Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | | Forums66 Topics128,049 Posts1,055,661 Members48,426 | | Most Online14,466 Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 34 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 34 | I need to install king pins that are oversized for a '49 Chev 1 ton. I have ones that are .010 larger than stock. I have heard that a wheel cylinder hone can work to ream out the hole in the axle, true? or would it be just as easy to remove axle and take to shop that will fit pins and bushings to spindles?
Frank 1949 Chevy 3800 1929 Chevy International
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 Riding in the Passing Lane | | Riding in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 | A wheel cyl. hone will never remove that much. They say money can't buy happiness. It can buy old Chevy trucks though. Same thing. 1972 Chevy c10 Cheyenne SuperIn the Gallery Forum | | | | | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 | Frank,
Taking the axle and spindles to the machine shop would be the perfect solution. The axle can be reamed in place if you have access to the proper tools. It sounds like you know the procedure on this operation already.
Stuart | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Frank,
Someone will correct me, if I am wrong; but, if you do not have a reamer and a hydraulic press, you should take the axle off the truck and bring the axle and spindles to a machine shop (that has experience with fitting king pins).
1. The axle will have to be reamed (drilled and reamed at a specific angle) for the over-sized outer-diameter of the king pin.
2. The spindle bushings will have to be pressed into the spindles
3. The holes in the spindle bushings will have to be reamed to the size of the king pins.
4. Also, you might as well have the shop install the king pins, shims, and bearings (and grease the assembly).
1/2 ton bushings do not need to be reamed and the bushings are a looser fit into the spindles than on the larger trucks. However, the axle on a 1/2 ton would still have to be reamed (drilled & reamed?) for an over-sized king pin.
Tim | | | | | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 | Frank,
Just curious..why do you think you need oversize pins?
Stuart | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 82 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 82 | Hello, Frank.
tclederman speaks truth. Just went through this process myself. Step 4 (having the shop install the pins and such) is a good idea but takes some of the fun out of it. Depends on how fed up you are at the time. My 58 had full floaters, but on the 49 1-ton they may only be press-fit.
Good Luck,
Richard 58 3104
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 990 Member | | Member Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 990 | Spanky suggested a while back using Kaiser Spiral wound king pin bushings and king pins which I put on my 59 1 ton. This is a job you can do yourself and the spiral wound bushings are twisted in and can adjust themselves and need no reaming. The pins are also groved and hold much much more grease. I used them on my truck and highly recommend them even though they are a bit pricey. | | |
| |