Installation of Shock Absorbers on 31 SW TS

[JohnB15632]

My vehicle came into my possession minus many, many parts. One of the mission parts were the shocks.

I was able to install the right front shock absorber.

Question, does it matter which direction is the cotter pin inserted? Does it matter?

Thanks,

[Mike V. Florida]

No it does not.

[Larry Jenkins]

Frame welting?

Jamb nuts behind brake rods?

Shock bolts?

[1931 flamingo]

John: Looking good ! ! !

Paul in CT

[Brentwood Bob]

Any chance there is a restored car nearby you could use as a guide? You look to be doing an assembly as a restoration.
Have you considered joining a local club?
Nice work.
Bob

[JohnB15632]

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To Larry - Yes is the answer to all three of your questions.

To Brentwood BOB - Yes I have joined the Three rivers Model A Restorer Club. Unfortunately for me, I live on the outskirts of Pittsburgh, to the East of Pittsburgh. I do not have any access to a restored vehicle. Unfortunately, most of the members of the club are older and provide little guidance or help. I am flying blind except for the answer to questions that I get here on the Ford Barn.

Thank you all!!!!!!

[Tom Wesenberg]

I just looked on Marco's site for some detail pictures, but couldn't find any of the shock link area. I know someone posted excellent pictures of that area, and I'll try to find them, because now I'm wondering how they were installed from the factory. Of course they work from either direction, but why not do it as original as possible.

[JohnB15632]

The reason why I asked the question originally was to find out if it really matters for judging purposes. The Model A Restoration Guidelines & Judging Standards made no indication of the cotter pins. It only says that the shock links must all be the same. So, I think that it does not matter the direction of the cotter pins.

Thanks for looking.

[Bob C]

Here's some from Marco's that I think Tom was looking for.

Bob

[Tom Wesenberg]

Thanks Bob.
Here is the picture I was trying to find. This is a picture of the late Dave Lopes' 1929 Briggs Fordor front axle. This is an unrestored low mileage original car in very nice condition.

[JohnB15632]

Thank you for the picture. From what I see, It looks like what I am trying to restore matches almost exactly what is shown in this picture.

Thank you for your hard work finding this. Thank you for your help!!!
I am very appreciative.

[Tom Wesenberg]

This is why I like to attend national meets. It's the best chance to see many fine point cars and nice unrestored original cars. It's the best way to take a lot of detail pictures.

I may have found the picture I just posted on the internet, and then saved it to my computer, because I take jpeg medium quality pictures, so they post easily to this site. This picture code ended in bmap, and even though I downsized it twice, it still wasn't working to post here. I finally used the original picture and saved it with the jpeg suffix, and it downloaded here just fine.

BTW, look at the steering arm a couple inches from where the drag link connects. What is that on the steering arm? It almost looks like the arm was welded, but I know that isn't so.

[JohnB15632]

There is nothing on the steering arm. It is just shadows and the way that I took the picture. The steering works as it should. With any luck, I hope to get the steering assembly complete and installed in two weeks. I will complete the steering wheel this weekend!!!

Thank you for your great help!!!!!!

[Mitch//pa]

Tom is talking about the picture he posted not your picture....
Tom it looks like a weld to me and not a very good one but pics can be deceiving

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

John,
Puttin' on shocks seems like an EASY task, BUT, when you didn't take them off yourself, it can be a BUGGER!
I "think" I read that the R/F & the L/R are the same & the L/F & the R/R are the same. Somebody here can help you know how to identify WHICH is WHICH, cuz I DON'T KNOW??? BOTH my cars came with PRIMO shocks. They may have been made in CONSTAZUMA??? BUT they work well.
Bill W.

[JohnB15632]

I had a 50/50 chance to install my front shocks correctly and guess what, I did not. So, I changed them around and got the RF assembled as in the picture that I posted. I was also successful in installing the rears installed correctly. I hope that the first of next week, I will have them installed. The right front was difficult to install. But I learned from that. It has been a struggle replacing all of the missing parts. I have sooooo much to learn. Thank you for your help.

[updraught]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

BTW, look at the steering arm a couple inches from where the drag link connects. What is that on the steering arm? It almost looks like the arm was welded, but I know that isn't so.

Grease that squirted out of the grease nipple to the left. As the steering went back and forth it formed loops.

Either that or its a piece of dog chain welded over a genuine Ford crack...

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by updraught

Grease that squirted out of the grease nipple to the left. As the steering went back and forth it formed loops.

Either that or its a piece of dog chain welded over a genuine Ford crack...

I'll bet you are right. Look where the grease fitting is for the drag link, and look where it will be when turning left. If the ball is worn slightly, it will spread the steel cups apart during a turn, and push a bit of grease out the fitting.