want to undo lowering of my 1941 deluxe

[hueyhoolihan]

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?

[mcgarrett]

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

[hueyhoolihan]

Originally Posted by mcgarrett

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

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!

[rich b]

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

[hueyhoolihan]

Originally Posted by rich b

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

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

[Ggmac]

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[leon bee]

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

[Ggmac]

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[hueyhoolihan]

Originally Posted by Ggmac

Just a fyi . Porta power requires no electric power . Just arm pumping . They are inexpensive now and can come in handy for other uses

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.

[Ggmac]

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[Als48]

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

[hueyhoolihan]

Originally Posted by Als48

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

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

[big job]

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.

[hueyhoolihan]

Originally Posted by big job

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.

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!

[tubman]

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.

[Mart]

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.

[chap52]

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

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Originally Posted by big job

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.

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

[fortyonerag]

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.

[hueyhoolihan]

Originally Posted by fortyonerag

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.

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.