MTFCA Forum

Last week I requested advice on how to ensure the square head spring leaf bolt (had to replace it) entered into the square front crossmember hole. I finally attached masking tape to the front spring (before installing) and front crossmember. Then drew a vertical line with a black marker onto the tapes to match location of crossmember hole and spring bolt. Just have to align the black lines-one behind the other- while using a floor Jack to raise the front axle. In the pic you can see the crossmember tape and line. My dilemma is: Before removing the 2 U bolts there were no washers and after installing them and tightening them real tight, I cannot install any cotter pins…??… There wasn’t cotter pins when I began loosening the four 3/4” nuts.

Were there be one too many leaves in that front spring? ..... Are the u-bolts drilled for cotter pins? ..... From the picture they do look a little short maybe someone cut them?

There are several reasons why the front engine mount u-bolts cause fitment issues
-Number of leaf springs so the bolt pad doesn't fit inside the cross member
-Variation in u-bolts - note not just the two shown but some other as well
-Wrong nut size height - see photo - could be your issue

There are two versions of the 3808 front spring clip.

Factory # 325B is used 09-17 for 6 leaf and 7 leaf and parts book Sept 1912 list size as 4 1/16" (no dimensional ref given)

Factory # 325C is used 17-20 for 7 leaf non taper

Very interesting. Like so many have previously said so many times: ‘I learn something new every day’. Thank you to my above educators. I really thought all these components were the same so I gathered up 3 complete 2 U bolt front engine mounts and all 6 U bolts are 3.5”…..
So, does anyone have a couple of 4” U bolts as above for sale ??

Frank, those U bolts in your bottom right picture look to be too long… wanna trade ?

There is no need for washers under the nuts in this application. Removing them may give you access to the split pin holes in the U bolts.

Allan from down under.

Thank you Allan but there were no washers either at disassembly or assembly. No washers there now. Evidently, as suggested by Frank, I need the 4” U bolts…

George I’ll check to see if I have any at the farm if you can wait a day or two. While you’re waiting I’d encourage you to try modified Bitumen roofing tar on the threads should lock the nuts so they don’t back out.

Oh, it’s been like that for over a decade John. I’ll just quit doing those Japanese drifting in the centerdoor ‘till I hear from you. Thanks for looking

George House wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 01, 2024 3:34 pm

Very interesting. Like so many have previously said so many times: ‘I learn something new every day’. Thank you to my above educators. I really thought all these components were the same so I gathered up 3 complete 2 U bolt front engine mounts and all 6 U bolts are 3.5”…..
So, does anyone have a couple of 4” U bolts as above for sale ??

Frank, those U bolts in your bottom right picture look to be too long… wanna trade ?

The picture is from the internet, but it was intended to but it was intended to show what a different height nut would result in.
Also I expect a portion of the bottom of the u-bult to fit inside the cross member - how many leaves in your spring?
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Yours compared to internet photo --
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Different nut heights - smaller works --
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U-bolt differences

Yes, it could very well be nut height. Each of the hex sides of mine appear to be square but those in your picture appear rectangular and shorter. I’ll go look in my castellated nut bin. Thanks again