After reading some threads/posts on the HAMB, I was kind of dreading 2-1/2" drop transverse leafs (front & rear) on my '37 ford pick up. I read about spreaders etc., and **** flying when things slipped, and other difficulties. With the reverse eyes on it I was expecting a lot more trouble. How I got it in was to get one side connected to the mount on the rear end, and pull it over and install it on the spring perch on the crossmember. It did pull the rear end over a couple of inches which concerned me (getting everything over to the other mount). Surprisingly all I had to do was loosen the u-bolts a couple of turns and get a floor jack under the spring eye. As I lifted the jack the end of the spring did want to move a few inches toward the rear. I backed the jack off and put a come-along from the bottom leaf to my X-member and cranked it a couple of notches to keep it even while I raised it. Since I didn't have the bed, cab or motor in it did start to raise the wheel off the ground. I had my fat friend stand on the rear of the frame and it all lined up and in went the shackle! Hope this helps someone.
I just take the spring apart, install one side of the main leaf, put a piece of square tube between the other spring eye and the axle on a spring over type axle, (or a cinder block with a s**** of plywood or 4x4 for a spring behind axle) have someone push down on the spring and connect the shackle. Once that's done I get a long bolt or some all thread and a couple nuts, and four big C clamps. Stack the other leafs on, put the long bolt through the hole in the leafs and start to tighten it, pulling the leafs down towards the main leaf. I put 2 clamps on either side of the bolt. Tighten the bolt, tighten the clamps until its together. Pull the long bolt, put the right bolt in, tighten it and pull the clamps off.
The Jalopy Journal
