Dug's 1959 Fleetside

[ricott]

You are getting close - the truck is really looking good. Thanks for the picture of the front wheel well, I really like how your truck looks. I think I'm going to mount the cab and front cap and then adjust forward/back, but not up/down. Since the rear mounts will need to be placed and welded, it wouldn't be that much more to move the front mounts if that is needed to get the best spacing in the wheel well.

I have another request, if you don't mind. I need to know about how much your front springs are compressed. At some point during the next few days, could you pull a measurement from the center of the upper A-Frame to shock tower bolt down to the center of the bolt that bolts the shock/strut to bottom A-Frame? I will use that number to approximate how much lower my truck will sit (right now the spring is fully extended). My engine is an Iron block 6.0, so it will weigh about 70/80 pounds more than the engine you have, but your number should get me in the ball park for front ride height. I plan to build a "Treaded Rod" replacement for both front spring assemblies this weekend. Once I have your measurements, I will set the front ride height at that number for "mock up " purposes. I appreciate your help.

Ricky

[dug224]

Originally Posted by ricott

You are getting close - the truck is really looking good. Thanks for the picture of the front wheel well, I really like how your truck looks. I think I'm going to mount the cab and front cap and then adjust forward/back, but not up/down. Since the rear mounts will need to be placed and welded, it wouldn't be that much more to move the front mounts if that is needed to get the best spacing in the wheel well.

I have another request, if you don't mind. I need to know about how much your front springs are compressed. At some point during the next few days, could you pull a measurement from the center of the upper A-Frame to shock tower bolt down to the center of the bolt that bolts the shock/strut to bottom A-Frame? I will use that number to approximate how much lower my truck will sit (right now the spring is fully extended). My engine is an Iron block 6.0, so it will weigh about 70/80 pounds more than the engine you have, but your number should get me in the ball park for front ride height. I plan to build a "Treaded Rod" replacement for both front spring assemblies this weekend. Once I have your measurements, I will set the front ride height at that number for "mock up " purposes. I appreciate your help.

Ricky

Ricky: Was headed to the garage when I got your request. I believe I understood your request. Included a photo to be sure. Laying on the ground behind the front left wheel looking up. I get 14-3/8" from bottom strut bolt to center-line of upper "A" arm big bolt. My hood is not on and I am lacking other contributing factors like glass, bumper, brackets, etc. Not sure how much it really matters. When I was piling on the 60 lb sand bags trying to simulate the weight back in the day, I was hardly making anything move. Not sure how much this body weighs relative to the T.B. but, it seems to me, it would be a good bit lighter. When we gravity drove it, it handled more like a sports car than a truck. Dug

[ricott]

That is exactly the measurement I wanted - great job of decipering my unclear request. Thanks again.