The Ford Barn

BILL WILLIAMSON · 02-01-2018, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WHN

If you have a bad spring or bent frame shims don’t fix the problem. They just hide it.

Think about the next person who might own the car.

WELL, we hide our CRAPPY ATTIRE, with our Rarely Used, "LONDON FOG RAINCOAT"
Bill Problemsolver

WHN · 02-01-2018, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

WELL, we hide our CRAPPY ATTIRE, with our Rarely Used, "LONDON FOG RAINCOAT"
Bill Problemsolver

We’ve never met, but I love some of your comments.

Makes for an interesting day. Keep writing. Enjoy.

Dick M · 02-03-2018, 12:59 PM

Your body will lean if the center rear spring bolt with the square head is not seated into the cross member. Its a long shot but worth checking..

daren007 · 02-03-2018, 01:40 PM

How much do you want to spend on it.

BillCNC · 02-03-2018, 03:21 PM

Dick,

Bolt IS centered.

daren,

I don't think it involves more money, that has already been spent bringing me to this point. I think it's just a matter of loosening things up a bit and leveling thing's off, then re-tighten.

Regards
Bill

daren007 · 02-03-2018, 04:51 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Been there done that. If you want to remove the body and start with the frame that's your decision. After all else fails do what's easiest. Check the new cars and trucks on the lots. Take a tape with you. You will be in for a surprise. I have a difficult time believing T's and A's were level to all four corners when new.

Ed in Maine · 02-03-2018, 05:03 PM

I purchased a Model A and used it for one summer driving around town to find out what the issues were for the upcoming restoration. I was appalled to find when I took the car apart that both the front and the rear springs had broken leafs that where held in place by the U-bolts! Ed

daren007 · 02-03-2018, 07:49 PM

My comments come from my experience after completely cleaning, Repairing and reassembling the chassis. A jillion hours replacing body rails etc. Body work and paint. Installing the body on the frame and shimming to get door fit along with hood and radiator shell fit. A lot of painstaking time went into the car up to this point. Now I had a 3/4" lean. I tried the spring u bolts etc. but one thing for Shure was the body was not coming back off. By "How much do you want to spend on fixing the problem" I was referring to just what level do you want to tear into the car at this point. I under your comment about broken springs and I agree with you but when all else fails....... Daren

Big hammer · 02-03-2018, 08:35 PM

Leaning to the left side causes
Horn, generator,starter, steering column, battery, side mounted tire,tail light
Whats on the right side too counteract these items, a hollow exhaust system
Circle track racers work hard to get left hand weight, turn left and go hard :-)

60Jaguar · 05-31-2021, 04:31 PM

Recently noticed my '30 enclosed cab pickup leans left (about an inch in front and 1.5 inches in rear). Might be a recent event. Reading the several strings on this topic seem to indicate shimming and verification of fastener tightness are the two most common temporary fixes. Haven't had the truck long but drive it weekly. Handles fine after a thorough lube and re-tightening the right front shock arm, but the port list (for the sailors among us) offends the eye. More investigating to do, of course to understand root cause(s), but your comments provide good food for thought.

nkaminar · 05-31-2021, 08:11 PM

Is there a heavy load on one side?

GeneBob · 05-31-2021, 10:37 PM

At least you have a name for your car now:
Ilene

Ed in Maine · 06-01-2021, 03:19 PM

It is good to see so many recommendations to take a close look at the springs. I purchased a 31 Cabriolet and drove around town during the summer and then tore it down for a complete restoration. I was horrified when I got to the rear spring that I had two leaves broken at mid point, held together only by the clamps. Both springs have been replaced. Ed

Anteek29 · 06-01-2021, 03:58 PM

It's the alcohol in our gas...makes em TIPSY!

WHN · 06-02-2021, 11:06 AM

Some owners believe all that a 90 year old spring needs is a little filing, a good coat of paint, and some dry lubricant.

Springs after many years need to be replaced. It’s money well spent. You really don’t realize how nice the ride can be until you replace your worn out springs and shocks.

Like good brakes and a correctly done front end. Makes all the difference in the world.

Y-Blockhead · 06-02-2021, 11:27 AM

Ensure you check your shackles closely while you're at it. The offshore shackles tend to break...

ronn · 06-05-2021, 06:15 PM

Hire the "great Iola" for a day, as a passenger..........

GeneBob · 06-06-2021, 12:27 AM

So, if you are resting on 2X4's, can you lift the body back up to see if the frame leans without the body on it? Is the body sitting on all the 2X4's or is there a gap or the 2X4's are not seated against the body the same? Have you tried just jumping up and down on the front and back of the car to see if the springs settle back to straight after being exercized? So many questions.

02-03-2018, 12:59 PM	#23
Dick M Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ukiah, CA Posts: 477	Re: Body Leaning To One Side Your body will lean if the center rear spring bolt with the square head is not seated into the cross member. Its a long shot but worth checking..

02-03-2018, 01:40 PM	#24
daren007 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Saint Cloud Mn Posts: 745	Re: Body Leaning To One Side How much do you want to spend on it.

02-03-2018, 03:21 PM	#25
BillCNC Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: SoCal Desert Posts: 826	Re: Body Leaning To One Side Dick, Bolt IS centered. daren, I don't think it involves more money, that has already been spent bringing me to this point. I think it's just a matter of loosening things up a bit and leveling thing's off, then re-tighten. Regards Bill

02-03-2018, 04:51 PM	#26
daren007 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Saint Cloud Mn Posts: 745	Re: Body Leaning To One Side Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Been there done that. If you want to remove the body and start with the frame that's your decision. After all else fails do what's easiest. Check the new cars and trucks on the lots. Take a tape with you. You will be in for a surprise. I have a difficult time believing T's and A's were level to all four corners when new.

02-03-2018, 05:03 PM	#27
Ed in Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cty., ME or Flagler Cty., FL Posts: 1,106	Re: Body Leaning To One Side I purchased a Model A and used it for one summer driving around town to find out what the issues were for the upcoming restoration. I was appalled to find when I took the car apart that both the front and the rear springs had broken leafs that where held in place by the U-bolts! Ed

02-03-2018, 07:49 PM	#28
daren007 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Saint Cloud Mn Posts: 745	Re: Body Leaning To One Side My comments come from my experience after completely cleaning, Repairing and reassembling the chassis. A jillion hours replacing body rails etc. Body work and paint. Installing the body on the frame and shimming to get door fit along with hood and radiator shell fit. A lot of painstaking time went into the car up to this point. Now I had a 3/4" lean. I tried the spring u bolts etc. but one thing for Shure was the body was not coming back off. By "How much do you want to spend on fixing the problem" I was referring to just what level do you want to tear into the car at this point. I under your comment about broken springs and I agree with you but when all else fails....... Daren

02-03-2018, 08:35 PM	#29
Big hammer Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Land of Lincoln Posts: 3,127	Re: Body Leaning To One Side Leaning to the left side causes Horn, generator,starter, steering column, battery, side mounted tire,tail light Whats on the right side too counteract these items, a hollow exhaust system Circle track racers work hard to get left hand weight, turn left and go hard :-) __________________ Don't force it with a little hammer tap, tap, tap get a bigger hammer tap done

05-31-2021, 04:31 PM	#30
60Jaguar Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2021 Posts: 3	Re: Body Leaning To One Side Recently noticed my '30 enclosed cab pickup leans left (about an inch in front and 1.5 inches in rear). Might be a recent event. Reading the several strings on this topic seem to indicate shimming and verification of fastener tightness are the two most common temporary fixes. Haven't had the truck long but drive it weekly. Handles fine after a thorough lube and re-tightening the right front shock arm, but the port list (for the sailors among us) offends the eye. More investigating to do, of course to understand root cause(s), but your comments provide good food for thought. Last edited by 60Jaguar; 05-31-2021 at 04:33 PM. Reason: typo

05-31-2021, 10:37 PM	#32
GeneBob Senior Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: Denver Area Posts: 433	Re: Body Leaning To One Side At least you have a name for your car now: Ilene

06-01-2021, 03:19 PM	#33
Ed in Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cty., ME or Flagler Cty., FL Posts: 1,106	Re: Body Leaning To One Side It is good to see so many recommendations to take a close look at the springs. I purchased a 31 Cabriolet and drove around town during the summer and then tore it down for a complete restoration. I was horrified when I got to the rear spring that I had two leaves broken at mid point, held together only by the clamps. Both springs have been replaced. Ed

06-01-2021, 03:58 PM	#34
Anteek29 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Santa Maria, CA Posts: 985	Re: Body Leaning To One Side It's the alcohol in our gas...makes em TIPSY! __________________ Alan 1929 Special Coupe 1941 Pick-Up 1955 Victoria

06-02-2021, 11:06 AM	#35
WHN Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Connecticut Shoreline Posts: 1,821	Re: Body Leaning To One Side Some owners believe all that a 90 year old spring needs is a little filing, a good coat of paint, and some dry lubricant. Springs after many years need to be replaced. It’s money well spent. You really don’t realize how nice the ride can be until you replace your worn out springs and shocks. Like good brakes and a correctly done front end. Makes all the difference in the world.

06-02-2021, 11:27 AM	#36
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,848	Re: Body Leaning To One Side Ensure you check your shackles closely while you're at it. The offshore shackles tend to break...

06-05-2021, 06:15 PM	#37
ronn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ Posts: 6,785	Re: Body Leaning To One Side Hire the "great Iola" for a day, as a passenger..........

06-06-2021, 12:27 AM	#38
GeneBob Senior Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: Denver Area Posts: 433	Re: Body Leaning To One Side So, if you are resting on 2X4's, can you lift the body back up to see if the frame leans without the body on it? Is the body sitting on all the 2X4's or is there a gap or the 2X4's are not seated against the body the same? Have you tried just jumping up and down on the front and back of the car to see if the springs settle back to straight after being exercized? So many questions.