Bill,
Thanks for the heads up on removing springs to improve the ride rather than go
for the monoleaf springs, it really improved the ride.
Another question for the you and others on the list, I need to swap out my 3.90
for a 3.55, 3.31 or 3.08 rear end, where can I find a reference book that tells
me what components will fit on my 55 Cameo so I know what years to look for.
The local shop thinks 55-62 will fit, but isn't sure if there was a specific
55/56 rear end set.
Ernie
55 Cameo
Novato, CA
-----Original Message-----
From: Hanlon, Bill
Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2001 3:03 PM
To: 'Ernie_Ganas@msn.com'; Old Trucks List
Subject: RE: [oletrucks] New 55 Cameo
I guess it wouldn't hurt to try. If you feel the springs hitting the
stops you've gone to far. This may be similar to my Dad's theory
of bolt tightening. "Tighten it until it breaks and then back it
off an eighth of a turn."
-----Original Message-----
From: Ernie Ganas [mailto:Ernie_Ganas@email.msn.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2001 1:34 PM
To: Old Trucks List
Cc: Hanlon, Bill
Subject: RE: [oletrucks] New 55 Cameo
Bill,
You mention that you wouldn't take two leafs out of the 6 spring set, do you
think it would be too much?
Before I go much further I have to get the steering and transmission under
control the wander on the freeway and quick up shifts are making life
difficult.
I've thought about the Disk Brake conversion since I intend to be driving on
the freeways out here in Northern California. A nearby shop has a Hydrovac
unit
to convert to Power Brakes and I thought I might try that first before I go
to
the Disk Brakes route.
I'm fairly limited at home(very tight garage) and will have to use a shop to
make improvements, so things will be done a little at a time.
Cameo Picture's at
http://communities.msn.com/ChevyTrucks/ernies1955cameo.msnw
Ernie
55 Cameo
-----Original Message-----
From: Hanlon, Bill [mailto:Bill.Hanlon@COMPAQ.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2001 10:38 AM
To: 'Ernie_Ganas@msn.com'
Subject: RE: [oletrucks] New 55 Cameo
Mine (pictures attached) has been my everyday driver for
14 years. The best bolt-on I did was disk front brakes.
I've probably spent $12K on it over the years, but that
isn't bad when amortized. And it has only failed to get
me home one time in 14 years.
-----Original Message-----
From: Ernie Ganas [mailto:Ernie_Ganas@email.msn.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2001 12:33 PM
To: Hanlon, Bill
Cc: oletrucks@autox.team.net
Subject: RE: [oletrucks] New 55 Cameo
Bill,
I checked and I have 6 leaf springs front and rear. The reason for my
initial
question was due to the fact that I was debating taking one or two leafs out
(2nd/5th or 3rd/6th leaf) and maybe putting Teflon strips in the spring pack
to
smooth the ride out.
The truck was a totally unexpected find at the Good Guys Summer Get-together
show and for budget reasons (wife related as well as the stock market) I
can't
get too carried away. I'll probably leave it close to stock with
improvements
being bolt on oriented so it could be returned to stock.
Ernie
55 Cameo
-----Original Message-----
From: Hanlon, Bill
Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2001 9:01 AM
To: Ernie Ganas
Cc: oletrucks@autox.team.net
Subject: RE: [oletrucks] New 55 Cameo
Looking through the GMC Master Parts Book, I found that there
were 3 different spring options for the front end of the GMC
1/2 tons from 55-59. The standard had 6 leaves and there
were optional 7 and 8 leave springs. My truck had the 8 leaf
springs.
Being basically cheap, I removed the 3rd and 6th leaf (from
the top) and dropped the front of my truck 1.5". I wouldn't
have removed 2 leaves from the 6 leaf spring.
-----Original Message-----
From: Wayne Osborne [mailto:wayne@chevytrucks.org]
Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2001 10:21 AM
To: Ernie Ganas
Cc: oletrucks@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [oletrucks] New 55 Cameo
Ernie,
I have the mono leafs installed on the front of my 56.. Heres a link to
my web site-- http://www.chevytrucks.org/wayne/
I installed them a couple years ago and am personnally very pleased with
the results. I bought them from a list member for around 200 bucks or so,
much cheaper than a vendor. Installation was no problem--had no
complications whatsoever. The ones I have are the reversed eyed spring,
which gave it another inch of drop, the first test drive was not so good.
Noticed that the top of spring was only about an inch from the frame bump
stop and it bottomed on just about every bump. I then removed about half
the bump stop with a hack saw (yep--just sawed the sucker in half). This
improved the ride tremendously. Now you cant go flying over rr tracks or
over speed bumps fast as they will still bottom out. I bought the nitrogen
shocks that go along with the springs which help as well. The ride a a
little bit bouncy when going over bridges and the like, but on regular
roads, in my opinion is fine. I've heard some not likeing them due to them
being bouncy, but i personally have no problems with it. On the rear end, I
removed every other spring from the pack-this brought the rear down to
match the front, wish i'd done that to the front before shelling out 200
bucks. Here's a couple links of before and after stances.....
Before: http://www.chevytrucks.org/wayne/truck.jpg
After: http://www.chevytrucks.org/wayne/wayne56new.jpg
At 10:28 PM 6/18/01 -0700, you wrote:
>I just bought a 1955 Cameo and am new to the list, website with pictures to
>follow.
>
>I have a couple questions has anyone installed the monoleaf springs on
their
>truck, if so how do you like them? I have heard some positive comments,
but am
>interested in any other comments. Where did you get them, how much did they
>cost and how much of a problem was it to install them? Did you replace all
the
>springs or only the front ones?
>
>Thanks,
>Ernie
>55 Cameo
>oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
>
Wayne Osborne
1956 Chevy Pickup
LaGrange Ga.
http://www.chevytrucks.org
http://www.chevytrucks.org/wayne
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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