I started the process of rebuilding the front end on my 57 this weekend. She's all original up front, the ball joints still have the rivets. I ran into some problems when I tried to get my spring compressor on. There is very little room on these cars to get on an external style compressor and the opening in the top of the frame is not big enough to drop in an internal style.
I ended up using the external compressor, one on each side of the spring. I put a floor jack under the control arm and when I took the nut off the upper ball joint and gave it a tap with a hammer, it popped pretty good. I was able to get everything apart this way but now I have to re-assemble and there is no way I'll be able to compress the spring enough to get it back in with the tools I have.
I found a video on youtube on installing front springs in a tri-5 and this guy made his own internal compressor out of 3/4" ready-rod and welded a tab on the bottom where the shock mounts to the lower control arm and he had a big nut and washer up top to compress the spring.
I'm a big fan of making your own custom tools, but this homemade compressor looked a little spooky to me. Anybody out there know of a professionally manufactured one and where it would be for sale? I did some searching on the web last night and didn't come up with anything.
I'm in Calgary
Greaser said
May 8, 2017
Does this looks like what you saw on youtube? Princess Auto.................$18.99
I have that style compressor and also an external grab style. Neither will work. The one you pictured is too big and won't go through the pocket in the top of the frame. This is the one I saw on youtube and it doesn't look robust enough to handle the spring pressure (to me). I could be wrong, but I would rather play it safe. I guess if it was made of grade 8 material, then maybe would be good to go? It would take about 10 minutes to make this setup.
Go to a truck spring shop and have them banned up.
I had a similar situation with my bare frame. With your suspension re assembled
Bound up they just sit in the pockets and when your ready just cut the band's.
First one I cut scared the crap out of me and I still had one more to cut.
Do not have the band's on the bottom or top. Properly banded the spring will have the spring with a good angle for easy fitment. I didn't have a torch, just used a hacksaw to cut the binding
canpontiac57 said
May 8, 2017
That's a great idea! Thanks.
Pontiacanada said
May 8, 2017
canpontiac57 wrote:
I have that style compressor and also an external grab style. Neither will work. The one you pictured is too big and won't go through the pocket in the top of the frame. This is the one I saw on youtube and it doesn't look robust enough to handle the spring pressure (to me). I could be wrong, but I would rather play it safe. I guess if it was made of grade 8 material, then maybe would be good to go? It would take about 10 minutes to make this setup.
Ya, that does seem sketchy; especially the eye hook, and multiple connections of the threaded rod.
long stroke said
May 8, 2017
Here is a tool i made up myself and have used on my 57 Pontiac as well as a friends 57 Chev and another friends 56 Chev. It works great but i would remind you to chain the coil spring away from you just in case. That spring coming at you could be deadly. This tool only cost me the bearing and i might add that the bearing makes turning that pig a lot easier. Good luck. Cheers. George
Thanks George, installing a bearing was a good idea to make turning it easier. I'm going to try and copy that design. I took my coils at lunchtime to a spring shop and asked them to compress them and band them with steel bands and they refused. Too much liability. Guess I can't blame them, lots of energy stored there, could become a deadly missile if a band broke.
oshawacliff said
May 8, 2017
I had mine done 30 years ago, things change.
long stroke said
May 8, 2017
canpontiac57 wrote:
Thanks George, installing a bearing was a good idea to make turning it easier. I'm going to try and copy that design. I took my coils at lunchtime to a spring shop and asked them to compress them and band them with steel bands and they refused. Too much liability. Guess I can't blame them, lots of energy stored there, could become a deadly missile if a band broke.
The liability issue makes total sense to me and i would not do it for someone for the same reasons. I would never trust the banding as i put the coil in place with my hands, just thinking about it makes me wince. If you would like to copy this tool i would just recommend that you use quality grade stainless steel for the rod, a quality bearing and that round bar at the bottom to ease up on the angle for tightening. Good luck. Cheers. George
I started the process of rebuilding the front end on my 57 this weekend. She's all original up front, the ball joints still have the rivets. I ran into some problems when I tried to get my spring compressor on. There is very little room on these cars to get on an external style compressor and the opening in the top of the frame is not big enough to drop in an internal style.
I ended up using the external compressor, one on each side of the spring. I put a floor jack under the control arm and when I took the nut off the upper ball joint and gave it a tap with a hammer, it popped pretty good. I was able to get everything apart this way but now I have to re-assemble and there is no way I'll be able to compress the spring enough to get it back in with the tools I have.
I found a video on youtube on installing front springs in a tri-5 and this guy made his own internal compressor out of 3/4" ready-rod and welded a tab on the bottom where the shock mounts to the lower control arm and he had a big nut and washer up top to compress the spring.
I'm a big fan of making your own custom tools, but this homemade compressor looked a little spooky to me. Anybody out there know of a professionally manufactured one and where it would be for sale? I did some searching on the web last night and didn't come up with anything.
I'm in Calgary
Does this looks like what you saw on youtube? Princess Auto.................$18.99
https://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/coil-spring-compressor/A-p8733651e
I have that style compressor and also an external grab style. Neither will work. The one you pictured is too big and won't go through the pocket in the top of the frame. This is the one I saw on youtube and it doesn't look robust enough to handle the spring pressure (to me). I could be wrong, but I would rather play it safe. I guess if it was made of grade 8 material, then maybe would be good to go? It would take about 10 minutes to make this setup.
Ya, that does seem sketchy; especially the eye hook, and multiple connections of the threaded rod.
Here is a tool i made up myself and have used on my 57 Pontiac as well as a friends 57 Chev and another friends 56 Chev. It works great but i would remind you to chain the coil spring away from you just in case. That spring coming at you could be deadly. This tool only cost me the bearing and i might add that the bearing makes turning that pig a lot easier. Good luck. Cheers. George
Thanks George, installing a bearing was a good idea to make turning it easier. I'm going to try and copy that design. I took my coils at lunchtime to a spring shop and asked them to compress them and band them with steel bands and they refused. Too much liability. Guess I can't blame them, lots of energy stored there, could become a deadly missile if a band broke.
The liability issue makes total sense to me and i would not do it for someone for the same reasons. I would never trust the banding as i put the coil in place with my hands, just thinking about it makes me wince. If you would like to copy this tool i would just recommend that you use quality grade stainless steel for the rod, a quality bearing and that round bar at the bottom to ease up on the angle for tightening. Good luck. Cheers. George