Gary_Ash Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I'm still looking for 4 large Houdaille shocks from a 1929-33 President to use for my Indy car project. These are 4" diameter, 2-5/8" high. Fronts and back are different, as are lefts and rights, but I think it's only the arms that are different and these could be changed. The Houdaille shocks used on Fords and later Studebakers were smaller in diameter, different shape body. I'd really like to find some correct ones.I'll be at the meet in Dover, Delaware in a few weeks, if anyone can bring one or more shocks. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary_Ash Posted July 17, 2014 Author Share Posted July 17, 2014 Bump.I'm still looking for some large Houdaille shocks from 1929-33 Presidents, maybe even 1934 President/Commander. It's possible that Model 62 Dictators (1932) and 1932-1933 Commanders also used these. I just need some rebuildable bodies. Someone must have a barn full of parts like these. I'd be ever so grateful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studerex Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 A pair of 32 commander ones just ended on ebay. Didn't sell. Do a search. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary_Ash Posted July 18, 2014 Author Share Posted July 18, 2014 Sometimes Ebay searches yield strange results - like this one that "fits" 1932 Studebaker:I did find the shocks you mentioned, Rex, but they were for a Model 55 Dictator, slightly different style. I need those big ones lurking in your garage, LOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seldenguy Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 L29 cords had big ones? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary_Ash Posted July 19, 2014 Author Share Posted July 19, 2014 Yes, it appears that L29 cords did use the big Houdaille shocks. Those front-drive Cords had very strange suspensions! Do you have some L29 shocks sitting around? I was hoping to find some from cars in higher volume production and in less demand than L29 Cords and 1932 Studebaker Presidents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seldenguy Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Gary, I currently don't have any, but I see them occasionally while attending flea markets. The going price for a core (no arm) seems to be one hundred and up. Also there were other make vehicles besides Studebaker and Cord that used this size. Good luck on your search--Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalowed Bill Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Gary,Do you know that the arms are different? The early ones, through 1930 I believe, are bent while the later type are straight like the ones you pictured.-Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary_Ash Posted July 23, 2014 Author Share Posted July 23, 2014 I'm not worried about the arms. I need to replace/modify them anyway for the Indy car. Note how short the front arms are on Bob Valpey's Indy car in the photo at the top of the thread. I think they are 5.5" center-to-center. Apple Hydraulics and Five Points Classic Shocks have lots of arms; Five Points will bend them if needed. It's the 4" diameter shock bodies with rounded tops that I need and whatever arm comes with them.In fact, the image above is from a 1929 President that my front axle came out of. Here's how they looked when I dragged them home a few years ago:Here's from last night: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nwclassics Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 i have a 2 for sale in montana call george 406-5432591 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary_Ash Posted October 3, 2014 Author Share Posted October 3, 2014 Bump.I bought the two that George offered, still need a couple more. I'm not picky about the arm length, but shorter arms are better. Ultimately, I need a pair of 5-1/2" arms, but I may need to cut and weld to get them. If if anyone sees some at Hershey, let me know who to contact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jpatino Posted March 8, 2016 Share Posted March 8, 2016 Hi Gary. Don't know if you're still searching, but here are some shocks on Ebay. Hopefully they are what you need. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Extremely-Rare-1931-Studebaker-President-Shock-Absorbers-Nice-Original-Condition-/252311816576?hash=item3abef4c980:g:QFYAAOSwJkJWhxIU&vxp=mtr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studerex Posted March 8, 2016 Share Posted March 8, 2016 I just sent 4 off to Apple for rebuild. Went through my stash to pick the best 4. I still have about a dozen left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary_Ash Posted March 8, 2016 Author Share Posted March 8, 2016 Actually, I did finally acquire the four I needed. I had two rebuilt at Five Points but I think I'm going to send the other pair to Apple Hydraulics. The guys at Apple can practice on Rex's parts, LOL! But, thanks for keeping me in mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 32mod55 Posted March 8, 2016 Share Posted March 8, 2016 Just curious, when these get rebuilt do they refill them with the glycerin/alcohol mix like the originals or do they use regular hydraulic fluid? Many of the old Ford Houdaille shocks survived because they used hydraulic fluid instead of the hygroscopic glycerin based fluid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary_Ash Posted March 8, 2016 Author Share Posted March 8, 2016 The problem with alternate fluids is getting the viscosity high enough so that the shock has the right stiffness. Straight glycerin has a viscosity in the range of 1000-1200 (in units of centipoise, cP, or centiStokes, cSt), somewhat less when diluted 10% with alcohol. Lard, Crisco, and honey have about the same viscosity. In comparison, SAE 40 weight motor oil is about 310 cP at room temperature and water is 1.0 cP. The stuff called "90 weight gear oil" has a viscosity between SAE 40 and SAE 50 wt motor oil. Modern seals will probably stand up to mineral and synthetic oils but the old ones won't. There are silicone fluids that are in the right range to replace glycerin/alcohol but it's not easy to buy them in small quantities. Having said that, I see that you can buy 1000 cSt silicone fluid on Ebay for about $23/quart. The old shock would have to be flushed well with denatured alcohol (ethanol) before replacing the fluid.See http://www.ebay.com/itm/Silicone-Oil-Fluid-1000-CST-/261450421647 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studerex Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 (edited) Actually, I did finally acquire the four I needed. I had two rebuilt at Five Points but I think I'm going to send the other pair to Apple Hydraulics. The guys at Apple can practice on Rex's parts, LOL! But, thanks for keeping me in mind.Twice I had leakers from five points. Never a problem with Apple. Still hard to pay the price. But that said, it it a real pain to rebuild them myself. Edited March 9, 2016 by studerex (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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