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| | | | Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 | never seen anything similar and nothing listed in the assembly manual RPO's so it's definitely not "normal" .... is the truck a NAPCO? how exactly was it mounted on the truck? did the truck have shocks?
Bill | | | | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 42 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 42 | its a 1/2 chevy 2WD truck, when i was taking it off it seems it was there from the start..didnt seem aftermarket when i was unbolting the frozen rusted bolts.. Ive never seen this before also..maybe a one of i kind frame??
I also tried to hunt down frame #'s, there is none anywhere(front & under cab)very weird !!! | | | | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 42 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 42 | never seen anything similar and nothing listed in the assembly manual RPO's so it's definitely not "normal" .... is the truck a NAPCO? how exactly was it mounted on the truck? did the truck have shocks?
Bill yes there is front shocks, the damper mounts to front spindle rear/behind drum plate.. the 4 holes on damper/spindle are perfect this must/has to be original equipment. just so weird.........
Last edited by fleetsidebed5859; 02/26/2011 5:14 AM.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 42 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 42 | I also posted this question on another forum,someone replied saying they where mounted on GMC models.
still with all my years thinkering with 55-59's ive never seen this before. | | | | | Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 | hmmm, steering damper, to control shimmy on rough roads ... wouldn't be considered part of the frame if bolted on and with it's own tag/part number .... I think not all plants stamped the vin on the frame rail until late 57 and later and there's never any number besides that one
well you should hang onto them and try to track the full story for sure, but I'd say they're a fairly uncommon special order accessory
Bill | | | | | Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,897 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,897 | That was an option on the GMC trucks. The theory behind it is that the I beam axle resonates at a certain freequency. The dampers resonated at the same freequency but opposite of the axle canceling out all road vibration. I had a pair on my first 59 gmc. I didn't notice any substantial difference with or without them.
John | | | | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 42 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 42 | hmmm, steering damper, to control shimmy on rough roads ... wouldn't be considered part of the frame if bolted on and with it's own tag/part number .... I think not all plants stamped the vin on the frame rail until late 57 and later and there's never any number besides that one
well you should hang onto them and try to track the full story for sure, but I'd say they're a fairly uncommon special order accessory
Bill yep im hangen on this pair 4 sure!! might be worth more then gold  | | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | Shop manual page describing them. That was certainly a new one on me. There's no mention of them in the Chevrolet manuals, nor a listing in the spec sheets. I suppose a dealer could have installed them. Personally, it looks to me like they would make the problem worse by adding too much unsprung weight to the axle.
Bill Burmeister
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 42 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 42 | That was an option on the GMC trucks. The theory behind it is that the I beam axle resonates at a certain freequency. The dampers resonated at the same freequency but opposite of the axle canceling out all road vibration. I had a pair on my first 59 gmc. I didn't notice any substantial difference with or without them.
John I would say it also adds more weight to the frontend , these things are heavy! | | | | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 42 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 42 | Shop manual page describing them. That was certainly a new one on me. There's no mention of them in the Chevrolet manuals, nor a listing in the spec sheets. I suppose a dealer could have installed them. Personally, it looks to me like they would make the problem worse by adding too much unsprung weight to the axle. that shop manual picture is spot-on..thats it! | | |
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