Post to the EFV-8 Forum
Post Classified Ads
Shop the Online Store

User Login

Not Registered Yet? Click Here to Sign Up!

Early Ford V-8 Club Forum

FORUM RULES: Users agree to these Rules when using Forum.

The site administrator reserves the right to change the terms and conditions of the user agreement without prior notice to the user. It is the responsibility of the user to regularly review the terms of this agreement.

The user agrees to the following terms:

All information that you provide to us for your membership is correct.
You will not use your membership to spam, harrass, or exploit other members in any way.
Vulgar, Abusive, Racist and Sexist Language will not be tolerated.
Commercial-type sales postings will not be allowed.
No mass posting or flooding of the boards is allowed.
No Advertising of parts or cars; no Ebay or business/commercial ads (please use the "Classified" for ads Wanted or For Sale).
VIEWING MULTIPLE TOPICS ON SCREEN: You can choose to see more than 10 Topics at a time ... Log In and choose "Preferences" from the top bar on the Forum page. Scroll down and Change the "Default Topics Returned" parameter to 25 or 50, and save the changes. Since this setting is stored in your browser 'cookies' (if enabled), it seems to use that stored value even if you are not logged in. So, if you use a PC that you haven't logged into the forum from, the setting still seem to remain at the default.
EXTERNAL PHOTO LINKS ON FORUM: You can still use external photo links in your posts on the new forum. They follow the rules of any link in that they have to have the URL link qualified down to the full image file name (example: .jpg). The links will open in a new browser window, the same as an uploaded image attached to a post. Since an image attachment to any post does not display inline with the post, the results are the same. You can use multiple external links within a post. This link is from photos on a site from Don Clink's 'Deuce@75' albums:

http://donclink.com/deuce_75_1/images/dscn2950.jpg

Using links from photo sites such as Photobucket can help in "size" issue with uploaded attachment files. For best viewing in web browsers, photos should be around the 800x600 pixel range, and probably not more than 1024x768. Most cameras today store HUGE jpg image files, as the default settings are in the 7, 8, 10, and 12Mb image sizes. The image files that are then attached are very large, and the browser can't display the full image size without using the scroll bars. Use the re-sizing functions of your photo editing software to reduce the image to 800x600, which reduces the file sixe and the image load time in the browser. Don uses Google's free Picassa3 software, which is an excellent photo management product. All of the photo albums of the Deuce, Grand National, and Auburn that are links on the NORG site were built using Picassa's web creation functions. And it's free? (THANKS to Don Clink for the info!)
HOW DO I SHOW MY EMAIL ADDRESS ALONG WITH MY USERNAME? You can LogIn on the Forum, and select PREFERENCES. On this page Members can add optional information such as their City,State, Country; Occupation; Hobbies: list a Homepage; list AOL Instant Messanger Handle; Signature; "Make Email Address viewable to others;" and even change the number of Default Topics shown on a page. WHEN others click on your profile, they will see this information.

EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / 39 front tube conversion rehash

Reply to Discussion | New Discussion

<< previous || next >>

Posted By

Discussion Topic: 39 front tube conversion rehash -- page: 1 2

parrish

05-18-2010 @ 10:33 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 349
Joined: Oct 2009

I'm still trying to make some progress on the front tube shocks. I have the stock lower shock mount pictured on page 5-25 of the 38-39 Early Ford book. Bill mentioned that there was a special bolt for the lower shock mount eyelet. Apparently the axle/wishbone eyelet is tapered and requires a special sleeve. My passenger side has an insert of some kind shown in photo, but the driver's side does not. Will the Bob Drake PJ-1068 mounting stud work if the passenger side insert is removed? Or can I buy another insert for the driver side? Thanks everyone!

supereal

05-18-2010 @ 2:27 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 6819
Joined: Oct 2009

The holes in the front spring perches were used to mount the ball studs for the lever type shocks, and are tapered. The Drake studs you mention appear to be straight, with 1/2 inch threaded ends to fit the perch eyes. It may necessary to drill out the holes to accept those studs if the large end of opening isn't bigger than 1/2". We have made tapered studs for that purpose in the past, but I don't recall the size of the hole. If it is larger than 1/2", a bushing would be required.

wmsteed

05-20-2010 @ 9:38 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 613
Joined: Oct 2009

The hole through the axle/wishbone bolt is tapered similar to the holes for the tie rods. As Super has already pointed out, the original lever shock stud was tapered to fit the tapered hole.
The stud supplied with the tube shock conversion is of very special design.. Usually one open end has a very large head to backup the inner rubber bushing, the lower shock eye is then placed over the bushing,then the outer bushing is placed over the stud, a dish shaped washer is placed over the outer bushing then the cone shaped sleeve, which fits into the axle bolt shock mounting hole... Everything is secured in place with a lock washer and a nut.
The cone shaped sleeve has to be loose sliding over the bolt after the dish shaped washer.
I have attached a picture showing the whole affair in place on a '36 Ford.
There are probably variations of the shock mounting bolt which have a large nut on the bushing end, the one shown in Drakes book is of that design, however, I would caution the use of this type of bolt because it may hit the frame rail when the axle spring is compressed.
I will attach a picture later showing the special bolt/sleeve assy.

Bill
36 5 win delx cpe

parrish

05-20-2010 @ 1:07 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 349
Joined: Oct 2009

Thanks guys...if I use the Drake mounting stud, can I simply drill out the original axle/wishbone eyelet to 1/2 inch or would a bushing be required as well?

trjford8

05-20-2010 @ 6:46 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 4218
Joined: Oct 2009

I would check with Drake to see if the lower mounting stud is tapered or straight(hopefully you will get someone who can give you an answer).Drilling the pin to 1/2' may weaken the mounting hole.You might call C and G Parts (1-760-740-2400). They sell a tube shock kit for your car and the people who work there can give you a straight answer.

parrish

05-23-2010 @ 9:44 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 349
Joined: Oct 2009

thanks trjford8. I found a short 1/2 threaded bolt and I placed in on both sides of the eyelet that doesn't have the bushing (driver). It inserted from the engine side a little easier than the wheel side. This surprised me as I figured the eyelet would be a constant diameter and only the bushing would be tapered? Maybe the eyelet diameter difference (it was very slight...maybe 1/32) was a simple wear result? Anyway, the bolt seemed snug enough once I wiggled it in from the engine side. So if the C&G mounting studs are the same 1/2 inch diameter, is there any reason I would need a bushing? Thanks for your help!

supereal

05-23-2010 @ 10:25 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 6819
Joined: Oct 2009

If the hole is tapered (likely), the straight stud will eventually work loose. I haven't seen any tapered bushings for that purpose. If you drill out the perch eye. a straight bushing will be required. Replacing the perch bolt opens a whole new set of problems, as most are extremely difficult to remove from the axle.

parrish

05-24-2010 @ 9:04 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 349
Joined: Oct 2009

I looked at kits with a different perch bolt as a possible replacement and thought it looked like a nasty job. So then I then looked at kits with a spring shackle replacement approach and assumed I'd need a spring spreader to do the job, so that went on the back burner too. I think I will drill out the original eyelet as little as possible to accomodate a bushing and shock mounting bolt and see how it goes. I guess I could get buy 39 front Houdailles and remove the old conversion upper bracket (I have some levers that are the '42 or so, but with the 4 1/2 bolt pattern), but holy cow, what a pain!

supereal

05-24-2010 @ 10:20 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 6819
Joined: Oct 2009

Don't sweat it. Those perch bolts are very tough, and we have seem where the eyes were badly worn, but never broken. I'd go ahead and drill them for the studs. The worst thing that could happen is to have one eventually break, but that isn't fatal, and waiting beats trying to get the perch bolts out any day.

parrish

05-25-2010 @ 7:56 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 349
Joined: Oct 2009

Sounds like a good approach. By the way, if I go conservative and drill out the eyelet as little as possible...say to 1/2 inch (which seems to be the common shock bushing size), can I run a bare mounting bolt through the eyelet? Or will the eyelet require a bushing? Thanks for the help!

<< previous || next >>

PAGE: 1 2

NOTE: YOU MUST BE A REGISTERED USER AND BE LOGGED IN TO POST (and reply to) messages in this forum. If you are a first time user, please click the CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT in the masthead above to register and Log In. After that, all you do is LOG IN to enjoy using this site.

DISCLAIMER: The V-8 Club does no independent testing of any of the opinions, thoughts or suggestions presented in the website on the Forum, in the Tech Tips section, or any section. A reader should consider the website to be a forum wherein differing solutions to a particular set of circumstances may be discussed. Ultimately, the selection of an item for an individual's vehicle must be based upon the independent study of the vehicle owner in consultation with people in the hobby and restoration experts.

Early Ford V-8 Club Forum

Merchandise Questions

Membership Questions