The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk "Heavy 1/2-ton"?

I think I've heard something about a "heavy 1/2-ton" option on early '60s trucks, where the 1/2-ton trucks were given heavier duty suspension bits.
I'm wondering, because I've got a '62 Suburban 1/2-ton that was originally ordered by the California Parks and Services division, with 283/4spd granny tranny. It seems like it would be the PERFECT candidate to come with a stiffer, more rugged suspension.
Why I'm wondering, specifically, is because the rear springs, even after all these years, are very stiff. The torsion bars take rail road crossings and the like very nicely...the rear suspension jars your teeth lose.
I'm wondering if this could be because the rear has stiffer springs from the factory.
Throwing more into the matter, it has a later (non-adjust brakes) Dana 44 under it, that was a bolt in. I'm thinking perhaps if this truck originally came with 3/4-ton springs, the pinion angle might have been different, which might explain the highway speed vibration I have.

Any info on a "heavy Half-ton" option would be greatly appreciated.
-Brad

I know with the Fiourduh's, the half ton was an F-100. The heavy half would be a F-150.

My 59 GMC is a 100. They have 150's on up. I would "assume" that the 150 would be a heavy half.

Help me out guys.

Chevy has 3100 which is half/shortbox, and 3200 which are half/longbox. A 3400 is 3/4.

In the 50's, and before, the GMC 150 was the 3/4 ton designation. I don't remember any heavy half tons until the mid-70's and that was in response to the unleaded gas requirements for vehicles under 6000 GVW circa 1975. By then Chevies were C/K10, C/K20, etc. and half ton GMC's were already 1500's. 3/4-ton Jimmy 2500's. That's about the time Ford came out with the F-150 and had both half tons for awhile. One correction Builder: Chevy 3/4 tons were 3600, not 3400. Brad, as to your heavy duty 62 'burb: anything is possible, especially with a government purchase.

Thanks Frank50. I see my error.

The 1954 shop manual specifies the heavy 1/2 ton has 10-leaf rear springs. The standard 1/2 uses 7 or 8 leaf springs.

My 1-ton 1950 GMC has rear overload springs mounted above the regular springs and I'll bet they were an option for 1/2 ton trucks too.

My '50 half ton has overload springs on it too, over the axle, with rubber bumpers to contact the frame. They look stock. The rest of the truck has the stock parts. It does seem to work like a heavy half, although the overloads don't kick in until the regular springs drop enough so they hit the frame.

The reason your springs are really stiff is that they have rusted together. If you take them apart, clean up the surfaces so they slide smoothly, grind off any ridges, and replace and grease the bushings, the ride should soften up quite a bit.

My rear springs are coils--that's why I was wondering if maybe they were taller/stiffer than regular '62 springs.
I'm just constantly surprised by how harsh the rear suspension is when going over bumps.
Granted, it's empty, but all that Suburban sheetmetal, rear doors and glass isn't light.
This past weekend, I hauled a pair of Mopar brake drums, backing plates, 6-leaf '57 Chevy station wagon springs, axle shafts (heavy duty), a Mopar 8 3/4 center section, and the complete stock rear end out of my '57 Chevy, complete with 5-leaf springs, traction bars, drums, axles and center section. So there was several hundred pounds--probably around 600 or so. And the ride wasn't exactly harsh anymore, but it wasn't sagging-springs soft either.
-Brad

I had a chevy 71 with a heavy half rear end---9' bed--coil springs--made to haul a camper. Don't know how far back thehose could be ordered.