The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 1946 kingpin question

Does anyone know where I can find extra shims for my 46 chevy NOS kingpin set? It only came with 2 very thin shims and I misplaced one of them when trying to find extras at our local old-fashioned parts store. There were 4 shims that came off the old kingpin set and weren't in the best of shape. I feel certain that I'm gonna' need extra shims when trying to reach the .006 that my old chevy shop manual says I need at the top between knuckle and axle. Also, with this truck there is no groove for a lock ring [or whatever it's called] and the originals seemed to be 'pinned' which Looks like a hammered dent at the top and bottom of the old knuckles. It appeared that this kept the dust caps from floating out from either top or bottom. Am I crazy in noticing that they [my kingpins] aren't made like some others that I have seen reference to? Like the how-to page in Vintage truck recently and some of the pdf files I've downloaded off the 'bolt. My NOS bushings are different than what I have seen in several drawings on this era of kingpins but are identical to what I took off the truck, save for the extra shims. Sorry to go on for so long here but I don't want to mess this up. As always, thanks in advance for your ideas!
lane

You can buy shim stock at Ace hardware and cut your own if you can't find any. They don't take much abuse so brass would work if need be. I will look around my pill of stuff to see if I have anything that will fit, I have some off a Freightliner, but pretty sure they are bigger then you need

Joe

thank you Joe .... I had already asked our local parts guy to look for shim stock but he claimed he couldn't buy it any longer ...... I had no idea that a hardware store might have it ..... maybe my parts guy just didn't wanna' fool with the small potatoes. If you find any within your stuff just send me a PM .....

thanks again,
lane

Lane, I looked around and didn't find what I though I had. The only shims I have are from a Freightliner, the inside hole is about 1.5" or bigger so they are of no help.

My local hardware store, Westlake's Ace Hardware, has a little display of hobby metal, brass, aluminum, and stainless, this is where I found the shim material.

Joe

Joe, thanks so much for that little bit of info ..... I would not have thought to look there.

lane