I am installing new leaf springs on my '55 Club Sedan and have discovered that the front hanger bolt is a specialized item B5AZ-5780-A.  In essence it is an approximately 3 1/2" long shoulder bolt with a 7/16" shaft and a 3/8" NF threaded section.  Mine are shot and no one seems to have this part.  I am thinking of reaming out the inside (3/8") hole in the hanger to 7/16" and using a straight 7/16" bolt.and and nylock nut.  Has anyone encountered this?


Mark

1956 Mercury M100
1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan
Delta, British Columbia

Mark,

Back in the late 60's, I snapped that hanger bolt. My first lesson on spring wind up. The bolt broke at the edge of the spring, but the long end was rusted in solid. I ended up drilling it out, and IIRC, did pretty much what your talking about. At the time, I didn't worry much about why it was designed the way it was, or possible consequences. But it worked. Today, I might be tempted to try a little harder to find a replacement, or turn a bolt down. I used youth and ignorance on a lot of problems in those days.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

Mark, yes that is the simple fix and works well.


  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

Thanks, Mike and Aussie. I will keep looking but I am not hopeful that i will find a pair in good condition.  I suspect that a shoulder bolt is used so that the nut can be tightened up without compressing the hanger bracket.


Mark

1956 Mercury M100
1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan
Delta, British Columbia

Mark: Thanks for bringing this subject up. My 57 needs all new spring bushings etc. And looking at it, I wouldn't be surprised if I ran into a similar situation, as I suspect all the pivots and so on are original. However, I'm not sure if the front of the spring mountings is the same as a 1956, so need to look at it further. I got a rough quote from a spring shop to replace all the hardware at $600.00 + tax, so was contiplating tackling it my self,.. but maybe not? 


Paul

Is this the same 5780 you are looking for?
CASCO Catalog pg 20.


Jim
Norfolk, VA

"MABLE"
1956 Thunderbird Green / Brown Interior (ZE-XG)

"MEAN GREEN"
1956 Mainline (FG-BE)

Jim, thanks.  That looks like the part I need.  Too bad I already have all of the other components.  I will check the catalog to see if I can get just the bolts.  I ordered all the parts from Mac's before i realized the front hanger bolts were special.  The new springs came with front bushings already installed.


Just looked at the catalog.  I can see that the bolts are sold separately.  Thanks very much.  I've book marked the CASCO catalog for future use.

Jim, after closer inspection I see that the 5780 in the CASCO catalog is for a T-Bird.  Those bolts are over 7" long.  The ones I need are only about 3.5" long.  I am guessing that the T Bird bolt goes through the frame as well as the spring hanger.  Thanks anyway.


Mark

1956 Mercury M100
1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan
Delta, British Columbia

Paul, the '57 uses a larger bushing than the '55.  Ironically, Mac's sent me the '57 bushings by mistake.  I just returned them last week.  I'd have given them to you at cost ($16.95 ea).

I got all the hardware from Mac's for about $125.00 including shipping.  The springs came from General Springs in Kansas City KS.  Springs were only $130 a side but shipping was a killer.  $100.00


Mark

1956 Mercury M100
1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan
Delta, British Columbia

Mark (lionroad). Very belated reply, sorry.. thanks for the info. Yes, I would have bought the bushings off you.. Anyway, my mind fell off the rails & I forgot to reply. Hopefully you sorted out the spring issues. I haven't pursued it any further re my 57..    


Paul

Yes Paul I sorted it out.  I tried drilling the 3/8" hole to 7/16 but the material was too tough.  Used an old tap to thread it to 7/16" and that worked good.  No slop.

Mark

Mark

1956 Mercury M100
1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan
Delta, British Columbia