Goodwrench3 Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 Hi all: Two things I need some help with. 1) The piece called "air ride leveling switches" -- the instructions aren't really clear where on the frame rails this piece should go. Are the "fingers just supposed to butt against the rear cross member as I show in the picture ? How do you know where to locate it on the frame rails ? 2) Front springs -- the pin on one of the front springs is higher than the pin on the other front spring. So on one side, you have a gap between the frame rail and the spring mount bracket -- what have you done with this ?? Thanks ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truckabilly Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 I have never built the 352 but I have built the 359 which shares the chassis parts with the 352. 1) The part is very simplified and doesn´t look realistic at all. I have scratchbuilt my own part. If I can suggest, take a look at a picture of a real height control valve set up in a truck and either scratchbuild the thing on your own or don´t use it at all. Just my opinion. 2) If a pin of any part makes the part fit wrong I just cut it off. If you think that the pin position is OK, then insert a piece of plastic in the gap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrKerry Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 7 hours ago, truckabilly said: I have never built the 352 but I have built the 359 which shares the chassis parts with the 352. 1) The part is very simplified and doesn´t look realistic at all. I have scratchbuilt my own part. If I can suggest, take a look at a picture of a real height control valve set up in a truck and either scratchbuild the thing on your own or don´t use it at all. Just my opinion. 2) If a pin of any part makes the part fit wrong I just cut it off. If you think that the pin position is OK, then insert a piece of plastic in the gap. What Jaroslav said!! I cut the pins off too so they sit flush on the rails... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goodwrench3 Posted March 11, 2019 Author Share Posted March 11, 2019 Thanks ! Yeah about the air leveling switch piece -- I saw a couple different ones at the ATHS truck show in Des Moines and I couldn't make sense out of the piece in the kit or what it was patterned after. These are the kind I saw (on KWs). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldmopars Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 The leveling "levers" are a joke on the 359 kit. If you want the to look real, you will need to scratch build something. You could just cut them off, or leave as is and just ignore them. When I did mine I cut them off to scratch build something in their place, but never got to it. I had to extend the frame as it is a log truck. In the end I never got around to making anything as I forgot. In the end, you don't miss them. So, its up to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goodwrench3 Posted March 11, 2019 Author Share Posted March 11, 2019 Yeah -- I'm leaning toward just leaving that piece off and be done with it. Thanks all for your replies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truckabilly Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 I finally found the pics of my version. It´s not accurate but at least a bit closer to reality. You can see the comparison between the kit part and mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goodwrench3 Posted March 11, 2019 Author Share Posted March 11, 2019 Thanks! so, in fact, on the kit part, the "fingers" are actually on the wrong side of the angle iron "L". And -- contrary to the instructions, the piece should be located *forward* of the rear axle shock mounts -- not behind them as implied by the instructions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Force Posted March 13, 2019 Share Posted March 13, 2019 (edited) The rear suspension on the 359 "Small Window" and 352 kits is the Western Unit Stabilaire, later Peterbilt did the later Air Leaf and Freigtliner took over the Stabilaire, called it FAS Airliner and used it up to the late 80's when it was replaced with a more modern unit. In the beginning they used two ride hight/level control valves per axle like in the kit, but this has later changed to one as the axle itself is solid and you don't need more than one, the ride hight/leveling control valve actuator rods are mounted on the round bar between the leaf springs the air bags are mounted to and not to the axle itself, so the kit instructions is right as the valves are supposed to be behind the axle facing rearwards...they are quite crude tho' and need some improvement. Here is a picture from a Peterbilt broshure to explain. Edited March 13, 2019 by Force Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goodwrench3 Posted March 13, 2019 Author Share Posted March 13, 2019 6 hours ago, Force said: The rear suspension on the 359 "Small Window" and 352 kits is the Western Unit Stabilaire, later Peterbilt did the later Air Leaf and Freigtliner took over the Stabilaire, called it FAS Airliner and used it up to the late 80's when it was replaced with a more modern unit. In the beginning they used two ride hight/level control valves per axle like in the kit, but this has later changed to one as the axle itself is solid and you don't need more than one, the ride hight/leveling control valve actuator rods are mounted on the round bar between the leaf springs the air bags are mounted to and not to the axle itself, so the kit instructions is right as the valves are supposed to be behind the axle facing rearwards...they are quite crude tho' and need some improvement. Here is a picture from a Peterbilt broshure to explain. Well, Shazam !!! Wow. Thanks so much for posting that picture. That explains a lot. That photo also is nice as it shows the 1:1 suspension -- much better than the AMT kit instructions. I'd love to get a copy of that brochure !! If it could be copied and maybe emailed ? Thanks again for this !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Force Posted March 13, 2019 Share Posted March 13, 2019 You're welcome, glad to be able to help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
37 caddy Posted March 14, 2019 Share Posted March 14, 2019 If you put the part in where it is supposed to go,it doesnt look that bad?,AMT instructions were notorius for poor pictures.You need to be a mechanic to assemble them,just so you will have an idea as to what it is and where it goes.. Harvey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goodwrench3 Posted March 15, 2019 Author Share Posted March 15, 2019 On 3/14/2019 at 8:48 AM, 37 caddy said: If you put the part in where it is supposed to go,it doesnt look that bad?,AMT instructions were notorius for poor pictures.You need to be a mechanic to assemble them,just so you will have an idea as to what it is and where it goes.. Harvey Ya got that right !!! I'll have another post soon regarding the steering box attachment to the frame rail. That's another mystery to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goodwrench3 Posted March 17, 2019 Author Share Posted March 17, 2019 OK guys -- More help needed. :-( The attachment of the air brakes to the rear axles is a bit of a mystery. The instructions really aren't helpful. Could someone possibly post a photo of their 352 axles showing how these are attached ? It would be very much appreciated ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goodwrench3 Posted April 7, 2019 Author Share Posted April 7, 2019 On 3/17/2019 at 3:54 PM, Goodwrench3 said: OK guys -- More help needed. :-( The attachment of the air brakes to the rear axles is a bit of a mystery. The instructions really aren't helpful. Could someone possibly post a photo of their 352 axles showing how these are attached ? It would be very much appreciated ! Just checking if anyone can help with this ? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goodwrench3 Posted May 25, 2019 Author Share Posted May 25, 2019 Hey guys -- any of you that have built this kit: did you run into this issue where the rear drive shaft between the drive axles seems too long ?? Here's a pic of mine -- if you did, what did you do ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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