Dennis:
Here's my 2 cents worth. I'm planning to do the same thing this winter to
my '56, and have gotten several messages from other members that going
monoleaf may not be the best alternative (cost or ride-wise). Most front-end
monoleaf ads I've seen start at about $350.00 (and that's not including new
shackles, pins and bushings you may or may not need). Also several who have
gone to monoleaf comment that they don't care for the 'new' ride.
More than a couple have advised me to remove the third and fifth leaf (with
the first leaf being the largest/strongest and the sixth leaf the smallest).
This should lower your stance about 2-3 inches, shouldn't require any
change in shocks (or shock mounts), and will still give you a satisfactory
ride. As long as you plan on using the stock engine or a small block
replacement, I don't think over-stressing the springs would be a problem.
If you plan to drop-in a big block engine or want better handling, consider
either beefing-up what you have or switching to an IFS (independent front
suspension).
Another member suggestion I've followed-up on is to replace the
liner/insulation between the leafs while you have the springs apart. I just
bought a roll of poly ride liner material from Chevy-Duty (item # 74-935,
catalog page 59) to put between the leafs when I have mine apart. The claim
is the new liner material will eliminate metal-to-metal rubbing between the
leafs and give a quieter ride. The roll has enough for both front and back
springs and while I wasn't especially wild about the price ($50.00 +
shipping), I thought it a small price to pay for a quiet ride or taking them
apart later to fix a noise problem.
I'll probably do the front spring work on my truck in late-January or
February while I'm doing a power steering conversion. Please post your
decision and/or progress to the oletrucks message board so others like me
can learn from your experience. Good Luck
Carl Ham
'56 TF Stepside
Pontiac, IL
>From: McGillis@aol.com
>Reply-To: McGillis@aol.com
>To: driver@49chevy.com, oletrucks@autox.team.net
>Subject: [oletrucks] Lowering TF Leaf Springs
>Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2001 12:41:24 EST
>
>I would love to drop my stock 1955 Cameo about 2" and make the ride a
>little
>softer but do not want to compromise safety. There have been entries about
>removing spring leaves to lower 1/2 ton TF ('55 - '59) pickups. Does it
>cause spring fatigue, or cause the main leaf to break? Do I remove
>alternate
>leaves such as 3, 5, etc. until the desired drop is achieved? My guess is
>that if the main leaf is #1, with the spring eyes in it, the one next to it
>(#2) should not be changed. Does anyone have any comments? See my truck
>at
>www.chevytrucks.org/
>
>Thanks,
>
> Dennis McGillis
> 1955 Cameo (V8 CAMEO)
>Vintage Chevrolet Club of America
> Orange County (CA) Region
> 949-551-4821
>oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and
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