The Ford Barn

Lenny Bruce · 10-10-2022, 12:36 PM

Hello all! Have a question for a friend. He has a ‘30 coupe and is thinking of installing the after market gas shocks on his car. He wanted me to ask if it will make the car ride more smoothly or possibly ride more ridged? Does anyone have any experience with this? Thanks

Y-Blockhead · 10-10-2022, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lenny Bruce

Hello all! Have a question for a friend. He has a ‘30 coupe and is thinking of installing the after market gas shocks on his car. He wanted me to ask if it will make the car ride more smoothly or possibly ride more ridged? Does anyone have any experience with this? Thanks

I don't know what brand they had but two different friends had aftermarket kits on their cars and removed them. Both said the ride was way too harsh.

I have not used any myself tho.

Curtis in MA · 10-10-2022, 01:15 PM

A coupe weighs 2000 lb. Modern shocks are made for cars much more than that.

Lenny Bruce · 10-10-2022, 01:37 PM

Thanks fellas I will pass on the info

Pete · 10-10-2022, 01:45 PM

Look up racing shocks. They can be had in almost and degree of damping both compression and rebound. Many lengths also. Some are adjustable.
They also mount body up to reduce unsprung weight.

john in illinois · 10-10-2022, 04:33 PM

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Get a shock that is oil filled not a gas filled shock. These are hard to find. Snyders kit has oil filed shocks. I have had them on my tudor for 12 years. Still rides great. Gas charged shocks give a rough ride. As mentioned not correct for lighter model A.

John

bobv · 10-11-2022, 07:21 AM

I put the Snyders kit on my coupe, set them to the softest setting, no regrets. Car handles so much better in my opinion not all over the road in the dips, bumps and corners.

Lenny Bruce · 10-11-2022, 09:52 AM

Awesome I will defend pass this info on thanks guys!

Oldgearz · 10-11-2022, 11:37 AM

EMPI oil filled #9350 fit great. They are a VW and dune buggy shock. Great soft ride. You will probably have to knock out the grommets (metal insert is about 12 mm) and put in some that fit your studs (or knock out the grommets on your existing shocks and put them in the 9350s).

Gene F · 10-11-2022, 05:00 PM

Oil filled tube shocks. I got mine from Standard Aup Poarts in Peoria, IL. (Rainmaker Ron). One of the guys that still work there perhaps can fix you up with what you need.

nkaminar · 10-11-2022, 05:37 PM

Oldgearz and others that advise soft shocks have the right answer. The spring-shock system is a tuned system that is designed to dampen the suspension. For a heavy car the tuning is different than a light car like the Model A. Plus the type of road makes a difference. The original shocks on the Model A were adjustable and the instructions were to adjust the shocks for the roads. The hydraulic suspension system on the old Citroens were also adjustable using a lever in the drivers compartment.

Pete · 10-11-2022, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nkaminar

Oldgearz and others that advise soft shocks have the right answer. The spring-shock system is a tuned system that is designed to dampen the suspension. For a heavy car the tuning is different than a light car like the Model A. Plus the type of road makes a difference. The original shocks on the Model A were adjustable and the instructions were to adjust the shocks for the roads. The hydraulic suspension system on the old Citroens were also adjustable using a lever in the drivers compartment.

Nkaminar hit the nail right on the head.
Shocks were adjustable in the old days because of the widely varying road conditions. Few were ever adjusted but they COULD be tuned to the roads.
For the softest luxury car type SAFE ride, the springs need to be as soft as is allowable for the travel available and the shocks tuned to the stiffness of the road conditions.

Or, as most people do it, just keep trying shocks till you get what you want.

Bob Bidonde · 10-12-2022, 08:23 AM

I have been buying American made cars since 1960 and none of them had OEM adjustable shocks. If your Model "A" is for touring, Houdaille shocks are a pain in the derriere to maintain because they leak.

Kevin in NJ · 10-12-2022, 03:00 PM

I have to chuckle a bit.

So he is currently driving with no shocks.
If he is able to run over 25 MPH then his car is in serious need of spring work.

Which is very common.

The Model A with proper working springs is a nightmare to drive much above 20 MPH without shocks. As in you feel like the car is going to go off the road scare the crap out of you.

Once you get some sort of working shocks the car has no problem running 60 MPH.

The usual problems are the front springs are just wore out and sitting too low and the rear springs need to come apart and be lubricated after you check that the correct spring is there for the body.

Lenny Bruce · 10-12-2022, 05:09 PM

That’s good to know. My 1930 Tudor must need spring attention because I have no shocks and it runs 40-45. Is their any info I can look into on how to lubricate the rear springs? I would just replace the front. Thanks

nkaminar · 10-12-2022, 08:52 PM

A lubricating graphite paint is available. The advantage is no greasy or oily mess. You can re arch the springs but it is big job and must be done right.

Lenny Bruce · 10-13-2022, 05:18 PM

I will try finding the graphite paint. Thank you!

dansluck · 10-13-2022, 05:31 PM

I have modern shocks on one of my cars and live on a dirt road. When there is washboard
I take the tudor and it rides nice with less noise. Good Luck Dan

Brianpfreeman · 10-30-2022, 07:23 AM

Did your friend ever upgrade to a shock kit? What brand did he go with?

10-10-2022, 12:36 PM	#1
Lenny Bruce Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2022 Posts: 284	Modern Shocks Hello all! Have a question for a friend. He has a ‘30 coupe and is thinking of installing the after market gas shocks on his car. He wanted me to ask if it will make the car ride more smoothly or possibly ride more ridged? Does anyone have any experience with this? Thanks

10-10-2022, 01:15 PM	#3
Curtis in MA Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Leicester, MA Posts: 296	Re: Modern Shocks A coupe weighs 2000 lb. Modern shocks are made for cars much more than that.

10-10-2022, 01:37 PM	#4
Lenny Bruce Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2022 Posts: 284	Re: Modern Shocks Thanks fellas I will pass on the info

10-10-2022, 01:45 PM	#5
Pete Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wa. Posts: 5,409	Re: Modern Shocks Look up racing shocks. They can be had in almost and degree of damping both compression and rebound. Many lengths also. Some are adjustable. They also mount body up to reduce unsprung weight.

10-10-2022, 04:33 PM	#6
john in illinois Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Illinois Posts: 2,185	Re: Modern Shocks Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Get a shock that is oil filled not a gas filled shock. These are hard to find. Snyders kit has oil filed shocks. I have had them on my tudor for 12 years. Still rides great. Gas charged shocks give a rough ride. As mentioned not correct for lighter model A. John __________________ Welcome each day

10-11-2022, 07:21 AM	#7
bobv Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Baxter, MN. Posts: 120	Re: Modern Shocks I put the Snyders kit on my coupe, set them to the softest setting, no regrets. Car handles so much better in my opinion not all over the road in the dips, bumps and corners.

10-11-2022, 09:52 AM	#8
Lenny Bruce Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2022 Posts: 284	Re: Modern Shocks Awesome I will defend pass this info on thanks guys!

10-11-2022, 11:37 AM	#9
Oldgearz Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Sagle, Idaho Posts: 359	Re: Modern Shocks EMPI oil filled #9350 fit great. They are a VW and dune buggy shock. Great soft ride. You will probably have to knock out the grommets (metal insert is about 12 mm) and put in some that fit your studs (or knock out the grommets on your existing shocks and put them in the 9350s).

10-11-2022, 05:00 PM	#10
Gene F Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,973	Re: Modern Shocks Oil filled tube shocks. I got mine from Standard Aup Poarts in Peoria, IL. (Rainmaker Ron). One of the guys that still work there perhaps can fix you up with what you need.

10-11-2022, 05:37 PM	#11
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,900	Re: Modern Shocks Oldgearz and others that advise soft shocks have the right answer. The spring-shock system is a tuned system that is designed to dampen the suspension. For a heavy car the tuning is different than a light car like the Model A. Plus the type of road makes a difference. The original shocks on the Model A were adjustable and the instructions were to adjust the shocks for the roads. The hydraulic suspension system on the old Citroens were also adjustable using a lever in the drivers compartment. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

10-12-2022, 08:23 AM	#13
Bob Bidonde Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 3,472	Re: Modern Shocks I have been buying American made cars since 1960 and none of them had OEM adjustable shocks. If your Model "A" is for touring, Houdaille shocks are a pain in the derriere to maintain because they leak. __________________ Bob Bidonde

10-12-2022, 03:00 PM	#14
Kevin in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South East NJ Posts: 3,398	Re: Modern Shocks I have to chuckle a bit. So he is currently driving with no shocks. If he is able to run over 25 MPH then his car is in serious need of spring work. Which is very common. The Model A with proper working springs is a nightmare to drive much above 20 MPH without shocks. As in you feel like the car is going to go off the road scare the crap out of you. Once you get some sort of working shocks the car has no problem running 60 MPH. The usual problems are the front springs are just wore out and sitting too low and the rear springs need to come apart and be lubricated after you check that the correct spring is there for the body.

10-12-2022, 05:09 PM	#15
Lenny Bruce Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2022 Posts: 284	Re: Modern Shocks That’s good to know. My 1930 Tudor must need spring attention because I have no shocks and it runs 40-45. Is their any info I can look into on how to lubricate the rear springs? I would just replace the front. Thanks

10-12-2022, 08:52 PM	#16
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,900	Re: Modern Shocks A lubricating graphite paint is available. The advantage is no greasy or oily mess. You can re arch the springs but it is big job and must be done right. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

10-13-2022, 05:18 PM	#17
Lenny Bruce Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2022 Posts: 284	Re: Modern Shocks I will try finding the graphite paint. Thank you!

10-13-2022, 05:31 PM	#18
dansluck Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Nevada Posts: 217	Re: Modern Shocks I have modern shocks on one of my cars and live on a dirt road. When there is washboard I take the tudor and it rides nice with less noise. Good Luck Dan

10-30-2022, 07:23 AM	#19
Brianpfreeman Member Join Date: Oct 2022 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 30	Re: Modern Shocks Did your friend ever upgrade to a shock kit? What brand did he go with?