on the far side is a lock to prevent it from getting loose.

get the bolts/rivets hot with a torch and then use a air chisel. It will go right through it... i removed all my leave spring hangers due to issues.

Thanks guys. Heat helped on two but I ended up cutting two of the springs and bolts out.
I ground down the two hangers that were chopped up. They are probably about 1/16 thinner than stock on that side and not perfectly flat. Will have to wait and see if washers are needed when I reassemble..

wurl,

I started with a sledge and chisel (1 hour per rivet).... ended up using heat and air chisel (20 minutes per rivet)

i was a long couple of weeks with sore arms!

almost forgot, when i got the new shackle bolts, i had to have the holes on my hangers opened up 1/16th of an inch to get them to fit... ensure you stuff fits since the new bolts seem to be bigger.