The Ford Barn

SofaKing · 02-17-2018, 08:20 AM

I am looking for photos of the rear lever/ Houdaille shock absorber installation on the 36 -39 chassis. I am considering fitting the lever shocks I removed from the front of my 39 pu to the rear, I understand rear shocks were an option. I also have a 36 Tudor axel which is just under an inch narrower than the axel I removed. I don’t know what the original installation looks like or if the this can be done without significant modification. Thanks.

SofaKing · 02-17-2018, 08:27 AM

Here's what I have.

marko39 · 02-17-2018, 08:42 AM

the main problem is that the front shocks mount on the side of the frame but the rears are different as the mount to the bottom of frame.

DavidG · 02-17-2018, 09:08 AM

Only the very late '36 rear shocks mount on the underside of the frame as they were previously mounted inside the frame. Also, rear shocks were not an option; they were standard equipment.

rotorwrench · 02-17-2018, 09:25 AM

Henry made the Houdaille (Who-Die) shock installation decision early in the Model A production and all cars & light trucks had them till 1947 or so. Not sure about all the big trucks but they aren't in question here. Front shocks usually have shorter levers than the rear plus the difference in mounting already mentioned. There is a large set of illustrations of the various shocks of the 30s in the 1938 through 1941 Ford/Mercury Chassis Parts Catalog.

SofaKing · 02-17-2018, 10:11 AM

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The mounting explains the lack of holes in the frame. But it may work to my advantage for clearance. I have SB18080 for rebuilding them and it directs that they be identified as clockwise or counter clockwise movement. The arm moves in both directions. What is the dominant direction, compression or extension?

rotorwrench · 02-17-2018, 12:33 PM

The only thing I can get from that SB statement is to identify right side from left.

DavidG · 02-17-2018, 02:10 PM

It is fairly straight forward as the filler plug (hole) is always on top, just like in your photo.

02-17-2018, 08:20 AM	#1
SofaKing Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 756	Lever shocks on the rear I am looking for photos of the rear lever/ Houdaille shock absorber installation on the 36 -39 chassis. I am considering fitting the lever shocks I removed from the front of my 39 pu to the rear, I understand rear shocks were an option. I also have a 36 Tudor axel which is just under an inch narrower than the axel I removed. I don’t know what the original installation looks like or if the this can be done without significant modification. Thanks.

02-17-2018, 08:42 AM	#3
marko39 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: harpursville ny Posts: 1,040	Re: Lever shocks on the rear the main problem is that the front shocks mount on the side of the frame but the rears are different as the mount to the bottom of frame.

02-17-2018, 09:08 AM	#4
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,104	Re: Lever shocks on the rear Only the very late '36 rear shocks mount on the underside of the frame as they were previously mounted inside the frame. Also, rear shocks were not an option; they were standard equipment.

02-17-2018, 09:25 AM	#5
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,440	Re: Lever shocks on the rear Henry made the Houdaille (Who-Die) shock installation decision early in the Model A production and all cars & light trucks had them till 1947 or so. Not sure about all the big trucks but they aren't in question here. Front shocks usually have shorter levers than the rear plus the difference in mounting already mentioned. There is a large set of illustrations of the various shocks of the 30s in the 1938 through 1941 Ford/Mercury Chassis Parts Catalog.

02-17-2018, 12:33 PM	#7
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,440	Re: Lever shocks on the rear The only thing I can get from that SB statement is to identify right side from left.

02-17-2018, 02:10 PM	#8
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,104	Re: Lever shocks on the rear It is fairly straight forward as the filler plug (hole) is always on top, just like in your photo.