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08-13-2010, 12:17 PM | #1 |
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Location: Northwest CT
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Straightening a Bent 32 Spreader Bar
Ok, here goes my first tech post. NealinCal inspired me with the work he did on his rpu and how he rebuilt a lot of the parts. I am on a budget, so I have to make due with what I have.
The front spreader bar on my wagon was bent and dented up. I looked around for an original replacement, but they are too pricey. Looked at repros, too thin. Some suggested welding in a new tube, but I don’t weld and would have to pay to get it done. Well after some procrastination and some thought, I used our shops recently purchased 2-ton press and straightened it out. I put a wood block with holes drilled in them to bolt on the spreader tube, on each end. That allowed me to unbend the spreader evenly. Next I had to figure out how to pop out the dents. I need to fit whatever I used in past the inside welds. I decided to use 1-inch diameter pipe cut diagonally to form wedges. I got the pipe from Lowes; they sell it in different lengths. I was now able to put the two pipe wedges in and wedge them under the dents. I used a section of pipe to drive the wedges together to pop out most of the dent. I then went back and used the wedges as a dolly to hammer the dents out. I am pretty happy with the results. Keep V-8ing and 4-banging!
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She just don't have the appetite For gas somehow, And Dad, I got four carburetors Hooked up on it now. I tried to hook another To see if I'd do a little good, But ain't no place to put it 'Less I perforate the hood. Wanted, lower side sections of 32 radiator cowl. Last edited by jerseyboy; 08-13-2010 at 12:19 PM. Reason: spelling |
08-13-2010, 01:04 PM | #2 |
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Re: Straightening a Bent 32 Spreader Bar
Nicely done! Good ol' fashioned Yankee ingenuity. Dennis/Arkansas
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08-13-2010, 01:06 PM | #3 |
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Re: Straightening a Bent 32 Spreader Bar
That's a neat solution. I've been thinking about how to take out a couple of minor dents in my 2 spreader bars for some time. I'm going to apply your method. Thanks!
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08-13-2010, 01:14 PM | #4 |
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Re: Straightening a Bent 32 Spreader Bar
Very smart and good thinking!!
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08-13-2010, 01:30 PM | #5 |
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Re: Straightening a Bent 32 Spreader Bar
I have a bent rear bar. This is really good stuff!. I need to try it on the rear bar!!!
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08-13-2010, 02:18 PM | #6 |
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Re: Straightening a Bent 32 Spreader Bar
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08-13-2010, 10:39 PM | #7 |
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Re: Straightening a Bent 32 Spreader Bar
Thanks guys for all the kind words. I still have a lot to learn, but this site sure helps!
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She just don't have the appetite For gas somehow, And Dad, I got four carburetors Hooked up on it now. I tried to hook another To see if I'd do a little good, But ain't no place to put it 'Less I perforate the hood. Wanted, lower side sections of 32 radiator cowl. |
08-14-2010, 07:42 AM | #8 |
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Re: Straightening a Bent 32 Spreader Bar
That looks like a great save! Even I don't think I woulda gone to that much effort. But that was indeed a great idea...and I may have to borrow it.
Anyway, glad I inspired someone to save some old Ford parts. Neal |
08-14-2010, 07:57 AM | #9 |
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Location: Wilmington, OH/Lakeland, FL
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Re: Straightening a Bent 32 Spreader Bar
Thanks for the tip! I have three '32s...you never know when you might have to repair a spreader bar. I was thinking when I first saw your heading that you could possibly take it to a muffler shop that specializes in working with mandrals (spelling?). If they had a mandral that would fit the inside diameter....just thinking! Thanks again, Pat.
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08-15-2010, 10:58 PM | #10 |
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Re: Straightening a Bent 32 Spreader Bar
Nice and simple. Great job. Thanks for sharing
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08-16-2010, 04:59 AM | #11 |
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Location: New Jersey, The Garden State
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Re: Straightening a Bent 32 Spreader Bar
Great idea!
The rear spreader bar on my wagon is slightly tweaked, so thanks for sharing. |
08-16-2010, 12:31 PM | #12 |
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Re: Straightening a Bent 32 Spreader Bar
Hey Al, I did not realize the wagons had rear spreaders. Mine doesn't have one.
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She just don't have the appetite For gas somehow, And Dad, I got four carburetors Hooked up on it now. I tried to hook another To see if I'd do a little good, But ain't no place to put it 'Less I perforate the hood. Wanted, lower side sections of 32 radiator cowl. |
08-17-2010, 09:16 AM | #13 |
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Re: Straightening a Bent 32 Spreader Bar
The spreader bar on mine has a tabs on the ends that attach to the floor through a wooden block thing that is the full width of the floor. The wood piece also houses the rear clips for the third seat.
Do you think yours is supposed to have one? |
08-17-2010, 04:00 PM | #14 |
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Re: Straightening a Bent 32 Spreader Bar
Nice work! Pretty clever tools you came up with to fix the dings.
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Mike Wanted: - '32-34 Open Cab Pickup (RPU) parts and documents/articles/info - ARDUN parts |
08-17-2010, 08:04 PM | #15 | |
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Re: Straightening a Bent 32 Spreader Bar
Quote:
I forgot yours is a 34. No, I double checked and the wagon doesn't come with a rear spreader bar. Mike, Thanks. I guess necessity is the mother of invention.
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She just don't have the appetite For gas somehow, And Dad, I got four carburetors Hooked up on it now. I tried to hook another To see if I'd do a little good, But ain't no place to put it 'Less I perforate the hood. Wanted, lower side sections of 32 radiator cowl. |
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08-18-2010, 11:44 AM | #16 |
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Re: Straightening a Bent 32 Spreader Bar
As a related topic, here is Vince's method of knocking the dents out of the steering column: http://idisk.mac.com/forever4/Public...ngtubedent.htm
Could conceivably be used on the spreaders if you did a bit of grinding on the end welds. I recently managed to find the requisite ball size for this...I believe all '32-48 and later pickups share the size there. |
08-18-2010, 08:30 PM | #17 | |
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Location: Northwest CT
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Re: Straightening a Bent 32 Spreader Bar
Quote:
I had looked for a metal ball larger than an inch in diameter. I even checked with my neighbor who had worked at Torrington Bearing. But finding those proved difficult, so I opted for this route. Thanks for the heads up though. Keep V-ing and 4-banging!
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She just don't have the appetite For gas somehow, And Dad, I got four carburetors Hooked up on it now. I tried to hook another To see if I'd do a little good, But ain't no place to put it 'Less I perforate the hood. Wanted, lower side sections of 32 radiator cowl. Last edited by jerseyboy; 12-09-2010 at 01:45 PM. |
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08-26-2010, 02:08 AM | #18 | |
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Location: Torrington, CT
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Re: Straightening a Bent 32 Spreader Bar
Quote:
Nice job Jerseyboy.... Hershey will not be safe for any spreader bars this year and sorry you could not find some big balls later Bill |
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08-26-2010, 02:56 AM | #19 |
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Re: Straightening a Bent 32 Spreader Bar
well done ,Nice job
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08-26-2010, 08:07 AM | #20 | |
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Re: Straightening a Bent 32 Spreader Bar
Quote:
Thanks Ted, one of these days I'm gonna be picking up some floaters.
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She just don't have the appetite For gas somehow, And Dad, I got four carburetors Hooked up on it now. I tried to hook another To see if I'd do a little good, But ain't no place to put it 'Less I perforate the hood. Wanted, lower side sections of 32 radiator cowl. |
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