front spring install

[RestoreThemAll]

Good day folks.

I know that I've seen this discussed but can't seem to find the thread.

We're to the point on the front suspension of installing the springs. The BMC shop manual suggests using two 4 inch long 3/8" fine thread, hardened bolt to draw up the bottom spring plate and compress the spring. That doesn't seem like fun.
It there a better/easier way?
Is 4" long enough?
Threaded rod would be too soft, right?

I should mention that the car is on a rotisserie. No engine or trans. installed.

Thanks in advance for input.
Dale

 

[John Turney]

I used four threaded rods, about 6" - 7" long. Make sure the nuts at the top are locked in place. I recall that I used coupling nuts because they are longer and have more thread engagement. I also lubed them.

 

[stevebn2bj7]

I used 5/16 carriage bolts. Fine thread would take way too long. They were bent up afterwards and were recycled but it got the job done. Have used this method three times with no problems. One thing you may need to do is put a thin piece of steel or something like it on the frame rail where the spring pan will move up. Otherwise you will scratch the paint on the frame.

 

[richberman]

Dale,
It's pretty easy actually.. see my pictures here on how to do it. I used 4 threaded rods 6-7" long. Bought it at Home depot.
My 57 BN4 progress. Scroll down about 3/4 of the way.

Rich

 

[Bob_Spidell]

I use a 6-7" rods of 'allthread'--coarse thread is fine and as long as you use at least 3 rods (4 is better) they won't bend--with flatwashers and nuts at both ends. It takes a lot of nut-turning, so I use an air ratchet with a deep socket to pull the nuts up evenly, top and bottom, until the coil pan bolts will reach.

Don't forget to install the swaybar brackets.

 

[Richard Dickinson]

I have done this with two threaded rods on opposite corners. If you have an air ratchet you can jam two nuts on the top and use a socket to turn the rod. Also use a large nut under the regular nut on the bottom as a spacer, this makes it easier to get a wrench on the nut. If you don't have an air ratchet a gear wrench makes it go a lot faster.

 

[RestoreThemAll]

Thanks guys. This is exactly what I needed. I didn't know that threaded rod comes in hard metal. The manager at the hardware store sold me a length that has the same hardness as number 8 bolts.

Nice documentation on your web site Rich. Great pics!

I have several air tools but no air ratchet. I'm just trying to figure out how to convince the wife that I need one to fix the washing machine, and that the washer is actually broken.

I do have ratchet wrenches and a strong you son. That should work for now.

Dale

 

[Randy Forbes]

I used four threaded rods, about 6" - 7" long. Make sure the nuts at the top are locked in place. I recall that I used coupling nuts because they are longer and have more thread engagement. I also lubed them.

EVERYTHING John says!

All thread coupling nuts just make it easier to repeatedly land a wrench on the flats and the grease on the threads will help to keep from galling them.

If you can get B9 (hardened) all-thread rod, fine, but I've been using the run of the mill (soft) stuff for years and it does the job (with greased threads).

 

[HealeyRick]

Randy,

You never cease to amaze me with your collection of pictures for every purpose. You really should consider publishing your own workshop manual. I can see it now:

"Which manual do you use, factory, Bentley or Haynes?"

"Not me, I use the Randy manual!"

 

[RestoreThemAll]

Very nice Randy. It couldn't be made more clear.
BTW how's florida? The son that I mentioned above lives west of Orlando. He's been helping to restore his buddies Corvettes for the last several years. Very helpful around a Healey restore.
Thanks!
Dale

 

[healeyblue]

I just did this too. I used a little different approach. I first used a spring compressor on the springs off the car on the shop floor. Once they were compressed a good bit I wound safety wire around a bunch of the spring coils in a few places and tied them off. I then released the spring compressor. This left the spring compressed and I then lifted it in place and started assembly. I was still missing about 1/2 an inch for the stock bolts to grab so I used a couple C-clamps to compress it the rest of the way. Once all bolted up I just cut the safety wire and pulled it out. In this picture you can still see the wire tied around the coils prior to me cutting them out.

 

[richberman]

Threaded rod and nuts seems safer and easier to me.
rich

 

[Keoke]

Threaded rod and nuts seems safer and easier to me.
rich

---Keoke

 

[elrey]

Safety is paramount... I use 4 greased fine threaded rods about 7 inches long to install the springs. I use two of them diagonally to release the springs initially. At times I have used just two to draw the springs back up until I can add the stock bolts but have found that four is better. Piece of cake. Be sure to keep these rods, washers and nuts together in your kit for reuse later. They are valued tools.

 

[bighealeysource]

Hey Rich,
Beautiful restoration you have going on ! Please post more pics when you get them so we can see the continued progress. Also love the videos of taking the Healey out sans body for a drive. Remember doing that with my BN6 after going through a similar process and how excited I was to have it moving under its own power.
Regards,
Mike

 

[RestoreThemAll]

I'm not building a trailer queen, however I have powder coated most of the suspension parts. I do have a spring compresser and before I realized that it wasn't going to work on this car I was very worried that it would mess up the pretty powder coating. Laugh if you like but I was even considering putting something under the spring between the spring and the spring plate to protect the powder coating. Has anyone gone to that extent?

Dale

 

[Randy Forbes]

I just did this too. I used a little different approach. I first used a spring compressor on the springs off the car on the shop floor. Once they were compressed a good bit I wound safety wire around a bunch of the spring coils in a few places and tied them off. I then released the spring compressor. This left the spring compressed and I then lifted it in place and started assembly. I was still missing about 1/2 an inch for the stock bolts to grab so I used a couple C-clamps to compress it the rest of the way. Once all bolted up I just cut the safety wire and pulled it out. In this picture you can still see the wire tied around the coils prior to me cutting them out.

Healeyblue, we really need to get together and talk; when I started the restoration on my car in 1986 (living in Breaux Bridge at the time) there were seven (7) Healeys in Lafayette, and six (6) were Ice Blue (the original color of my car)! There's a good chance that I either worked on or knew a previous owner of your car, assuming it was from the local area.

Just for old-time's sake, these <span style="font-style: italic">handbrake turn</span> shots were taken at Acadiana Mall, back when the <span style="font-weight: bold">Blue Law</span> was still in effect:

Okay, back to your originally scheduled thread...

 

[Randy Forbes]

Very nice Randy. It couldn't be made more clear.
BTW how's florida? The son that I mentioned above lives west of Orlando. He's been helping to restore his buddies Corvettes for the last several years. Very helpful around a Healey restore.
Thanks!
Dale

Dale, we are absolutely loving it! Perhaps me more so than my wife (she commutes about 18 minutes each way, but within limited traffic load) while I stay "here" and work all day. The upside is, like today, I'm here for deliveries and service work still being done on the place.

I should change "my location" to Paradise (if I haven't already done so...) :wink:

 

[Randy Forbes]

Randy,

You never cease to amaze me with your collection of pictures for every purpose. You really should consider publishing your own workshop manual. I can see it now:

"Which manual do you use, factory, Bentley or Haynes?"

"Not me, I use the Randy manual!"

LOL! :angel:

 

[RestoreThemAll]

Front spring installed! It was so easy that I kept thinking I must be doing something wrong.

Thanks all.
Now on to brakes and bearings.

Then rear end is ready to install also.

"How hard can it be?"

Dale