The Ford Barn

BlueSunoco · 06-12-2025, 03:09 PM

On '35-'36 Ford Cars and Pickups?

Joe's has modern type tubular shock kits for both front and rear that are reasonably priced, mostly bolt-in with some drilling...

Our '36 is missing some kind of mounting brackets for the original rear shocks. Just pondering options. Good? Bad? Not worth changing? Stay original hunt for original parts? Thanks for your input!

I have Model A friends that changed to these on their Model A's and each one told me in that instance, don't go to them stay with original Houdaille shocks.

ford38v8 · 06-12-2025, 03:16 PM

Houdailles are available, but pricey. Originality is important to some, and not others.

jimTN · 06-12-2025, 03:29 PM

Good originals IMHO are better than the replacements unless you double shock ea wheel. Some conversions work better than others but all are dependent on the tube shocks which I believe should be strong double action to work right.

Tim Ayers · 06-12-2025, 03:38 PM

I believe this is/was a British company making copies that were superior to the originals. Stipe Machine was also making some, but they may be only for Model A's and not your year truck.

TJ · 06-12-2025, 06:10 PM

Most tube shock kits come with cheap shocks. You best bet is buy the good brackets and then buy a good brand name shock

deuce lover · 06-13-2025, 10:06 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Ayers

I believe this is/was a British company making copies that were superior to the originals. Stipe Machine was also making some, but they may be only for Model A's and not your year truck.

Here is that Co in UK. ROTOSHIM LIMITED

rotoshim.com
https://rotoshim.com

BlueSunoco · 06-13-2025, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deuce lover

Here is that Co in UK. ROTOSHIM LIMITED

rotoshim.com
https://rotoshim.com

Thanks!!

azlkk · 06-13-2025, 12:27 PM

I'm looking for shocks that were installed back in the day. Our '35 has tube shocks that were installed anywhere from the late '40s through the '50s we believe. I can't find any brand or part number information on them. There are plates spot-welded onto the lower bodies but nothing to see. Does anyone have any part numbers or brands?

Tim Ayers · 06-13-2025, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deuce lover

Here is that Co in UK. ROTOSHIM LIMITED

rotoshim.com
https://rotoshim.com

Thank you for posting the link. I couldn't find originally.

KiWinUS · 06-13-2025, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Ayers

Thank you for posting the link. I couldn't find originally.

American made. I have just fitted the this morning.

Tim Ayers · 06-13-2025, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KiWinUS

American made. I have just fitted the this morning.

Elmer's?

petehoovie · 06-13-2025, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KiWinUS

American made. I have just fitted the this morning.

BlueSunoco · 06-13-2025, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KiWinUS

American made. I have just fitted the this morning.

Sweet

KiWinUS · 06-13-2025, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Ayers

Elmer's?

Elmer’s/Elite shocks for fenderless car. I made them work and all associated parts.

Tim Ayers · 06-13-2025, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KiWinUS

Elmer’s/Elite shocks for fenderless car. I made them work and all associated parts.

Looks great as always, Tony. Cheers

40cpe · 06-14-2025, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJ

Most tube shock kits come with cheap shocks. You best bet is buy the good brackets and then buy a good brand name shock

^^^ This is good advice in my experience. My '38 came to me without any shocks. I bought a tube kit for the front end and mounted them. I soon found the shocks suppled with the kit too soft and ineffective. I bought KYB shocks and replaced them. The KYB shocks worked well but within a short time one of the brackets broke using the stiffer shock. That is when I sourced some original shock and had them rebuilt. Originals are adjustable and work great.

Maybe the key to tube shocks conversion is to find good brackets, I can't help with that.

Drbrown · 06-14-2025, 10:08 AM

(1) There is or was someone who rebuilt the Houdailles. (2) My '47 long-door coupe came from factory with tube shocks on rear and Houdailles on front .... they cast or welded brackets on the rear axle and frame above. My existing Houdailles seem to work okay. I believe the 1948 Ford came with all tubular's. (3) If someone with a 40's era Ford wants photos and/or dimensions of the rear mounts I could get them A measurement of the center-to-center mounting bolts (car at rest) may help obtain a suitable size shock. (4) Few years back I bought a pair of used conversion brackets for the front, together with their used tubulare shocks. I now do not intend to install them. To determine a shock size for the front of a 40's I could measure the tubular's that came with them to ID a tubular shock size.

06-12-2025, 03:09 PM	#1
BlueSunoco Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Windy City Posts: 1,004	Are Modern Shock Conversions worth it? On '35-'36 Ford Cars and Pickups? Joe's has modern type tubular shock kits for both front and rear that are reasonably priced, mostly bolt-in with some drilling... Our '36 is missing some kind of mounting brackets for the original rear shocks. Just pondering options. Good? Bad? Not worth changing? Stay original hunt for original parts? Thanks for your input! I have Model A friends that changed to these on their Model A's and each one told me in that instance, don't go to them stay with original Houdaille shocks.

06-12-2025, 03:16 PM	#2
ford38v8 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 7,287	Re: Are Modern Shock Conversions worth it? Houdailles are available, but pricey. Originality is important to some, and not others. __________________ Alan

06-12-2025, 03:29 PM	#3
jimTN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Powell, TN Posts: 2,617	Re: Are Modern Shock Conversions worth it? Good originals IMHO are better than the replacements unless you double shock ea wheel. Some conversions work better than others but all are dependent on the tube shocks which I believe should be strong double action to work right.

06-12-2025, 03:38 PM	#4
Tim Ayers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 6,921	Re: Are Modern Shock Conversions worth it? I believe this is/was a British company making copies that were superior to the originals. Stipe Machine was also making some, but they may be only for Model A's and not your year truck.

06-12-2025, 06:10 PM	#5
TJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Napa,California Posts: 6,568	Re: Are Modern Shock Conversions worth it? Most tube shock kits come with cheap shocks. You best bet is buy the good brackets and then buy a good brand name shock

06-13-2025, 12:27 PM	#8
azlkk Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 12	Re: Are Modern Shock Conversions worth it? I'm looking for shocks that were installed back in the day. Our '35 has tube shocks that were installed anywhere from the late '40s through the '50s we believe. I can't find any brand or part number information on them. There are plates spot-welded onto the lower bodies but nothing to see. Does anyone have any part numbers or brands? __________________ '35 5 Window Deluxe Coupe- wife's uncle purchased new

06-14-2025, 10:08 AM	#17
Drbrown Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Glens Falls NY Posts: 1,355	Re: Are Modern Shock Conversions worth it? (1) There is or was someone who rebuilt the Houdailles. (2) My '47 long-door coupe came from factory with tube shocks on rear and Houdailles on front .... they cast or welded brackets on the rear axle and frame above. My existing Houdailles seem to work okay. I believe the 1948 Ford came with all tubular's. (3) If someone with a 40's era Ford wants photos and/or dimensions of the rear mounts I could get them A measurement of the center-to-center mounting bolts (car at rest) may help obtain a suitable size shock. (4) Few years back I bought a pair of used conversion brackets for the front, together with their used tubulare shocks. I now do not intend to install them. To determine a shock size for the front of a 40's I could measure the tubular's that came with them to ID a tubular shock size.