Front Shocks on a 1950 Custom Deluxe

Pat/Ohio

Pat/Ohio

Well-known member
Hi Barners,

I drove my 50 Ford Tudor from Ohio to Florida this week and noticed a lot of bottoming out through the mountains. Thought I should replace the front shocks. I looked online for listings and found that the front shocks at Dennis Carpenter, C&G, & Shoebox-Central (part #8A-18124) and Rock Auto listed Gabriel part #82026. All of these shocks showed a single post mounting top and bottom. I checked my front shocks and found they had a single post mounting on top and mounted using two (2) bolts on the bottom.


I haven't removed any yet to check for a part number. I don't have my lift here in Florida! Thought I would check with you guys first to see why the difference in mounting types. What do you have? I am wondering if my front suspension has been replaced or ??


Thanks in advance!


Happy New Year!

Pat
 
The bottom single post should bolt with rubber cushions to a plate that then bolts to the 'A' frame with two (2) bolts. ( Don't know about the others but my preference would be the Gabriel's as they are gas filled.)
 
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I noticed that too. I think all of the vendors use "stock shots" in their catalogs. I find it hard to believe that Rock Auto, for example, who stock the wrong shocks for any thing as common as a '50 Ford. I have purchased a lot of parts from them on close-out for my '51 and have never received a wrong part.
 
While you are working on the front end, the '52/53 sway bar is larger than the 'shoebox' and bushings are avaiable. It is a bolt in swap. for the police option use the '52/53 wagon sway bar, but you have to bore out the standard bushings, also a bolt-in. Newc
 
Kens 36 said:
Pat,

You should not be driving 75 m.p.h. through the mountains.

Ken
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Ken,

You caught me! lol

I should clarify....It didn't bottom out as much as my front end seemed to "bounce" too much. Should level out sooner. I don't recall it being as bad as it is now, so I'm thinking shocks are in order.


You and Carolyn have a Happy New Year!


Pat
 
my 50 custom deluxe has stud on top and 2 bolts on the bottom like you described make sure when you buy them they are gas filled their much better I don't know the numbers on mine but I believe they are Monroe products
 
joe 1950 said:
my 50 custom deluxe has stud on top and 2 bolts on the bottom like you described make sure when you buy them they are gas filled their much better I don't know the numbers on mine but I believe they are Monroe products
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Joe, I believe mine are Monroes also. They are Monroe blue. I will endeavor to remove one in the near future to see if there is a brand or part number.

I went to NAPA yesterday to inquire about shocks and they seem to think they should be single stud on both ends because that's what their illustration on their computer showed. You would think that they would pull one off the shelf and have a "peek" wouldn't you! They did have a starter solenoid for my '50 though.


Pat
 
Pat/Ohio said:
Joe, I believe mine are Monroes also. They are Monroe blue. I will endeavor to remove one in the near future to see if there is a brand or part number.

I went to NAPA yesterday to inquire about shocks and they seem to think they should be single stud on both ends because that's what their illustration on their computer showed. You would think that they would pull one off the shelf and have a "peek" wouldn't you! They did have a starter solenoid for my '50 though.


Pat
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The NAPA guy's are correct.
Unless the original shocks were replaced with a 'mongrel' , the originals had a single post attached to a plate that was bolted to the 'A' arm using two (2) bolts.
The same as I stated in my #2 post above. (see plate below)
picture.php
 
Pat I was wrong I do have a stud top and bottom on my 50 I finely crawled under there and looked my mind is failing me I must of ben thinking of something else so ive got to go hunting now to find a crow for supper tonight
 
Thanks Guys! It appears the previous owner eliminated the bottom shock brackets when he replaced the shocks. If I can find the correct brackets, I may change it back to the correct configuration when I replace the shocks.

Pat
 
Pat, somebody may have replaced your shocks with a shocks that use the "bar plate" on the bottom mount. They probably found a shock with the correct spacing on the bar plate that lined up with the holes on your lower A frame.
 
TJ said:
Pat, somebody may have replaced your shocks with a shocks that use the "bar plate" on the bottom mount. They probably found a shock with the correct spacing on the bar plate that lined up with the holes on your lower A frame.
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Thanks Tom, That's what I suspect also.

Happy New Year!
Pat
 
When I replaced my leaking original Ford Script shocks in my 1949---Pep Boys had what I needed. And they went in very easy. Oh, I did have to paint them black.
 
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If you have that bar plate on the bottom they may well be in upside down. Shoebox Central might have what you need, as well as anyone else modifying a shoebox subframe that has not tossed the extra parts.
 
Frank Miller said:
If you have that bar plate on the bottom they may well be in upside down. Shoebox Central might have what you need, as well as anyone else modifying a shoebox subframe that has not tossed the extra parts.
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UPSIDE DOWN??
The upper mount will only accept a single post shock and it would be impossible to fit a bar plate unless some major modifications are performed on the structure.
 
Thanks again guys! I was able to locate replacement brackets from Mac's. They appear to be different from the brackets shown above, but look closer to the brackets shown in the Ford manual.

Pat
 

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