F-40 front springs, has anyone been able to cram those things in ?

ABC123 · Uber Guru

F-40 front springs, has anyone been able to cram those things in ?

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Doing it on a bare chassis is a nasty job. Do you have an old pair that you could trash? Cut a coil or two out of them, then install them until you have the car mostly assembled with engine in, body on etc, then install the real ones. It's much easier when you can use the weight of the car to help out. I venture to say, safer that way too.

65 SD L79 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Randy , do you have anyone up your way that can cage the springs for you?

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Are you installing them the correct way with the lower control arm connected to the spindle and swinging in the inside end of the lower control arm into it's pocket? You need the bar as shown in the service manual, and the block of wood to stabilize the inside end of the lower control arm.

ABC123 · Uber Guru

65 SD L79 wrote:
Randy , do you have anyone up your way that can cage the springs for you?

The only guy I know who can band the springs is off work.

I love the ideal of cutting a different set down.

65 SD L79 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

ABC123 wrote:
65 SD L79 wrote:
Randy , do you have anyone up your way that can cage the springs for you?
The only guy I know who can band the springs is off work.
I love the ideal of cutting a different set down.

i can get them done for you

65 SD L79 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

i have used a trolley jack and the loader bucket to put them together and also a 4x4 up to the ceiling of the garage

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

ABC123 wrote:
65 SD L79 wrote:
Randy , do you have anyone up your way that can cage the springs for you?
The only guy I know who can band the springs is off work.
I love the ideal of cutting a different set down.

I got the idea when I installed a set of lowering springs in a Beaumont years ago and didn't need a compressor to do it. I was just barely able to force them into place with no compressor.

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

seventy2plus2 wrote:
Are you installing them the correct way with the lower control arm connected to the spindle and swinging in the inside end of the lower control arm into it's pocket? You need the bar as shown in the service manual, and the block of wood to stabilize the inside end of the lower control arm.

I think he could do that Clint, but the issue is a frame with basically Zero weight to it.

That being said, can you elaborate on that practice, do you have any images of doing it yourself? I'd like to try it.

DANO65 · Poncho Master!

I don't see the F40 springs going in the bare even with the correct method. I did it with stock springs that had 1 coil removed and it was sketchy. I had a big block and trans in the frame as well as about an extra 200lbs piled on top of it. And just made it. If you had a loader handy and could hold the front of the frame down like Kevin says it would work. But for moving purposes while assembling the rest I would go with Carl's suggestion of cut down old springs for now. 2 coils should do it. And if you can heat and flatten the cut end to more resemble the stock end even better.

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

cdnpont wrote:
seventy2plus2 wrote:
Are you installing them the correct way with the lower control arm connected to the spindle and swinging in the inside end of the lower control arm into it's pocket? You need the bar as shown in the service manual, and the block of wood to stabilize the inside end of the lower control arm.
I think he could do that Clint, but the issue is a frame with basically Zero weight to it.
That being said, can you elaborate on that practice, do you have any images of doing it yourself? I'd like to try it.

I did it on the bare chassis that sits under my Parisienne. But, I was at a buddies place and he put the bucket of his bobcat on the frame horns to help weigh it down.

gparis7 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I have done it in my garage on a bare chassis using spring compressors and HD ratchet straps. It wasn't easy but it worked.

ABC123 · Uber Guru

I did landscaping today instead

Those hostesses won't wait to be divided biggrin

Thanks for all the advice.

I think I will stop in at the local spring shop Monday.

If that falls through, there will be a road trip to take Kevin up on his offer.

ABC123 · Uber Guru

65 SD L79 wrote:
i have used a trolley jack and the loader bucket to put them together and also a 4x4 up to the ceiling of the garage

I didn't have a 4X4 so I used 2X4s "t" shaped and screwed together.

Lagged at the bottom through the frame with an old body mount as a washer.

Right side done, top compressor bracket stuck but I ran out of time.

May have to come out again.

At least I know I can do it biggrin

-- Edited by ABC123 on Monday 22nd of April 2024 07:11:56 PM

gtodrive · Guru

I love it Randy, nice job! The satisfaction that is gained is so worth it when you choose to say: Never say uncle!

65 SD L79 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

awesome!

koolconvertible · Poncho Master!

What are F40 springs?

ABC123 · Uber Guru

koolconvertible wrote:
What are F40 springs?

1969 2+2 stats.jpg

F-40 is a package with heavy duty springs with a thicker front sway bar.

ABC123 · Uber Guru

Done!

No casualties

Thanks again for the advice!

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Looks like fun. What is that collar around the spring? A compressor?

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

2 things:
- Glad you didn't lift the roof off the garage,
- looks like you've got an eccentric laying on the floor.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

ABC123 wrote:
koolconvertible wrote:
What are F40 springs?
F-40 is a package with heavy duty springs with a thicker front sway bar.

In 1969 does it give you the bigger bar? In 1966 it doesn't, at least not on all 1966 F40 cars. Maybe some have it though?

ABC123 · Uber Guru

seventy2plus2 wrote:
2 things:
- Glad you didn't lift the roof off the garage,
- looks like you've got an eccentric layng on the floor.

1, There was some creaking biggrin

2, That is an extra that I used to align things up.

The ones on the car are clear coated so I wanted everything perfect before they went in.

ABC123 · Uber Guru

cdnpont wrote:
Looks like fun. What is that collar around the spring? A compressor?

Not sure if they are original or not but they didn't want to come out so they won the right to stay.

DonSSDD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Rubber things like that were on the rear of my 63, the fronts had bolt on type- they keep the springs from collapsing I assumed, so added to ride height. I didnt need them when I replaced my old sagging front and rear springs with new Moog.
Glenn had an excellent spring compressor he got from Napa, worked excellent on the big front springs. Eliminated most of my fear of the compressor letting go at the wrong time. I bought one too.