Model A truck body leaning

I have a 31 Model A pickup and the body is leaning 1 1/2 inches on the p***enger side front. It has the original style cross spring with the body mounted in the middle. The spring and all parts are new. What's the usual way of leveling up the body? Tapered shims under the spring? It's gotta set level. LOL

 

Just some things to check. Is the spring centered in the front crossmember? Are the shackels both at the same degree? Maybe try swaping the spring end for end to see if it sags on the other side after.
Pictures would be great. Where are you measuring from, the frame or fenders?

 

Broken spring on one side of the spring pack. De-arched spring.

 

The spring is centered in the crossmember and I turned the spring around last night with no change. The shackles are new and setting at the same angle. I measured the frame to floor and it's ok. I measured from fender to floor and its 1 1/2 low on the p***enger side and it's noticable. Think a tapered shim will help?

 

Usually an early ford will lean to the driver's side about a half inch. Are y ou sure it's sitting on a level surface to begin with? Tire pressure? Bent frame/axle? A tapered shim might even it out, but it won't tell you WHY it's crooked!

 

For that fact you could park it on a 2x4 to even it out but that won't fix what's wrong.... Don't put a bandaid on it, figure out what the problem is and fix that!

 

Try losening the center clamp bolts of the front AND rear spring. No need to remove them, just loosen them so there is no tension on them. Rock the body from side to side by placing your hands on the drip rails and giving a serious side to side rock (do this on both sides, low side last). See if that doesn't settle the body to an even keel. If so retighten the clamp bolts doing it evenly/side to side.

Frank

 

It seems to me that the frame is level (so you've said) so messing with the spring is not the right approach. Apparently the body and the fender are off. (You didn't say whether you checked a front or a rear fender for height.) I would think that the body needs a shim between it and the frame.

 

my guess is the fender brace is bent
if you open the doors up and measure them tip to tip see what you get
it could be just an optical illusion made by the fender
tk

 

Try setting the frame on level jack stands with the wheels off the ground.If it is still crooked then its a body/bed needing shimming.If its level then you have a suspension problem.

 

Jack, I think , if were mine I'd start by making sure the frame is level,once the frame is level you will know which way to go. At this point you can either , adjust the body or the suspension to cure the problem.

Good luck. Jack

 

Fab32 has the correct approach to relocate any body lean. Because the spring mounts on center of a pivot point in the upper part of the crossmember, tightening the U bolts unevenly will roll the spring in the crossmember saddle and make the body appear to lean left or right. Simply loosen both the front and rear Ubolts, level the vehicle and retigthen the UBolts in a crossing pattern evenly.

 

body mounts gone bad???

 

2x's on checking to make sure the frame is level before checking the body. Isolate the issue, then fix it. I'd start with the cross member and measure the frame height every couple of feet on any hole or rivet that is the same on both sides. I wouldn't trust a measurement off of the fender. Stock they aren't exactly mirror images.

 

Wife. You're not feeding her enough. Balance in all things.

 

Well, new info after I got my head on straight. I had said the frame was level but, the frame and body together are leaning to the right side 1 1/2 inches. Not just the body. I'm back to thinking the crossmember the front spring sets in is not letting it set level. I'm going to try the tapered shim (maybe 1/4 inch down to 0) will help. Surely this is not a new problem as all these old pickups had the same suspension. All help is appreciated.

Bruce, you could be right about the balance thing. LOL

 

Well, the tilting problem is mostly solved! I made a 1/4 inch thick shim and tapered it down to 0, put it between the spring and crossmember, tightened the u bolts, and the 'ol 31 straightened right up. She's a beautiful old traditional rod setting proud now!

Thanks everybody for the help.
Jackie

 

After all that and not 1 pic!!!

 

And he did what he said in his first post, just made a shim. Didnt try anyones advice. I guess if it worked he should do a tech on it. with pics

 

I'll try to learn to post pics here. This site is great.