Hi All,

I'm new to the forum. Looking forward to joining in.

I am looking for some advice on fornt end mods. I was considering keeping my I beam front end. Are there things I can do to upgrade the shocks, and stablize the front end for a daily driver? Also, can I turn my original 59A flathead into a dependable engine for daily driving. Or should I look into other options?

Thanks,
sclamps

 

Welcome to FTE, great to see another '42-'47 owner here. You can look for shock mounts that will allow you to upgrade to more modern type tube shocks. If you still have the original shocks on your truck you have the old Houdaille (sp) shocks, which don't react as well, nor do they absorb as well. I have a pair of tube shocks on the front of one of my '46 pickups and what a difference, even with stock springs. I'm not sure what the brackets came from, or if they were aftermarket, I got them with another '46 I had. You can easily upgrade the I-beam of your '45 with disc brakes, power steering, new springs for a better ride. It will cost less to do it than to upgrade to independant front suspension, but the ride won't be as nice, but it will be good for a daily driver. Your 59A can easily be a good dependable daily driver, after all, that's what they were made for. Rebuild it with good quality parts and research the little tips and tricks to make them run better. If you really want to make it even better for daily driving, consider an overdrive transmission of some kind. Adaptors are made that will allow a 5.0 Mustang AOD to be used behind one.

 

46fordtruck,

Thank you for the info. A mustang 5.0 AOD would be nice. I'll start doing some hunting around. Is there a way to send me a sketch or picture of the shock mount?
Maybe you can post it in with your pictures, if you can't get it to me. Also what shocks did you use, and what did you use for power steering on the I beam?

Thanks

 

For power steering use a GM box and pump...I think the Saginaws, usually something like on of the A-body's of late '60's, early '70's. You could probably find a site that lists which are better than others due to steering ration, etc. You'll have to fab up a mount for the frame...mine was a modified '46 passenger car unit I believe. The shocks were Monroes, with the eye on each end of the mount, I'm not sure of the part number, but I can see if I can get a number off them. I'll try to get a pic of the shock mount up when I can. I think they looked like the ones on '47-'48 Ford cars that used the tube type shocks. I forgot, here is a link to the adapter for the auto trans to a flathead http://www.flat-o.com

 

That's great I'll check those out

 

Sclamps, here's the numbers off the box from the shocks I used on my '46: Monroe-Matic P95228c 31000, they will have an eye at each end of the shock, and will bolt to the axle using the original mounting location of the link from the arm of the Houdaille shock, using the '46-'48 passenger car tube shock mounts.

 

Thank you that is a great help. Did you do the same for the shocks on the rear end?

 

I haven't done the rear shocks yet since I will be swapping to an 8" rear in the near future. I'll have to fab up something to get tube shocks mounted on the frame, and I'll use the spring and shock mounting plate that is on the 8" rear.

 

I may look into doing that myself.

 

I hesitate to mention the obvious but didn't see it covered. Make sure to replace the kingpins, bushings and bearings, and the spring and shackle busings and pins. The last issue of Ol Slool Rodz said something like a well setup vehicle with straight front axle should ride like a charm on the highway. Just recently had mine out and it seems early on to handle great. It is a dropped tubular unit, with monoleaf front springs.
My front, upper shock mounts came from Speedway. They are stainless bolt on jobs that require the top eye of the shock. For the rear shocks I welded a rectangular cross memeber into the frame, and through bolted the top shock mount. The shocks are angled inward maybe 35 degrees, not sure. For the 8 inch rear end I used (to the best of my remembrance) a bottom mount off of a 56 Ford F-1.
If I had it all to do over I would go with the IFS, but that is hindsight, and I think I will be pleased with what I have.
Mike

 

Mike,
Thank you for the info. I'll see if I can find an issue of Ol Skool Rodz. I'll check Speedway also. IFS would be nice to have someday.
Peter