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| | | | Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 486 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 486 | 1957, 3800 used to have a grain bed but I'll put a 9' stepside bed on later this summer. I changed it from dual rear wheels to singles, R8-19.5. It'll never be loaded heavily again and I live on a gravel road do I'd like to find a simple way to soften the ride a little. Two things that have to come to my mind are (1) remove a leaf or 2 from each spring pack or (2) change out the springs for some from a 3/4 ton. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks.
'64 swb stepside (gone)
'57 1 ton
'53 phone truck
'59 swb
'46 1 1/2 ton
'68 swb gmc
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 Crusing in the Passing Lane | | Crusing in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 | Remove leaves, including overloads, can stack them differently to maintain orig. ride height.
Ed
'37 GMC T-18 w/ DD 4-53T, RTO-610, 6231 aux., '95 GMC running gear, full disc brakes, power steering, 22.5 wheels and tires.
'47 GMC 1 ton w/ 302, NP-540, 4wd, full width Blazer front axle.
'54 GMC 630 w/ 503 gasser, 5 speed, ex fire truck, shortened WB 4', install 8' bed.
'55 GMC 370 w/270, 420 4 speed, grain, dump bed truck from ND. Works OK.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 321 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 321 | Hi Jfnar I had the same deal with my 1 ton "Howard Knapp" truck...it was a 1 ton with a lot of leaf springs in the back....I carefully removed all the hangers and went to the a junk yard and ordered a pair of late 1990's leaf springs for it...I even used the 1990's shackle mounts too... rear side view... rear view here It took I bet 1 week solid to get everything lined up and fit into place....make sure everything is square ....measure measure measure...shocks I got from Rock Auto and the hanging hardware I think came from Speedway Motors...all in all...not too hard to swap over... Oh yeah...I swapped the rear-end out for a 1985 Chevy K5 Blazer while I was in there cuttin and choppin... Good luck MikeC
Last edited by mikec4193; 04/05/2016 4:45 PM.
1951 Chevy 3800 1-TonHoward KnappIn the Stovebolt Gallery1948 Chevy 1-Ton (sold Nov 2017)1953 Chevy 1-Ton (sold 10/1/2016) | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | jfnar, This rear-springs page from the 1957 Truck Specifications Manual might give you guidance on which springs might be safely removed? My guess is the spring-pack you have (most likely RPO-254 - HD springs) came with the dual-wheel option package (RPO-462 - dual rear wheels)? | | | | | Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 2,062 Big Bolt Forum Moderator | | Big Bolt Forum Moderator Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 2,062 | when I did the ones on my Suburban, I left the original top leaf (cold not get to one of the hangers because of the 2nd tank added way back when before I owned it). I then added leaves from a newer truck (3/4 ton I think) and got the ride I wanted. That way, there was no replacing hangers on the frame (not that it is a big deal), and you can add/remove an individual leaf as needed. | | |
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