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Old 05-25-2014, 05:08 PM   #1
Charlville
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Default Why Would Someone do This????

Please see attached pictures of my rear shocker arms. Can't think the previous owner would have done this for alignment purposes surely??

Any thoughts on why someone may have done this back in the day?
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File Type: jpg arm animal 2.jpg (55.3 KB, 644 views)
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Old 05-25-2014, 05:18 PM   #2
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Default Re: Why Would Someone do This????

Those are V8 shocks and the arms are to long, or I
should say were to long.

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Old 05-25-2014, 05:24 PM   #3
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Default Re: Why Would Someone do This????

And, they're probably pretty stiff now with the shortened lever and the lighter weight of an A-bone. DD
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Old 05-25-2014, 05:26 PM   #4
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Default Re: Why Would Someone do This????

My voyage of discovery continues, thanks
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Old 05-25-2014, 05:35 PM   #5
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Default Re: Why Would Someone do This????

Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlville View Post
Please see attached pictures of my rear shocker arms. Can't think the previous owner would have done this for alignment purposes surely??

Any thoughts on why someone may have done this back in the day?

As has been stated, they appear not Model A originals shocks but cut down and shorten. What I'm not understanding though is what the arms were welded on such an angle. Maybe, just a very poor Welder??

However, my model is W.O.S. "WithOut Shocks". so 35mph is where i'm at and that's fine to get me to the ice cream stand.
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Old 05-25-2014, 05:36 PM   #6
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Default Re: Why Would Someone do This????

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In that case can I assume the same for the fronts?




Thanks in advance
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Old 05-25-2014, 06:50 PM   #7
Marco Tahtaras
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Default Re: Why Would Someone do This????

I would guess 1960's - 1970's. V8 shocks won't work on a Model A with original brakes due to the rods but CAN be done after converting to hydraulic brakes. I don't think the brake conversion was too common prior to the time stated.
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Old 05-25-2014, 07:31 PM   #8
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Default Re: Why Would Someone do This????

Well The good news is; The welding is holding! The rest of it is the bad news!
The fit up is terrible! Length? May be terrible also!I don't know! I put tube shocks on my Town Sedan and am done with this shock hassle. Go to my profile and you'll find it under "My 30 T.S." including a drawing of the part I made that fits the backing plate.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlville View Post
Please see attached pictures of my rear shocker arms. Can't think the previous owner would have done this for alignment purposes surely??

Any thoughts on why someone may have done this back in the day?
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Old 05-26-2014, 11:51 AM   #9
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Default Re: Why Would Someone do This????

Hi 1930 coupe

Yes I bought the car in the States and shipped it over, spent most of it's life in PA I believe. You are quite right in terms of wartime and depression era repairs I think, Over here you see quite a lot of odd things car repair wise on war time vehicles
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Old 05-26-2014, 11:54 AM   #10
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Default Re: Why Would Someone do This????

Hi Marco

I know it's not strictly Barn fare, but do you know off hand if the A arms fit the V8 shocks? I'm assuming not as they wouldn't have taken this route if they did?
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Old 05-27-2014, 08:47 AM   #11
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Default Re: Why Would Someone do This????

There is a guy in Texas who makes shock conversion kits for Model As. I'm getting old and can't recall his name.
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Old 05-27-2014, 11:32 AM   #12
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Default Re: Why Would Someone do This????

Here is another thing to worry about - those shocks might be taller than they should be and do the same damage to the brake rods as these pictures show - this was my car as bought. as you can see - both front & rear brake rods are bent from interference with the shocks...
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Old 05-28-2014, 07:25 AM   #13
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Default Re: Why Would Someone do This????

Hi Mark

Thanks

That looks a bit nasty

Luckily(?) my rod brakes have been replaced with hydraulic prior to my ownership.
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Old 05-28-2014, 09:30 AM   #14
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Default Re: Why Would Someone do This????

Quote:
Originally Posted by Terry,NJ View Post
There is a guy in Texas who makes shock conversion kits for Model As. I'm getting old and can't recall his name.
Terry
That would be Ken Davis, and his kit is for tube type shocks.
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Old 05-28-2014, 10:20 AM   #15
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Default Re: Why Would Someone do This????

The answer to why is simple. They needed shocks and thats what they had. People have used all kinds of shocks on their model A. I now use friction shocks on three of mine. Some use tube shocks. It ain't no big deal!!! Some of the early V8 shocks fit and clear the brake rods on the rear. The early V8 shocks look enough like the originals to fool all but the experts. The model A shock arms will fit the early V8 shocks but maybe not the later V8 lever type shocks.
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Old 05-28-2014, 11:27 AM   #16
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Default Re: Why Would Someone do This????

Purdy - are the shocks that were on mine early V8 or from another make altogether?

I wound up buying a set from Ron Paul but he was not interested in these as cores, but someone else might be if I knew what they were.

Thanks,
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Old 05-28-2014, 12:07 PM   #17
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Default Re: Why Would Someone do This????

No, the shocks pictured are not the early shocks that I spoke of. The shocks pictured don't look familiar to me. They are probably not Ford shocks, I'm not sure. The Ron Paul shocks were a good choice.
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Old 05-29-2014, 06:31 AM   #18
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Default Re: Why Would Someone do This????

Something tells me they are Studebaker - I'm pretty sure they were the second largest company to use this style on production cars. Great choice for a juice-brake hot rod, but not for a brake rod...
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