Hello everybody, Today i work on the shocks from my 38 ford, they are original houdaille type. the shocks are bad and need rebuilding. Cost a lot of money here in europe, up to 450,- euro (650 usd )for al 4 shocks. I try to open the shocks bij myself, not a easy job, i loosen the cap but cant remove the arm(even not with a big puller on it) i also hear about leaking houdaille shocks and bad damping. So,.. i thinking about replacing the shocks by modern ones,(cilindrical ones) Have anyone do this and have you pictures so that i can see how to mount and will it fit with original fenders and so on ? thanks,
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thats not wat i looking for, what i will do is only remove the houdaille shocks and replace new cilindrical shocks.
If I understand you correctly, you want newer shocks that look and act like Houdailles. I don't think anything like that exists. Houdailles ARE rebuidable but not in the home shop. They normally require special tools plus access to replacement parts. There are a couple places here in the U.S. that rebuild them-and I've found servicable ones at swap meets for $35. (I don't know what that is in Euros.). There are other arm style hydraulic shocks such as Lovejoy that were popular in Europe. Maybe you can find something like that cheaper and easier.
today i worked on the houdaille shocks and remove the arm, i also open them up (what a hell of a job!!) made some tools so that i can do it. i try to rebuild them by myself. if i cant rebuild the houdaille shocks i replace them for monroe cilindrical shocks, not houdaille style but the same as used in modern cars.
allright, i build some homemade tools and wrench the caps off, not a easy job but when you are handy you can do it.(need a welder and disc to made some tools AND a big can penetrating oil......) i sprayed the threads a few days with penetrating oil before i start. i start with removing the swing arm, they also fitted very strong. I heated them up to red with a acytelene torch and cooling them down, with a pully i get them off. made also a homemade tool to get the inside stuff out. see pictures, says more than 1000 words.... now i can clean them up and rebuild it with new seals and O rings. the one pictured was a ''frozen'' one, arm didnt move somewhere...
One of my 'old timer' buddies used to rebuild those shocks in his shop on a regular basis... it's not difficult to do with the right tools... looks like you are on your way to getting the job done... congrats.
I guess Houdaille shocks are pretty decent if rebuilt and certainly look cool on a highboy but considering the cost, trouble, and the fact that they are often tucked up under fat fenders... I don't have much use for them. I sold the ones off my '38 to someone who gave a damn and installed a Ch***is Engineering shock kit. http://www.ch***isengineeringinc.com/page56.html JH
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