Will '73-'79 coil springs fit my '72 F250? (8,100lb GVW).

[fireguywtc]

Robroy, I am not exactly sure what you mean by not lining up perfectly while assembling your front springs. However, I just wanted to let you know that recently I had just reassembled my factory front springs back onto my 67. The pigtail end that sits on the spring cups didn't sit evenly or flush on the bottom either. I am in the same boat as you are with nothing on the front end, everything off the ground. My assumption is the same as yours, once I get some weight back on them they should like up like normal. I also noticed my radius arm bushings are torqued out of alignment with the springs pushing everthing so far down. Hope this helps give some reassurance.

[robroy]

Bill, thank you that is reassuring! Like you, I tried placing my factory springs in there with the truck in its current state and noted that they're not exactly flush with the lower mounts either. But at least the pig tail is a nice snug fit on the lower mount, unlike all these replacement springs I've found.

But I think you're right. I think with some weight on the front end this will be a really different story.

Just curious: why choose to re-install the factory springs? Do they seem uninjured by their long career on the road?

Thanks very much Bill!
-Robroy

[robroy]

Robroy, I am not exactly sure what you mean by not lining up perfectly while assembling your front springs.

Hi Bill, sorry I wasn't being very clear about the lining up part.

What I mean is that the center of the pigtail on the Moog 8646 is offset half an inch or so from the center of the spring coil, while on the Spicer 5851124, the pigtail sits right in the center of the spring coil. That's similar to holding a coffee can by the top and bottom, with your hand that's on the top right in the center, and the hand that's on the bottom offset half an inch from the center. It's a little funny.

Thank you Bill!
-Robroy

[fireguywtc]

Robroy, I am not exactly sure what you mean by not lining up perfectly while assembling your front springs.

Hi Bill, sorry I wasn't being very clear about the lining up part.

What I mean is that the center of the pigtail on the Moog 8646 is offset half an inch or so from the center of the spring coil, while on the Spicer 5851124, the pigtail sits right in the center of the spring coil. That's similar to holding a coffee can by the top and bottom, with your hand that's on the top right in the center, and the hand that's on the bottom offset half an inch from the center. It's a little funny.

Thank you Bill!
-Robroy

great analogy love it. And yeah though it's difficult to be really clear when typing here, I was trying to give ya some reassurance that I think you are on the right track!

As for as me reusing the original springs. Both front and back looked fine for me upon inspection. I did consider changing everything out but reading around here I didn't think I would really see any benefit from it as longs as they are not cracked or broken. I also considered the abuse I have given my suspension when I was 16 and 17. I have jumped the truck and all kinds of stuff and it has held up so far. Perhaps some day in the future I may need to change them out, but for now it saves me some money.

[robroy]

I was trying to give ya some reassurance that I think you are on the right track!

That's highly appreciated Bill! Needless to say I've never done this to a Bumpside before so it's hard to know what to expect.

As for as me reusing the original springs. Both front and back looked fine for me upon inspection. I did consider changing everything out but reading around here I didn't think I would really see any benefit from it as longs as they are not cracked or broken. I also considered the abuse I have given my suspension when I was 16 and 17. I have jumped the truck and all kinds of stuff and it has held up so far. Perhaps some day in the future I may need to change them out, but for now it saves me some money.

Makes sense! They're not all that hard to replace even with the truck all put back together, I suppose.

Thanks Bill!
-Robroy

[robroy]

Recently I bought some thick, square washers to replace the factory lower spring retainer plates with. These washers are wider than the factory retainer plates, so they do a better job of covering the wider bottom coil on my new spicer springs.

I used an electric grinder to shave two corners off; this keeps those corners from hitting the spring coil as it wraps up away from the retainer, while the other two corners are left square for maximum coverage of the bottom coil.



I think they're thick enough to stand up to the abuse. They seem about as thick as the factory plates.



Here's one installed. This photo was taken down the middle of the spring, through that hole in the upper spring mount. You can see that the coverage of the bottom spring coil is a lot better with this plate than the factory retainer plate.



Hopefully this will do the trick for good!

Thanks!
-Robroy

[EquipmentJunkie]

Robroy, could you please send me a PM? I tried to send you a PM but my message seems permanently stuck in the Outbox and never gets sent. Thanks.

[robroy]

With the engine all installed, I went to do the final torquing of all the fasteners today!

Since the hood, radiator, radiator support, fenders, battery and more will be installed ultimately, I put some sacks of coal slag on the front to weigh it down to about the right level first.



With the engine and this added weight, the lower spring mounts DID look much more natural! Thanks goodness.

Robroy