splitting 37 pickup bones

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oldsman41

Senior Member
ok guys need some help here. i want to split the bones on the 37 pickup and i want to keep the spring forward set up. has anyone here done this and where did you put the bones on the rear of the frame? on the x frame or on the outside frame? and by doing this what width spring did you end up getting? EYE TO EYE I hope some one gets back to me on this im kind of stuck here. thamks
 
If you split the radius rods on a spring forward setup you will most likely have to pie-cut the radius rods to bend them to the new location and re-weld them. That method will not change the spring width, if you rotate the spring perch any it will be out of square and will not work. So, obviously the closer you keep the split end to the center line the smaller the pie-cut. Keeping them close to the centerline is also better for the suspension geometry. I attached a couple of photos of bones split all the way to the sides which look like they were heated and bent. It is also possible to heat the front spring perch and bent them back to parallel after moving the bones to the side. It is mostly a matter of preference.
 

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The HAMB is your friend, the guys over there will answer your questions with practical expertise.
 
Are you doing the front wishbone or the rear one? If you are doing the front one you can get a kit from Chassis Engineering at www.chassisengineeringinc.com, and they have all the instructions on how to do the wishbones. Once you split the bones you heat the front near the spring eyes and bend them to square up with the axle. You then use your stock spring. I've used their kit on several cars. if you are doing the rear you can look at the setup by Hotrod Works at www.hotrodworks.com.
 
thanks guys i dont want to split them to the outer frame just to the sides of the x frame if i can. i dont think i would have to heat and bend to much that way. just wanted to here what others have done and if they have had any bad affects with them. also i seen a thread on other forum that said eaton spring will build a new spring cause the heating is not a good idea. know people have been doing it that way for years but still dont want the front end coming apart at 70 mph.
 
Heating is not going to cause an issue, whoever is saying that has no idea what they are talking about. There would be no original dropped axles if that was true!!!!
 
I've done several original 35/40 chassis for customers using the 37/40 bones and I use the P&J motor and trans mts with the wishbone splitting kit. Minimal spread with clearance for a late model trans.
 
yes i understand what your saying J. if i go to the x frame i shouldnt have to bend as much thanks. anyone else with ideas or comments please chime in.
 
krylon, the frame was already set up for a th 350 trans with a kit but the guy never finished the wishbone splitting. passed away before he got to it i guess, bought at auction
 
If you use the kits as suggested, you should not have to hear and bend anything, only weld the threaded bungs into the bones.
 
i ve seen the kits that have a place to put the bones but this one hasnt got that.i guess i could just replace the bottom plate or weld in brackets to the plate thats on there.
 
Not sure why you'd want to do this? It won't improve the ride or handling of the truck, over a stock suspension in GOOD condition.
 
Ol' Ron said:
Not sure why you'd want to do this? It won't improve the ride or handling of the truck, over a stock suspension in GOOD condition.
Click to expand...

He is putting in a later model 4-speed transmission and all or most of the x-member is already removed Ol'Ron.
 
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I installed a 1942 ford front axle and suspension in a 47 international and went to great pains to use the stock wish bone. I also use the stock stableizer and track bar, The only mod was disk brakes. Stops nice.
 
Install a wishbone yoke from a 28 - 34 wishbone and fab a mount for the ball socket ... it should land on the new trans cross member.
Heat and bend the spring mounts back out to where they were.

Simple - cheap - keeps it ford as it should be
 
Do you have to split the bones? I don't have experience with 4 speed transmissions , so I don't know if you need to split them or not. If not, use two wishbone cups and trim a hole in the bottom plate to mount one cup. Drill two holes for the bolts , use the second cup for the bottom, and bolt together to capture the wishbone ball.
 
I second the motion TJ suggested, by using the Chassis Engineering kit. I used it on my '46 Ford about 40K miles ago with no issues and it's a snap to install.
 
tj like your idea. like i said i bought this chassis at auction guy had passed away mid build wife didnt know much other than he was thinking about a 4 or five speed trans and a merc motor. but the plate on the x frame looks like one i did for a chev 350 auto trans. maybe that works on the manuals also. what year wishbone cups would i use?
 
oldsman41 said:
tj like your idea. like i said i bought this chassis at auction guy had passed away mid build wife didnt know much other than he was thinking about a 4 or five speed trans and a merc motor. but the plate on the x frame looks like one i did for a chev 350 auto trans. maybe that works on the manuals also. what year wishbone cups would i use?
Click to expand...

They are all about the same. There are cast ones and steel stamped ones, I am using the steel stamped because they are easier to weld. I am using two of the caps, welding one to the crossmember plate and then bolting the other one to it.
 
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