My name is Clemon (friends call me "C")I am a senior at San Bernardino Valley College. I am attempting my very first restoration. A beautiful rusty beaten up 1949 1/2 ton pick-up.

I am doing EVERYTHING myself: Metalwork,Welding,Paint,engine work,electrical,doing my own fuel and brake line,Interior. everything. I am making good progress so far...

However, I have experienced a "little" difficulty in locating a "few" parts that I need to finish it.

The Most critical at the moment is a pair of front leaf springs, I have found re-pro springs that are very expensive and usually not quite correct. But, As I am attempting to do a correct restoration, just as it would have been in 1949, locating the right parts hasn't always been easy.

Any and all help would be GREATLY appreciated and I would be forever in your debt. any spare parts I have or end up with would be gladly shared with any VCCA members in the area who could use them.

Thank you kindly for your time,
C

Clemon
Welcome to Chevy Chatter.
It seems we are both in the same boat (doing the work yourself and needing front springs). I am not doing a "show truck" but I plan on keeping the factory appearance and only changing a few hidden details to use as a regular driver.

The filling station list leaf springs for several models and I consider the springs themselves reasonably priced for those in the US but for me the added freight makes them almost prohibitive.
Tony

Clemon... welcome to the VCCA chat site. It's great to see a young guy doing a restoration. I hope you end up joining the club so you get to see the amazing monthly magazine we put out, and enjoy the tours and shows.

It's not often any of us send people to other forums or sites, but I'm going to suggest one to you. Try the guys over at the www.chevytalk.com site. There are more guys building street rods there, and often just throw away the suspension parts they don't use. A great source of cheap correct parts for us restorers. Then make sure you come right back here and enjoy the ride! Post up some pictures, we'd love to see it!

Clemon, you might want to make a road trip over to Corona and check out Brothers Trucks. They sell springs and you'd save a lot on freight by picking them up there. Even if the springs might be out of your price range right now, it's always fun to go into a place like that and drool over the bling. Here's a link to their website. www.brotherstrucks.com

A general word of caution! Beware of repop! Some of that stuff is pure junk! I've always told people that, with a little extra work, rebuilding or reconditioning original parts is ALWAYS better than buying new repop stuff.

If your springs are not broken it may be possible to have them re-arched and rebushed.

Thanks for the great advice Brewster.I will definitely be acting on it. Sent you a PM, don't know if you got it. Please keep in touch

Kens 50 PU,

I had that exact idea myself, driving over to Brother's to pick up a set myself. But I really got my heart set on being completely original, plus my pocket book is mighty lite these days, nyuck nyuck. I might have to resort to that if I'm not able to locate any original springs, but I'm going to do every thing I possibly can to get these springs and keep my truck 100% original.

we just finished our 52 pickup last summer, and had our original front springs re-arched and did new bushings. Was pretty inexpensive solution. However, after driving the truck about 200 miles, one of the springs returned to its original saggy state, so we ended up having to buy new ones. Went to a local truck spring repair shop, and they were able to order up new replacement springs, made in USA and they matched the originals in every detail. Had them in a couple days, with no shipping charges, so turned out that is what we should have done from the start. Having said that though, we had our rear srpings re-arched, replaced a couple of the leafs, new bushings,etc and they have held up great.

Pix of my Baby

She may not be pretty, but she's got a great personality

photobucket.com

Clemon

Mr. Charlie Brown's '49 Frame before Sandblasting

Hole In Front Crossmember Cut Out By Previous Owner Patch I welded In Good As New

Thats a solid looking body. Up here they used to rust out in the lower corners behind the seat. Yours looks like a great truck to start with.

Yeah, my girl sure has a nice body on her, doesn't she. I love her curves. Hubba Hubba

HaHaHa

Clemon