want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

it looks as though a previous owner of my 1941 ford super deluxe has replaced the shackle end-plates with longer plates in order to lower the car. i have good reason, not aesthetic, to want it to sit at standard height. the original end-plates were in the trunk as it's turned out. :)

is it possible to simply jack up the car via the axle so as to take just enough weight off it to remove the bolts of the shackles without pressure being exerted on them, and then once out, raising it a bit more to facilitate installation of the shorter standard length end pieces and their securing bolts?

of course, i could simply try this approach, but thought i'd ask first...any takers?

Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

Your gonna need a spring spreader or some method of restraining the spring while removing the shackle plates.

Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

you know that's not what i was wanting to hear, don't you? ha.

i was sorta hoping that an adventurous type could throw a jack under that shackle and apply a bit of of lift to relieve the pressure...not so, eh? that's disappointing.

truth is, i watched a video on youtube the other day, where host (Canadian guy) did use a specialized spring spreader tool to do the job. but i also noted that he was the type that owned a garage with a real antique car lift that was mounted about ten feet in the ground on a huge 12" diameter post driven by a huge air compressor (identical to the one i used as a gas station attendant (SOHIO) back in the early 70's), was adorned in a vintage Fleet-Wing jumper and had 100 year old memorabilia all over the place. more of a museum than a shop, IMO. and so was hoping he was just using that old spring spreader because he'd never had a chance to use it before and not that it was a necessity ...not so, eh? darn!

Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

A porta-power makes a good spring spreader and can usually be rented for about $30 a day.

Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

truth is i have no power other than manpower, no air, no electricity...

Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

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Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

Kind of refreshing to read about a car getting lifted back up.

Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

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Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

yep, you're right. forgot about that. i was thinking for some reason some are powered by compressed air. in any event, i'm kind of a minimalist when it comes to tools. and just about everything else for that matter. :)

Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

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Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

Huey, You'll need proper jack stands to support the car by the frame to do what you are describing. Otherwise, it's probably doable.

Al Hook

Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

oh yes, jackstands (4) are plentiful as are jacks, big and small. :) biggest problem is an overabundance of years. :)

Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

I have never a problem using a floor jack, raising the car to the point of no weight on
the axle wheels off the ground and bang the shackle out you may have to jack axle up or down for the correct shackle. I never yet used a spreader used porta - power nope. So simple just relieve spring pressure that's why you raise the car so the whole axle is hanging ...hope this makes sense because I work alone for me its hard to ex plane things I just do.

Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

that's sort of what i was suggesting in my first post...although i admit i may not have expressed myself clearly. i'll be trying that method for sure, as it's fairly safe seeing as how there's little pressure involved other than that which would be applied when simply jacking up the car to change a flat or something similar. thanks!

Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

You can probably get away with because of the age and sag to the springs. Stock springs in good shape required the "C" clamp for stock length shackles. Maybe that's why so many got lowered. I'm no expert, but didn't this become unnecessary after Ford started putting sway bars on their cars? I don't remember what year that was; some time around WWII.

Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

With the weight on the car you could measure between the spring eyes and cut a piece of square tubing or wood and wedge it between the eyes. This assumes a non reversed spring. Then when you lift the car via the chassis the weight will come off the shackles quickly. You could then remove the long shackles and fit the stock ones.
Now, from memory the 41 shackles are longer than a 40 for example. Are you sure the shackles you have are longer than stock?

Kinda guessing but a 32-40 is approx 1-3/4" between centres. A 41 is about 2-3/4" between centres. Purely guessing here, I do not have parts in front of me.

What do you have in the trunk?

This should be a relatively simple job.

A spring spreader would be useful but possibly not necessary.

Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

I remember in 1962 buying 6" drop shackles at the local auto parts store for my "46 Woodie and us teenagers we installed them using a tire iron and a piece of pipe for leverage. Don't know how we survived some of those "master mechanic" adventures.
Put the frame on jack stands. Keep us posted. Chap

Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

Cant remember how exactly I did it but I never used a spring spreader but made use of a small trolley jack and it did the job. Probably the same way as you.

GB

Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

You can make a fairly simple spring spreader out of some square tube and a length of threaded rod. Google is your friend. I know that shackle removal can be done without a spreader, but it’s far easier if you can relieve spring tension during the job.

Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

oh i assure you i intend to relieve all pressure before commencing removal of anything! but i reckoned it might be accomplished using the weight of the car on the spring, or lack of it and a jack to find that point. maybe that's not possible...IDK.

Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

Years ago I had a large turnbuckle that we welded a piece of 1/4 inch x 2 inch steel on each end. Worked really well and was safe.

Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

The "C"-clamp is for those times that you can't find that point.

Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

That is what I made. Worked fine to pull a spring off an already removed axle/wishbone but I would think your idea of using the car weight and a jack has merit in this circumstance. I'd put a extra large C clamp or some chains around it for piece of mind.

Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

Some good spring spreader information from the HAMB:
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...#post-15889037

Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

Don’t use a fixed length wedge. You want something adjustable because you will need to change the spread of the spring to get different size shackles on.

Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

ya, i was thinking that even if i can neutralize the tension on the shackles and remove those long endplates, getting the shorter ones on will probably, i think, necessitate readjusting the spring in some fashion so as to position the shorter endplates to also fit without tension. could be tricky.

i expect i'll be doing some serious head scratching along the way at some point. and THAT's where some sort of adjustable spreader would come in very handy indeed! we'll see.

unfortunately, before i can begin to address the shackle endplates, i've got another job to do. it seems as though the new-to-me rear brake backing plate is rubbing on the brake drum on occasion and making a godawful screech. good news is i think i know why...it involves shimming the axle spindle...

once that's done i can turn my attention to the shackles. might be a week or three. :)

Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

I made one like that years ago out of 3/4" all-thread and for a '40 spring, it was dangerous! You need 1" all-thread minimum.

I bought a 4 ton "Porta-Power" HF rip off and made a second wedge end. It works wonderfully and safely. Note that the dimensions work for a '40 spring.
https://www.harborfreight.com/4-ton-...kit-58204.html

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...4&d=1625683536

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...4&d=1625943605

Re: want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe
 

removed rear brake drum yesterday and found one of the pivot pin keepers for the E-brake had fallen off and the pin fell out too.

i had a couple more so removed and reinstalled the brake shoes and all the e-brake paraphernalia and then today installed the rear tapered shim for the axle, then on went the brake drum and tightened it all down. test drive revealed no problems.

e-brake needs adjusting as it's barely engaging, but brake drum squeal is now gone!

took a hard look at the front and read shackle endplates and i think i might be able to jack one side up and replace the plates without too much trouble. i'm thinking that may be the next task on my list...emphasis on "may".