As I’m inspecting the suspension on my ‘39 1/2 ton Chevy, I noticed that there is an upper and lower rear leaf spring on each side (see picture). When I look at suspension pictures online of restored ‘39s, I’m only seeing a lower leaf spring on each side at the rear. I would be indebted to anyone who can tell me if the upper spring was perhaps a factory extra or if this setup is from a different year.
Thank you very much!
Last edited by Peggy M; 05/03/20248:48 PM. Reason: adjusted title
Mike, Yes, the upper assembly is called an auxiliary (or helper) spring and is a factory option. I have those on my '42 half ton and give you more capacity without affecting the ride when unloaded. Kent
That's pretty cool. The original, "Heavy Half Ton".
That moniker was used to refer to Ford's original F150 in 1975. It's nominally a 1/2 ton pickup but with heavier suspension to carry heavier loads than the F100 half ton pickup.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy) 1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1956 Cadillac Sixty Special Fleetwood (The Godfather) | 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado (The Purple Knif) | 1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe | 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
Lee (46Sparky) sent me a private message asking for documentation to support my statement that the auxillary springs on a 1/2 ton were factory. I went back to my 1929-1950 Master Parts Catalog and realized I interpreted the listing for Utility to include 1/2 tons which it does not. Utility refers to trucks 1 1/2 ton and up. My old eyes misaligned the listing on the page. Furthermore, there is no listing for the bump stop for the auxillary spring which is shown in your photo. So these springs may be aftermarket. There is a listing for Advance Design 1/2 ton trucks with heavy duty springs which has one extra leaf (not a separate 6 leaf spring package).
Lots of aftermarket helper springs were available from various vendors. I've got a 51 GMC long bed half ton frame with what appears to be factory overload springs installed. Not sure if the same option was available on Chevy, since I don't think a long bed half ton was available for most, if not all years in the 1950s. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
I was curious about the info Kent had provided because I was hoping to finally be able to prove the auxiliary springs were a year correct factory option thereby also being an approved accessory for VCCA point judging. These springs were on my ‘46 before a complete restoration. I was unable to find documentation showing them to be a year correct accessory, despite previous search efforts. In the end, I decided to keep them and “eat” any judging point loss.
Mike - I have a 40 half ton with the same springs shown in your picture. Bear with me here. Dad bought the pickup used in the early 50's. My older brother told me that dad had swapped out the engine, tranny and rear end from a newer 3/4 ton somewhere around 1960. (he was 10 years old so memory?) I found that the rear end was not swapped because the numbers on the ring and pinion gears match that of the 40 1/2 ton. The engine and tranny numbers say they are from a 1959 1 ton. My conclusion was that dad just swapped out the spring set up, and I feel I have validation for that because I recently purchased a 1/2 ton rear end complete with springs and shocks still mounted on it from the Barry Weekes auction. So now I have a comparison. That large, heavy duty "spacer" bracket between the lower spring set and the axle housing is not part of the setup on the 1/2 ton rear end I just purchased. I can get you pictures if you would like to see what I am talking about. I believe you have a similar situation, where the springs were changed. Let me know if you would like pics.
Mike, Your extra, or overload, springs were a common aftermarket item. Moog and others supplied them. I think I have a couple of new sets, somewhere. Mike
