Front front hanger issues

[nkeiser]

I have a 1953 3/4 ton (B4C) that was my dad's high school shop project and then a farm truck for years.  Anyway, most of the spring hangers have been wallered out.  I was able to buy new rear rear mounts.  The front rears were ok.  I made new rear fronts with some new parts for Willy's and some angle iron.  However, I'm stumped on the front front hangers.  Fortunately only one is in questionable shape--the other one is good.  

Has anybody refurbished or found a source for new ones?  Willy's hangers are similar, but they are not threaded.  I have an 11/16-11 tap ordered (closest I could find) to try to make something work.  Does anybody know if this is the correct thread size for that pin (even though it's been truncated).

 

Thanks in advance for the help.

[William Davey]

Andy Bernbaum's has listing for Dodge trucks of that year, including spring hangers and bushings. The on-line catalog does not specify 1/2 or 3/4 ton, but it's worth a call to them.

617*244*1118

[MBF]

I replaced the rear front spring mounts in mine this past fall.  Had a parts truck that had a good set.  Pain to remove by  drilling and chiseling the rivets, but I got it done.  I would think a machinist would be able to bore out the worn ones and sleeve them to fit if you can't find replacements.  ESPO Springs and Thinks has the shackles, bushings, and pins for the rear if you need them.

 

[nkeiser]

I've checked those sites.  Nobody makes this particular part.  I did secure new pins, shackles, and bushings from Jegs by way of Rareparts.

The part I'm struggling with is the part that is riveted to the frame.  I've spent lots of time grinding and drilling them out (what a pain!).

The Willy's mount looks like this, but unfortunately the holes aren't threaded.  It's also slightly shorter, but that shouldn't matter as long as you replace both sides.  My new tap shipped today, so I'll have to play around some.  I do like the idea boring out and putting in an insert.  I may spend some quality time with my welder this weekend.

 

This is the part that I ordered for the  rear fronts.  I used these and some 2" angle iron to fabricate a new bracket. https://www.kaiserwillys.com/category/suspension/shackles-parts/leaf-spring-to-frame-shackle-bracket-bushing-insert-fits-41-64-mb-gpw-cj-2a-3a-3b-5-m38-m38a1

[MBF]

I've got the fronts (still w springs attached) and I think they're good.  Yes-those rivets really took a liking to their homes and didn't give up w/o a fight, but what a difference having unworn rear brackets made in the handling of the truck.   Great idea about fabbing up new ones, but those threaded bushings-one of the driver's side shackles is left hand threaded (can't remember if its the spring eye or shackle mount end) but it is shown in the service manual.  Mike

[nkeiser]

I was able to spend some time in the shop yesterday and got things figured out.  The 11/16-11 tap is the correct size for the front front hangers and pins.  I cleaned up the old holes, filled them in with a welder, smoothed out the welds, drilled, and tapped.  Luckily, the 37/64 bit that I had purchased for the rustyhope disc brake conversion worked for that size of tap.  The tap was too short to reach both sides at once, so I tacked in the test cut and tap I made to keep the threads in time so that the pin could thread through both sides with no issues.  I can finally start reassembling the front suspension!

Before (this was the good side, forgot to get a picture of the bad side before welding)

Getting the thread timing and alignment correct

Pic of the backside when prepped for paint.  Part number?

Painted and ready for re-installation