The Ford Barn

Kube · 01-12-2016, 06:42 PM

In all of my years and countless '39 - '40 Fords, I have never seen a spacer like this. The frame above this spacer is beautiful so its (spacer) purpose is not a repair.

This spacer is not home made. It is cast and is a rather nice casting at that.
So, what is it for?

1931 flamingo · 01-12-2016, 06:57 PM

Does it in effect lower the end of the wishbone?? A way to adj caster or camber (I get them mixed up, CRS, to change the angle of the front axle), or am I totally wrong??
Paul in CT

russcc · 01-12-2016, 06:57 PM

Would that spacer be used to change the caster ?

JSeery · 01-12-2016, 07:33 PM

So does it mount with the bottom side in the photo up against the frame? Looks a little like an 8N Tractor radius rod cap.

DavidG · 01-12-2016, 07:52 PM

Mike,

It's a generic aftermarket substitute for the stamped version. The tooling to make the cast version would be a small fraction of the cost of the tooling for the stamped version given the deep draw and material thickness of the steel. They're around.

Kube · 01-12-2016, 08:04 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by JSeery

So does it mount with the bottom side in the photo up against the frame? Looks a little like an 8N Tractor radius rod cap.

I should have been more specific as to where this was installed. It was against the frame and as such, I could see where it may change the caster. However, doing the math, a very minute change would have occurred. So, I don't think that's the reason.

Kube · 01-12-2016, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidG

Mike,

It's a generic aftermarket substitute for the stamped version. The tooling to make the cast version would be a small fraction of the cost of the tooling for the stamped version given the deep draw and material thickness of the steel. They're around.

yeah, maybe. Perhaps somebody installed it against the frame having little real clue as to what it was actually for.
I have seen various companies after market pieces that were stamped and formed.

Ken/Alabama · 01-12-2016, 09:13 PM

Does it have a part number? The cap for my 39 Zephyr is cast and has a 99A prefix which would be 39 Mercury.

1932 V8 · 01-13-2016, 12:30 AM

Well , I can tell you that I could use that. On my 32 Roadster , the front is lowered so much with a stock wishbone that I have clearance problems between the wishbone and the bell housing. I spaced the back of the wishbone down with a stock cap turned upside down and basically sandwiched the wishbone ball then bolted it to the frame. I just tried this to see if it would give it enough clearance to be worth it. Turns out it did help. With a spacer like yours, I think it would be a great improvement. Let me know if you decide to part with the part

This would be my best guess at what it was for. Darn Hot Rodders and their lowered cars

alanwoodieman · 01-13-2016, 08:58 AM

looks like a Ford tractor ball cap--two radius rods, two caps.9N, 2N, 8N and later have them

Kube · 01-13-2016, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanwoodieman

looks like a Ford tractor ball cap--two radius rods, two caps.9N, 2N, 8N and later have them

Way beyond my knowledge level but most certainly plausible. I knew it was not stock..more of a curiosity thing. Thanks to all who responded.

Oh, NO part number...

svm99 · 01-13-2016, 08:49 PM

I do have one with a part#81C-3442, it is listed in the "Green Book" as a spacer used when Ford put a 4spd transmission in a 38-41 1/2 ton pickup to allow for additional clearance. It does change the caster of the front axle ever so slightly, not much though.
Paul J.

Kube · 01-13-2016, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svm99

I do have one with a part#81C-3442, it is listed in the "Green Book" as a spacer used when Ford put a 4spd transmission in a 38-41 1/2 ton pickup to allow for additional clearance. It does change the caster of the front axle ever so slightly, not much though.
Paul J.

Thanks much Paul.
I bet that's it!!!!

CaliforniaBorn36 · 08-21-2018, 03:32 PM

Does anyone sell a part like this, or the B-3440 part, or make a spacer to lower the back of the wishbone? I am looking at this option for a 1941 Ford 1/2 Ton Pickup for clearance reasons.

If you have something you'd be willing to part with, I am in the SF Bay Area, extra points if you live in the Oakland/Hayward area.

Thanks

Kube · 08-21-2018, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliforniaBorn36

Does anyone sell a part like this, or the B-3440 part, or make a spacer to lower the back of the wishbone? I am looking at this option for a 1941 Ford 1/2 Ton Pickup for clearance reasons.

If you have something you'd be willing to part with, I am in the SF Bay Area, extra points if you live in the Oakland/Hayward area.

Thanks

I'm not aware of anyone selling a reproduction. And unfortunately, I sold the one I had.

grumppyoldman · 08-26-2018, 10:27 AM

I'm curious about the camber adjustment on my 41. I've tried everything to stop the shimmy in the front end, even installed a hydraulic damper to stop it. New king pins with the needle bearings, which some say are not the best way to go. Thinking about going back to pins and reamed bushings. Any thoughts from you guy's would be appreciated. Also do any of you have a reamer for rent, maybe recover some of your cost. Al

Kube · 08-26-2018, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grumppyoldman

I'm curious about the camber adjustment on my 41. I've tried everything to stop the shimmy in the front end, even installed a hydraulic damper to stop it. New king pins with the needle bearings, which some say are not the best way to go. Thinking about going back to pins and reamed bushings. Any thoughts from you guy's would be appreciated. Also do any of you have a reamer for rent, maybe recover some of your cost. Al

I'd suggest you bring your car to a COMPETENT front chassis professional for a thorough inspection. Not simply a "looksy" but rather, a full alignment. They can determine quite rapidly just what the issue(s) is.
Note: a place that specializes in trucks is probably your best bet as they can typically bend the axle if necessary.

Marvin/TN · 08-26-2018, 07:45 PM

If Chassis Engneering is still in business they have a wish bone spacer. Not sure but I think they closed but I also heard that someone bought all of their products and were producing things again or at least plan to. I used one of their spacers on my 46 and everything clears now and no cutting of the X Member.

grumppyoldman · 08-28-2018, 10:24 AM

Thanks Kube, all the front end shops here tell me they don't work on this type of front end. I'll check some of the truck places and see. Al

CaliforniaBorn36 · 09-04-2018, 12:24 PM

Heinzman Street Rods has a small block Ford wishbone mounting kit to lower the radius rod ball. It is for 41-48 Fords.

http://heinzmanstreetrods.com/catalo...2018_20-24.pdf

I am still looking for a Radius Rod Ball Cap for a 1941 Ford 1/2 Ton pickup, which is the earlier style, so the Heinzman item will not work for me.

01-12-2016, 06:57 PM	#2
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,390	Re: Front radius rod ball spacer 1940 Ford ? Does it in effect lower the end of the wishbone?? A way to adj caster or camber (I get them mixed up, CRS, to change the angle of the front axle), or am I totally wrong?? Paul in CT

01-12-2016, 06:57 PM	#3
russcc Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,871	Re: Front radius rod ball spacer 1940 Ford ? Would that spacer be used to change the caster ?

01-12-2016, 07:52 PM	#5
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,101	Re: Front radius rod ball spacer 1940 Ford ? Mike, It's a generic aftermarket substitute for the stamped version. The tooling to make the cast version would be a small fraction of the cost of the tooling for the stamped version given the deep draw and material thickness of the steel. They're around.

01-13-2016, 12:30 AM	#9
1932 V8 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Windsor California Posts: 492	Re: Front radius rod ball spacer 1940 Ford ? Well , I can tell you that I could use that. On my 32 Roadster , the front is lowered so much with a stock wishbone that I have clearance problems between the wishbone and the bell housing. I spaced the back of the wishbone down with a stock cap turned upside down and basically sandwiched the wishbone ball then bolted it to the frame. I just tried this to see if it would give it enough clearance to be worth it. Turns out it did help. With a spacer like yours, I think it would be a great improvement. Let me know if you decide to part with the part This would be my best guess at what it was for. Darn Hot Rodders and their lowered cars

01-13-2016, 08:58 AM	#10
alanwoodieman Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: upstate SC Posts: 2,963	Re: Front radius rod ball spacer 1940 Ford ? looks like a Ford tractor ball cap--two radius rods, two caps.9N, 2N, 8N and later have them

01-12-2016, 09:13 PM	#8
Ken/Alabama Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 3,260	Re: Front radius rod ball spacer 1940 Ford ? Does it have a part number? The cap for my 39 Zephyr is cast and has a 99A prefix which would be 39 Mercury.

01-13-2016, 08:49 PM	#12
svm99 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Garlic Country of CA Posts: 537	Re: Front radius rod ball spacer 1940 Ford ? I do have one with a part#81C-3442, it is listed in the "Green Book" as a spacer used when Ford put a 4spd transmission in a 38-41 1/2 ton pickup to allow for additional clearance. It does change the caster of the front axle ever so slightly, not much though. Paul J.

08-21-2018, 03:32 PM	#14
CaliforniaBorn36 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 427	Re: Front radius rod ball spacer 1940 Ford ? Does anyone sell a part like this, or the B-3440 part, or make a spacer to lower the back of the wishbone? I am looking at this option for a 1941 Ford 1/2 Ton Pickup for clearance reasons. If you have something you'd be willing to part with, I am in the SF Bay Area, extra points if you live in the Oakland/Hayward area. Thanks

08-26-2018, 10:27 AM	#16
grumppyoldman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Texas Gulf Coast Posts: 727	Re: Front radius rod ball spacer 1940 Ford ? I'm curious about the camber adjustment on my 41. I've tried everything to stop the shimmy in the front end, even installed a hydraulic damper to stop it. New king pins with the needle bearings, which some say are not the best way to go. Thinking about going back to pins and reamed bushings. Any thoughts from you guy's would be appreciated. Also do any of you have a reamer for rent, maybe recover some of your cost. Al

08-26-2018, 07:45 PM	#18
Marvin/TN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chattanooga, TN area Posts: 832	Re: Front radius rod ball spacer 1940 Ford ? If Chassis Engneering is still in business they have a wish bone spacer. Not sure but I think they closed but I also heard that someone bought all of their products and were producing things again or at least plan to. I used one of their spacers on my 46 and everything clears now and no cutting of the X Member.

08-28-2018, 10:24 AM	#19
grumppyoldman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Texas Gulf Coast Posts: 727	Re: Front radius rod ball spacer 1940 Ford ? Thanks Kube, all the front end shops here tell me they don't work on this type of front end. I'll check some of the truck places and see. Al

09-04-2018, 12:24 PM	#20
CaliforniaBorn36 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 427	Re: Front radius rod ball spacer 1940 Ford ? Heinzman Street Rods has a small block Ford wishbone mounting kit to lower the radius rod ball. It is for 41-48 Fords. http://heinzmanstreetrods.com/catalo...2018_20-24.pdf I am still looking for a Radius Rod Ball Cap for a 1941 Ford 1/2 Ton pickup, which is the earlier style, so the Heinzman item will not work for me.