Leaf spring pad seems too high to fit? I know it is not, but do I go on faith that once I screw it up on the cross member, that the bolt head will press though?
That bolt head doesn't show up very well. Is it square so it will fit the hole?
I believe that the original Ford #3811 front spring tie bolt has a thicker than normal, square head with enough head height to fit through the pad and up into the square hole in the crossmember.
It appears that the later replacement bolt head is not as tall:
http://www.modeltford.com/item/3811.aspx
Does anyone have an original 3811 bolt and nut that they could supply to Robert?
Steve Jelf went through a search last year for an original Ford 3837 rear spring bolt, here is his thread:
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/331880/407326.html?1386794754
Bob Bergstadt was able to provide the correct bolt to Steve, perhaps he has an original 3811 front bolt and corresponding nut that you could purchase.
Please post a closeup of the bolt head.
Steve, the head is square, but low.
Mark, it is odd that they do not make proper size heads. I will beef it up temporarily with washers for now until I can figure out what to do.
If anyone makes them or know who makes I would appreciate it if you would let me and all of us know where we can buy one.
Thanks!
Lightened up the original , looks funny, might be a hex head?
Looking at illustrations in parts dealers' catalogues, it appears none of them have the correct high-head bolts. Maybe that would be a good project for one of the folks who supply the dealers. R.V.? Bob?
Yes, Steve; we're on it and will be in production soon. They should be ready in about 10-12 weeks. They will be top quality, made from the print.
Snyder's website shows a fairly tall-headed bolt for Model A's. I don't know if it is the same diameter and head size as a Model T bolt. For sure it looks like the bolt length is too long, but the length could be cut down. Might be worth taking a chance to find out if it would work?
http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/search.php?page=3&q=Front%20spring%20shackles
Just to be clear, the Snyder's bolt I was looking at is part number A-5345-R.
Excellent news from R.V. They'll be first rate. Both front and back?
That's a hex head bolt. That ain't going to work. No wonder the spring flops side to side. I wonder if the cross member has been drilled out?
Ken,
Not sure but in the one photo it appears that it is still square.
With the hex head bolt It must not have been seating in the cross member that's why it was Kattie wompus.
For a quick fix, I would weld on a piece of metal to the bolt head and file it square to raise the head enough to engage into the crossmember hole.
Perhaps my aging eye sight is playing tricks but this sure doesn't look square to me.
Never mind. I think you were talking about the cross member still being square not the bolt head. Sorry.
I squared of three washers and used them as temporary filler.
I do not know what to call the bolt head. It is square at the bottomish and hex at the topish??
I had a machine show re-thread the crankcase spring clamps.
The car is together and balanced!
one more with bolt in cross member.
That looks much better. Tighten your spring clamps evenly and see how level you are sitting now.
Robert,
Looks like you got er now.
Good job.
Good idea and fix, Robert, well done!
Leave it to RV to do things correctly! Sometimes the vendors just don't get it, and that is why I like Don Lang. He actually owns a T, and drives it too. I recently went through this whole thing, and I had to get a NOS bolt from Bob Bergstadt!Thanks Bob, you saved the day.
Robert, you did good up to a point. You need to square the head of the bolt to the spring, that way it will fit in the square hole in the crossmember. If it isn't square in the crossmember, it will wear in the hole. Dave
Wanted to keep this thread going. A PM or email to RV may be better but I'll try an open forum message.
RV, Are you still on track for an August availability? Will you have both front and back spring bolts?
Thanks
Rich
I like to flip the pad over. To me it makes more sense, even though it doesn't look as good.