I have been replacing my leaf springs on my 68 FB. The service manual says to torque all bolts to standard specifications after connecting everything and taking it off the jack and stands. The problem is I dont know what the standard specifications are and couldnt find them in the manual. Does anyone know the specific torques for the following?
1. Front bushing bolt

2. Front bushing bracket (the three screws holding the bracket to the frame)

3. Shock absorber mounting bracet U-bolts

4. Rear shackle bushing bolts.

Thanks. BTW... I never realized how much fun it could be to try to break free bolts that have been corroding for the last 44 years. LOL

I don't remember a specific torque setting when I have done mine in the past. Did you use the newer design spring nut that is one piece to hold the 3 front perch bolt to the frame? Big difference there.

The torque spec I used when i replaced the rear springs was PFT. Pretty Freakin tight.

I put new springs in my 68 convertible this past winter. I know darn well that I found all the torque specs in my 1968 Pontiac Service manual (not just a Firebird manual, but a Pontiac manual that also covers full size, tempest, and Fbird.)...if I recall there is a page at the back or front of the rear suspension section that was nothing but a list of torque specs for that portion of the car. Some of the terminology was different than I'm accustomed to, but once I got past the old school terminology I found each and every nut and bolt spec on that page....

On a vacation right now and won't be able to help look them up for a couple weeks, but if you still don't have an answer by then I can do so at that time.

Look again. I know for a fact the specs were there.

THat's why god invented the cutting torch! Or in the new testimin...plasma torch!

How about checking the 69 Firebird Product Information Manual? It has torque specs for manyapplications. Can be downloaded from here: http://thefirstgensite.com/html/librarydex.htm.

nice link, 4speedfun...I had not seen that before.

Confirms my earlier statement without having to go home to read my paper copy. In the 68 service manual, rear suspension section:
http://thefirstgensite.com/library/68sm/rrsus/rrsus.html

All torque specs for rear springs and shocks are spelled out on page 4-29.

Thanks, I should have found that. After struggling with the removal all day, must have overlooked the obvious a few times. Thanks again.

Thanks for the link. Great site. I'll be using it alot more as I make more repairs to my bird.

I don't see a page 4-29. Torque specs on page 4-19 do not include the rear axle U bolt nuts. Best I found elsewhere was generic for the U bolt shank/thread for grade 5 and 8, not specific to Firebird. This pdf contains some good info on the importance of having these installed correctly (especially why to never reuse U bolts, the difference between dry and lubricated threads, and also to re-torque at 500 and again after 1000 miles). My springs are ok but my axle slipped forward an inch on the driver side because these were not tight enough - ride and drive-ability were adversely affected to say the least...

http://www.suspensionspecialists.com/techinfo/Ubolt_Information.pdf