The rule of thumb is to put back the same amount of shims on all sides as a good ballpark, then get a good 4 wheel alignment.

There in lies the rub,  I have the same number of shims for each trailing arm but is so snug that they are difficult to get in.  Is there a way to get them in place as the arm goes in to the hole?

They should slide onto the bolt open end first, ten a cotter pin should go through the closed hole in the shim and the hole in the frame. Before bolting up the half shafts, shocks, spring, etc, you should be able to move the arms left to right as needed to put the shims in place.

Ok --that makes sense.  I didn't know if the arms should go in then the shims, but it makes sense to slide the arms into the shims.

At the factory, the t-arms were held in alignment by a machine, then the assy worker would fill the gap(s) between the t-arms and the frame with shims...there was/is no specific number of shims, or specs...just fill in the gap on both sides, then tighten the nut down.
Install the t-arm first, but do not tighten the bolt/nut, of course.  Then the shims on one side. Then wedge the arm over in the other direction, and insert the remaining shims for that side. A tip here is to put any thin shims between the thicker shims...they'll go in easier, without bending.
If you find you cannot get all of the shims that you took out back in, then the actual problem will be with the bushings in the t-arms...they were not properly crimped. I would suggest, if you find it impossible to get all of the original shims back in, install all of the original shims on the outside of the t-arm, then as many as you can on the inside. This will give you a small amount of toe-in...much safer than toe-out on these cars. That will at least get you to an alignment shop.

Another thought/tip...
Hold the t-arm up level with the frame...don't let it hang down, while trying to install the shims...this will help. Use a jack, or some other method to hold the t-arms up...
Adams' Apple2011-04-25 20:15:28

Thanks -- I will try the jack approach.  Sure seems very tight in the t-arm, hopefully, I can get all the shims back in and in the right order.

Ok -- shims are in, trailing arm is firm in the hole, shock is attached, half-shaft is attached.  Now comes the fun, the spring does not lineup to be attached to the trailing arm. The spring sits back about 1 inch from the bolt as it hangs from the trailing arm.  When I lift the spring up to the trailing arm the alignment is such that the bolt is way in front of the spring.  What approach do I make for this?  Have I missed something?  The shock and half-shaft bolted right up to the arm.

I did this the other day on the 73 rebuild..you have to jack up the spring..I use the shackle as a spot so the jack doesn't fly out..put the cup.rubber.bolt in the TA and raise the spring to it..it lines up then..pretty easy..the thing that makes the most obvious sense when doing any bolting together with the TA is to have it in the rest position ..ie..like the car is on the ground..nail it!!

Rich

Gotta give it a try -- want to get this done and get out on the road again.