Our latest installment in the Bob Hamilton ’27 T roadster build series covers how to install front shock mounts and shocks. This is just a peak into the kind of how-to information Bob shows in the informative StreetRod 101 DVD Library. The big difference is that if a picture is worth a thousand words, then a good video is worth a million!
Front Shock Mounts and Mounting
“It’s time to mount the front shocks. I’m using original 1950 Ford pickup front shock mounts. In order for them to mount and function properly, the lower holes must be bent to bring them closer together. I made a simple jig that bolts the outer mounting hole to a piece of angle iron and placed a round tube spacer midway between the two holes. Heat the shock bracket until it moves easily – I used a cutting torch – and then pull the bracket around the spacer and let totally cool. If you quench it too soon, it could fracture and be very weak and could fail under load. Make sure that the bracket is power wire brushed before applying heat otherwise, any rust or junk could hinder the heating process making the bend harder to complete.”
“After I decided where to mount the shocks, I drilled the inner hole of the bracket and mounted the shock to the frame (drilled and tapped 7/16 fine thread). Then I placed a protractor on the shock pin and leveled the bracket so that it would travel in line with the axle as it moved up and down. Mark the hole and drill and tap. Repeat on the other side. I will drill all the way through each hole to 9/16 or 5/8ths inch and put a piece of round stock with a 7/16 hole and then run a long bolt through to mount the shock securely. Sure don’t want the shock coming loose on the highway.”
“Since I don’t have the actual shock I’m going to use, I decided which shock I will use and figured the mounted length (then added ½ inch to the length to compensate for the complete load of the engine etc.) and made a wood mock up so that I could mount the lower shock bracket, which will be welded to the wishbone. I made this from ¼ x 2 inch flat bar and set it all up and tacked the bracket to the wishbone, then moved to the other side and did the same.”
If you haven’t already, now is a great time to check out all that the StreetRod 101 DVD Library offers. We’re proud to make it available on our sister website, StreetRodPlans.com.
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TBucketPlans.com originated in 2005 as a personal blog extolling the virtues of T-Buckets. In 2009 I blogged about Chester Greenhalgh, the "how to" genius who wrote the legendary, out-of-print “How to Build a T-Bucket Roadster for Under $3000”. That led to a friendship with Chester and our partnership in marketing the updated eBook version of his T-Bucket building bible. The T-Bucket fire burns stronger and stronger.
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