Salan's 1980 Something

[kramttocs]

I looked for some a few years ago for an 85 c&c and checked into uboltsdirect. Truck is currently sitting in a field with no rear sway bar but I remember feeling good about that company fwiw.

[salans7]

Thanks for the recommendation, I've bookmarked them for future reference.

[Gary Lewis]

Shaun - It looks like you have a 5-leaf spring packs.  Do you know the part number of them?  And, could you measure the individual springs for me?  Big Blue has a 7-leaf pack and I'd like to remove some, so maybe I could make them into copies of yours?

[salans7]

I will grab those measurements tomorrow. I know the springs were stamped E7, so I should be able to read the stamping hopefully.

How are you counting the springs? Are you counting the overload as the fifth spring?

[Gary Lewis]

Yes, I was counting the overload as a 5th spring.  Probably not the official way if doing it.

And, there's no big hurry.  But I would like to compare to mine and see if I have some of the same ones you have.  How hard was it to take the pack apart?

[salans7]

Gary, I realized I had a picture of the cert label from the parts truck, and found the spring code to be 7F. So according to that and the chart below from the MPC, the highlighted number should be the part number for the springs, which matches up with what I can see on the spring. However, when I tried to verify that number in the dimensions chart, I couldn't find a listing for E7TZ, all the numbers seemed to start with D8 and E0 but no E7 in sight. I probably just don't know the correct way to cross the number, but maybe you can use the number below to cross?

[Gary Lewis]

No, there's no E7's in that chart.  But in '83 on Page 75 I find that E3TZ 5560-T was replaced by E7TZ 5560-A.  And the E3 was used in several vehicles, including an '85 F250 w/an 8600 GVW and a 460.  Sounds familiar.

[salans7]

Yep, and my parts truck was a 1988 F250 4x4 w/8600 GVWR and a 460 as well. So were you able to get the dimensions from that or do you still need me to measure tomorrow?

[Gary Lewis]

Well, I went to bed and didn't look any farther.  But now that I have I don't see E3TZ 5560-T in the Section 53 size chart.  But, even if I did that only provides the thickness of each leaf, not the length.  I was hoping to determine which leaves I want to keep by matching the lengths up to yours.

So it would be helpful if you could measure yours.  Thickness would be an added bonus, but I think the length is the key dimension.  However, I'm not in a hurry so it doesn't have to be today.

Thanks!

[salans7]

I will be out there later today putting new pins in the leaf packs, so no better time than while I'm doing that. I'll post the measurements in Big Blue's thread so that you can detail your changes there.

[Gary Lewis]

Thanks!

[salans7]

Full-float Sterling is installed. Today I learned that semi-float and full-float axles have different length lug studs, and my nice closed-end lug nuts that fit the studs on my semi-float Sterling won't fit the studs on my full-float Sterling. New lug nuts are on the way. I'm hoping the nice ones I have will work with an aftermarket wheel with a thicker bore, but they definitely don't work with steelies.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Looking good, Shaun!  

I'm sure you could press shorter studs in (if need be)
What type of wheels have you got for your truck, Alcoas or something similar?

[Gary Lewis]

Looking good.  I like that big hub sticking out in back.  But I wish mine were as black as yours.  

[salans7]

Thanks Gary! Me too. Actually looks like an F350 now.

ArdWrknTrk wrote

Looking good, Shaun!  

I'm sure you could press shorter studs in (if need be)
What type of wheels have you got for your truck, Alcoas or something similar?

Nothing yet. I've been watching Marketplace waiting for a deal like Cory found for his truck, but Marketplace is full of 16.5's and I'm not willing to go down that road.

[grumpin]

Great! An accomplishment!

[ArdWrknTrk]

Yeah, unless you're into leftover Humvee tires there's not much reason for 16.5" anything, these days.

[salans7]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

Yeah, unless you're into leftover Humvee tires there's not much reason for 16.5" anything, these days.

Exactly my thoughts as well. Even 15's and 16's are becoming outdated with the large wheel craze that's going on.

[Machspeed]

I'm enjoying your build, Shaun! Looks great!

[salans7]

Thanks John!