The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop TCI Rear Suspension

Does anyone have experience with the TCI rear suspension kit for the AD trucks, specifically for the '50 3100? I just received it and started cutting my leaf perches off today. It seems the perches built by TCI interfere with the e-brake cable mount on the frame.

Having a new '58 rear axle, maybe I need to convert the whole e-brake system to the later style. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

It seems we both have the same kind of dilemma. I am in the process of installing a TCI rear suspension kit on my 51. I am using a 10 bolt rear from a 79 camero and rear disc brakes from a 2002 Firebird. The e-brake off the rear disc is a tab that swings back to the rear instead of forward. I will need to fabricate something to make the original cable work in this case.

Big Chev (or anyone else out there),

Have you gotten the rear springs from the TCI setup on your truck yet? I just spent a couple hours working on it, and I'm trying to keep the steam from billowing out my ears.

I understand that I may have to drill some holes in my frame when they don't quite line up with the holes on the brackets, but I've had to redrill most of their holes to get their bolts to fit through.

Then I finally get the leaf springs attached to one end and they don't fit to the other end. I pulled out the old springs and the assembly manual. The eyelets are supposed to be 52+". The new springs are less than 48". How do I make these work?!

I can't move the front bracket back at all because the running board mount is in the way. If I move the rear bracket forward 4", won't the axle be 2" forward?

Thanks for any help. I'm off to send a nice note to Mr. TCI to tell him what I think of his "bolt-in kit".

Okay. I REALLY need someone's help out there. I have completed the install of the TCI rear suspension kit on my truck, but the shock cross member has me baffled.

The instructions tell me to set it 28-1/8" from rear bed bolts, which puts it about halfway up the rear axle humps on the frame (I don't know what they're called) and then set them perpendicular with the ground. This puts it just behind the spare tire carrier with the bolts running directly into it.

Then you have the top shock bolt facing forward and the bottom shock bolt facing back. The shocks will never be able to be removed.

What am I missing?! If anyone has installed this kit before PLEASE contact me. I will have my digital camera back on Tuesday if pictures will help clarify my dilemma.

Thanks.

RedGreen:
I wish I could help but my kit has not arrived. I expect it sometime next week. I would suggest you hold up until some of us can PowWow over this.

From the deafening silence of this thread over the past month, it seems like TCI has now sold a total of 2 of these kits. With my kit 75% installed, that would make me the "experienced" one and that really scares me.

Maybe someone will wander along to this website in the next couple days who has years of experience with these kits and can help us out.

I think I at least need to remove the spare tire carrier from my frame.

PS, Big Chev, what do you that requires you to possess no less than NINE gas cans?!

http://www.clubhotrod.com/
That's funny. I've had a lot of friends ask me the same question. My wife and I own a chain of child care preschools around the Dallas area. From time to time the ladies driving the school buses will run out of gas. Someone will run out and buy a can and take gas to them. I will always end up with the can to keep them from being left at the school. I have offered to donate them to anyone but as yet, no takers.
BTW I think I'll our problem to the "Club Hotrod" http://www.clubhotrod.com/ website and see if we can find answers there.

Thanks, Big Chev & Robin. That picture of your 4-link is very similar to the shock crossmember that I have. I took some pictures this morning that didn't come out so well. I'll go take some more.

With the shock mounts facing in opposite directions, is there any way to actually remove those shocks on your truck? Just curious.

Okay. I've got new pictures up on my webshots site under the 2007-02 Making Progress folder. Let me know what you think.

I may try that. The piece in the way is part of the spare tire carrier. I'm not going to use that in the future, so I'll just get it out of the way now. Thanks. I'll let you know how it goes next weekend.

I just received my leaf spring kit and i have a Firebird Rear with disc brakes for my 53 chevy pickup. I plan on attempting the install next month. I have been studying the pictures. Big Chevy did you come up with something for the e-brake?

I know you guys are talking ADs.But I put the TCI kit in the rear of my 55 2nd TF with no problems whatsoever.The hardest part was knocking the old rivets out of the frame.I also had to flip the rearend,but ya just gotta be careful and ck.your measurements a couple of times.Original setup was 7 leaf springs with spring perches on top of the rearend.It now has 5 leaf springs with the perches on the bottom of the rear.It rides and handles a lot better,and oh yeah it looks a lot better sitting lower.

When I installed my lunatics components rear spring kit. I had to remove the spare carrier and move the brake cable mounts. I installed the upper shock bar were red green did and found out after adding sand bags to simulate the weight of the bed that the shocks bottomed out. Had to move the bar to the top of the frame. Then after driving it for a while the springs setteled, had to move the rear mounts back 1in to get the spring eye off the frame.
My suggestion is to add weight to the rear, about 400lbs to see where everything sits.
Easier to fix now than after the bed is installed.