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Old 09-12-2020, 09:49 PM   #1
Clem Clement
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Default adjusting 39 Ford pickup shocks

I have the shock heads with the pointer and chisel mark for adjusting. What does "increase" and "increase" mean." Increase the amount of dampening?
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Old 09-12-2020, 10:58 PM   #2
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Default Re: adjusting 39 Ford pickup shocks

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Originally Posted by Clem Clement View Post
I have the shock heads with the pointer and chisel mark for adjusting. What does "increase" and "increase" mean." Increase the amount of dampening?
I'm not sure if mine are the same as yours, but one of mine was set too harsh. Expereminting I found turning it CCW made it work better. Mine are the round type, sometimes called Hudni. Al
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Old 09-13-2020, 05:50 AM   #3
Terry,OH
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Default Re: adjusting 39 Ford pickup shocks

Turn CW to increase resistance and CCW for less. Suggest you take a note of your start point and only move about 1/32" at a time.
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Old 09-13-2020, 11:07 AM   #4
Clem Clement
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Default Re: adjusting 39 Ford pickup shocks

thanks. do all four need to be the same?

Can I use the bounce test to check changes? Meaning climb on the bumpers and bounce the car at the corners? I'm still too stiff and tired to dismount the shocks
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Old 09-14-2020, 11:29 AM   #5
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Default Re: adjusting 39 Ford pickup shocks

Ms. Sandy helped me with the bounce test. I was the bouncer person and she the safety officer. She was not impressed with an 83 years young bouncing of the bumpers and yelling "Giddy-up!)

The pickup failed the test

passenger side front shock and driver's side rear softer than the another two.

I'm thinking I increase the settings on both?
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Old 09-15-2020, 02:58 AM   #6
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Default Re: adjusting 39 Ford pickup shocks

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thanks. Not picking, but what is the reason for moving the pointer a small amount at a time, please. I have marked where we started and I'd like to move the pointer significantly toward increase.
Thanks
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Old 09-15-2020, 06:11 AM   #7
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Default Re: adjusting 39 Ford pickup shocks

The small adjustment usually makes a very big difference. are the shocks full of fluid? Go ahead and move the pointer 3/8" When were the shocks rebuilt?
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Old 09-15-2020, 11:06 AM   #8
Clem Clement
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Default Re: adjusting 39 Ford pickup shocks

shocks are full and don't leak. I got them from here and there. If I found a stronger one, I swapped it in place. During set up, i move the pointers on all four to the factories' chisel mark. The right front and left rear are soft, so I want to readjust them to match in performance. (I painfully learned that post war shock ears are a different size from prewar.) Thanks for your help. I will report progress.

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Old 09-15-2020, 09:12 PM   #9
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Default Re: adjusting 39 Ford pickup shocks

Next challenge is balancing the shocks and increasing the resistance. This morning the pickup failed his “Bounce and return test.”
I have approval from Fordbarn to adjust the shock needles. To start, all four are adjusted to the factory chisel marks. The right front and left rear shocks are soft. I added 50deg. To the right front which helped. The left rear pointer and shaft freely rotate, so I decreased the pointer trying to match the bounce across the rear end. Seems the right thing to do. I suspect the adj. paddle shaft is broken.) Can I replace the valve in the shock with the shock installed in the car??
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Old 09-15-2020, 10:30 PM   #10
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Default Re: adjusting 39 Ford pickup shocks

Hope this is of some help.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg houdaille%2008_jpg.jpg (65.7 KB, 64 views)
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Old 09-15-2020, 11:23 PM   #11
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Default Re: adjusting 39 Ford pickup shocks

Clem, When installing newly rebuilt shocks myself, I clamped both in a large bench vise (not so easily), with both arms parallel pointing up. One hand on each, I push/pulled and adjusted to make them match. Your bounce method may be more useful than my vise test was!
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Old 09-16-2020, 12:02 PM   #12
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Default Re: adjusting 39 Ford pickup shocks

Does anyone ever flush out a shock. if it is dry, I understand it is probably shot. If it is closed is there any need to flush? I found one of my extras is a left rear for my 39, but when I move the arm there is a terrible grinding sound inside. I poured a little lube out and it is dark Brown. I'm thinking the innards are shot. When I adj.it full increase, the shock locks up tight.

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Old 09-24-2020, 11:47 PM   #13
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Default Re: adjusting 39 Ford pickup shocks

I have flushed out the shock 6 times using Evaporust. I still get tiny black flakes of rust. The grinding is gone, but there is not much resistance to the arm motion. Does the valve and stem just unscrew? So far I can't remove it.
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Old 09-26-2020, 09:14 AM   #14
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Default Re: adjusting 39 Ford pickup shocks

[QUOTE=Clem Clement;1934998]I have flushed out the shock 6 times using Evaporust. I still get tiny black flakes of rust. The grinding is gone, but there is not much resistance to the arm motion. Does the valve and stem just unscrew? So far I can't remove it.[/QUOTE

Clem, save yourself a LOT of frustration and have the shocks rebuilt professionally. You appear to drive your vehicles and hey, you can't take it ($) with you... enjoy it (rebuilt shocks) now.

These shocks don't disassemble easily and require special fixtures to R&R.
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Old 09-27-2020, 11:22 AM   #15
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Default Re: adjusting 39 Ford pickup shocks

Thanks. I'm just playing and learning. I can't seem to unscrew the pointer and seal nut. They unscrew and then jam??
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Old 10-04-2020, 12:21 AM   #16
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Default Re: adjusting 39 Ford pickup shocks

thanks all. I had several shocks and am using the best ones. I took a couple of loops around my village tonight The '39 seems more stable.

The next task is using Slip Plate on the springs.
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