Hello If you could please look at the following pictures I see no other solution maybe you will... 5 years ago I installed a 351 ford truck motor in a 61 P350 for Ford that had a V8 in it already .. so weight should be the same .. I am using this as it was original built by ford modified by Boyertown Auto works for a original Mister Softee Truck.. Weighing in @ 10500. lbs I know for sure that the right drivers spring is missing a spring and bent ! this was the way I been driving for a while . I finally located a NOS spring it will be on the truck this week .. the drivers side is fine as shown But my concern is the cross over support holding the motor in is hitting the I beam .. But maybe with the new spring it wont ..BUT in case I was wondering if anyone has a back up plan for me if it does not correct the problem going over a speed bump only I notice it bottoming out .. thnks for you info....DAn
Replace the spring, if it's still a problem, slow down a little more for the speed bumps! Does it look like the axle is supposed to "fit" into the crossmember? Maybe something else is bent?
The Engine support was the donor off of a box truck .. Know I see it looks like if I have to cut one side a little It might be better or worse.. I might weaken and end up hitting the oil pan...
I kind of figured the support might not have been original for the truck, but the way you worded your post it was impossible to tell, you made it sound like it was there all along. The solution is to fabricate a support crossmember that is not in the way of the axle.
If I could ask you someone back in the day put on front helper spring shocks looks like a mini strut type.. anyway I have another 1960 P350 Truck with out any weight and the shocks on it are @ 18 from bolt to bolt The shock on the Ice cream is 15"! I guess when I remove the spring I will take off the shock and see if it jumps up higher... and get different shocks!
The old trucks usually had a bump stop designed into them somewhere, that would hit and do no damage when the truck bottomed out. Often a rubber block mounted on either the axle or frame. Nothing else should hit before that bump stop hits.
First thank-you again for your time! Here are some pictures of my other 1960 truck with no weight and My 61 (with the problem ) with the helper springs installed...
mounts like this would replace the x-member but those springs look fatigued post some pics of the truck
I agree...the springs look to be 'drooping' pretty badly ...especially on the back--end of the front right side. I have an old dodge 3/4 ton that had the same problem, and I left that spring as it was, thinking I could 'take it easy'...about 3 months later, the thing literally "snapped" 3'' inches in front of the bushing bolt, from the sag! Scared the s**t outta me as I swerved off the road. I would 'suggest' you replace the springs and be done with the issue which ''might'' become a worse scenario. Just a friendly suggestion
interesting, the bump stop is there on the other truck, been removed from the truck that really needs it
Yes but what interesting is when I put the new spring in How high will it pull it up? if you look if I put the bumper stop on the truck that needs if I would have less than 1 1/4 movement before it hits .. Plus if you look at the other truck with yellow shocks on rest the length is 20inches the trouble truck with the helper springs is 18 inches two inches shorter in length. and way amount more of inches away in the rest position to the leaf spring. I can put on Monroe gas shocks New ones but not sure if Ishould keep teh helper springs on once I get the new leaf spring in... ???
No way to know how much the new springs will help, until you install them and get the truck sitting on it's wheels again. Leaf springs work in strange and mysterious ways.
You said new "spring" is coming. I HOPE you are replacing both front springs? In the event you do, also take a look at the rears. They should have been 'overload' types, as the truck apparently carries a lot of weight. (10,+++ lbs. laden?) If they are 'tired', it would make sense to replace them as well. New fronts will raise it 4"-6" if they are properly arched and 'engineered'. Truck will then 'squat' in rear. Sales will fall off, and...
eaton should be able to design a set to handle that the may need to know the front weight of the truck
I guess it's a traditional ice cream truck that is olde enough even though it isn't a hot rod. Popular at summertime rod trots I'd bet. I'm with those that say you need to replace both springs with a matched pair and as Jim suggested you may end up having to fab a new motor mount setup that clears the axle. When I saw the first photo of the bent spring I thought someone had heated the spring to lower the
View attachment 3244412 Update ... After 1.5 hours the NEW Spring is in! All went smooth... The truck lifted up to 2" under the center support of the engine cradle. The pictures show the difference.. Their is a Keystone Spring service in our area I will send this one and have them rebuild it and put it on the other side! Unless I find another NOS one! Not sure if I should put in rubber bumper on both sides or not ..
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