Winch install questions

Finally got around to putting winch on today, and I have a couple questions.

The tie down/handle does not fit anymore. The holes on the frame are blocked by the extensions. Is this normal? Should I drill through the extensions or just leave them off? All other holes line up so i'm sure I have it on right (shown in last picture).

Also the mount for the front shackles, what do you use as a spacer for the rear 2 bolts? There is a gap between it and the extension. I was going to use washers but didn't have any big enough, and curious what others used.

That's odd but maybe not! I've never bothered to check the span between the bolts of the old U shaped tie downs and those that you have. None of the later truck (which had those handles) were equipped with a winch so I'd say they are different. My personal opinion would be to drill the winch extension to match the frame, not visa versa.

There is a spacer that was used under the mount on winch trucks. If you have extra lower grille mounts you can sacrifice them for the cause.

Recovry4x4 said:

None of the later truck (which had those handles) were equipped with a winch so I'd say they are different.

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Thanks for reply, but when you say later truck, you mean newer? This is supposedly a '65 model. Although it did go through the depot rebuild in the late 80's if that matters.

The span appears to be the same. My other truck has u bolt handle, and bolt pattern looks the same.

Just to make sure I wasn't having a brain fart I went out to check and took a couple of pictures of the outside and inside.

And by the way, what is the intended purpose of these handles?

IIRC there just tie down points. Places to lash stuff to the truck.

Yes you do use a big thick washer on the shackles. I've done 4 winch installs. 3/4 had the holes line up perfect for the handle. I had to drill the hole on the '68 for the handle to go in

The span appears to be the same. My other truck has u bolt handle, and bolt pattern looks the same.

Click to expand...

Yes, same for both styles, 4.5 inches. (pic#1)

Just to make sure I wasn't having a brain fart I went out to check and took a couple of pictures of the outside and inside.

Click to expand...

Compare position of bolt holes (pic#2)... your extensions are OK, while the frame is odd in that it is drilled farther forward. Even so I would re-drill the extensions like Kenny suggested.

Also, instead of washers you could use a piece of flat iron as spacer (last pic)
That is closest to what comes factory installed, welded in place.

G.

My frame is exactly the same way... The vin plate where it came from GL says it was a tanker tank truck m49 and also says it had a winch but it doesn't appear to have ever had a winch. when i got the truck the tank was off and i just got a cab a chassey. the front end looked like it had never been touched. so i was wondering about drilling the holes in the winch extensions myself i my truck is either a 68 or a 70 title says 70m49 and vin plate says 68 m49 beats me

My truck must have rolled off the line on a Friday...

Thanks for clearing everything up.

Thats really strange about the tie downs, the donor truck's look like an older style. Winch trucks have that 1/4" plate that Gringeltaube shows welded to their triangle bumper supports. I reused my triangles so I put the shackle mount on the bumper, slid in the front two bolts and put a plate under it. Then I traced the mount and the bolt holes, removed it, drilled, cut and volla!
How did you make out for the bolts?
Fun wrenchin id nit?