Reinstalling leaf springs

[anlauto]

Yep...detailing job looks awesome !
 You'll never get it bolted in the car like that without leaving the U bolts loose. There's too many variables and angles to deal with. I hang the front of the spring in first, position the rear axle, then hook up the rear shackle.

In 1993 I did exactly what you're doing with a 7 1/4 out of my Duster Twister. I assembled it completely in my Parent's basement, then two of us carried up the stairs The good ol' days...

[mrbill426]

Thanks for all the tips folks, I appreciate it, that's what I like about this site; a wealth of information at the asking with nothing left out    I think I will take it back apart for the install because just leaving the U-bolts loose would probably result in my axle and spring paint jobs being tore up while jockeying things around.   I also appreciate the positive comments about the "detailing", I'm an amateur but I am trying. 

I'm not totally pleased with the finish on the housing but it's on there now.  It is Por15 chassis coat black applied over their own self etching (greyish) primer.  I hope it holds because I had a heck of a time getting the top coat to "stick" to the primer even though the directions said no sanding was required, the brush kept pulling it back off .  What bothers me is that when I rotated the housing on the jack stands some of the paint chipped off to the primer, I did not think it would do that .  Hopefully I can touch that part up.  Por-15 is pretty cool stuff but I have no plans to use it again; it's a pain in the neck.

 

[mrbill426]

Does anyone know of a reasonable source for those one-time use 5/8" lock nuts that go on the front leaf spring bushing bolts?  I think they are called mardsen nuts, and they are (of course) discontinued at Mopar.

 

[anlauto]

Frank Baldenson, or R/T Specialities maybe.
Pretty certain AMK has them which mean Dave at Roseville can get them for you. You most likely have to buy the bolts too.