Customs Big Mistake: Need Replacement Uprights

Gentlemen:

I few months ago I replaced the uprights on my '50 Merc with a set of the dropped uprights from Fatman Fab. Now I discover these are weaker than the factory part, and are not even meant for regular driving. They are merely for show purposes I find out now.

Anyways, after several weeks (but 2 weeks before I found out the fatman parts won't do), I finally threw the factory uprights away. Dang. So now I need replacement uprights that will fit my Mercury. I still have the trunions (sp?) that fit top and bottom of the upright.

1: Does anyone know where I can get a set of replacement factory uprights?
2: Does anyone know a source for dropped uprights that will safely replace the factory uprights (and the Fatman uprights)?
3: If I get a set of replacement uprights, what is the best way to get the drop I want?

Thanks, y'all.

Paul

 

surprised to hear that about show only---what is the source of your info ?

 

Another discussion forum. I didn't think anything about the new uprights. She seem strong and are welded up.

I just want to make sure they are safe enough for daily Use. if they aren't I gotta make a change.

I did go and peruse the Fatman catalog and did not find anything in their literature that would indicate a limit on the strength of the dropped uprights. Plus it seems to me that a company would ***ume huge liability if they made parts that were good for driving X amount, but were unsafe if driving X+1 mile more?

 

i dont think so, ive used these on a few mercs, they are well made and TIG'd together, and ive never had a problem, nor heard of an issue with their dropped upwrights...

 

I think someone is blowing smoke up yer ***. Fatman has been around for years, building some pretty good stuff. They cannot afford to sell inferior parts that will not do the job. Were the parts marked, "For Show Car Use Only"? I doubt it. Why not call Fatman and get the fact from the source, rather than internet know-it-alls?
You threw away 62 year old parts??!?!?!? I hope they were shot and beyond use.

 

place an ad in Wanted section here for parts needed.

 

I am starting to think you are right about the smoke. I wouldn't, as a manufacturer, build a part for sale that isn't safe to drive. That seems silly. Plus I recall thinking when I installed the parts that they seemed solid, very stout, even though they were less bulky than the factory uprights.

And as to the 2nd part, yes. I regret throwing those away. I am one who can't stand clutter. I held onto them for weeks, but I finally realized I'd never use them. Trying to sell them seemed like a h***le so i ditched them at my curb with the other trash. regret just ****s.

Lesson learned. Happily, that is the worst of my sins on this project car, and it won't happen again.

 

Sounds fishy enough that they wouldn't be up to standard - sounds even fishier that you'd put that much faith into some comments made on a forum. Call Fatman.

 

Yea sounds fishy.

I did the fatman fab uprights. Great product. Much stronger metal.

Think about the evolution of the superhighway. Much stronger metal when compared due to higher speeds, along with boxed frames....(metalergy)

I like Fatman Products, they are quality in my book

 

Sound like somebody knows just enough to think that they know it all. Its probably stems from the M2 delima, is a suspension designed for a 2800lb car work in a 4500lb car. The answer is no,not with factory parts. So I agree anything I have seen from Fatman has exceeded factory quality.

 

Alright. Whew! Thanks guys. I did shop around and ask lots of questions before I ordered. I am just a man, not a shop so I am kinda at the mercy of the parts I buy since I can't fab my own stuff. I try to be careful and selective of the parts and tools I buy. I was going to be bummed if I had to buy yet more parts, and that I failed to be as discriminating as I should have been. I did not even consider that suspension parts might be for show use only, so I never asked that question. Sounds like I did alright. thanks.

 

+1. More than likely some self styled "expert's" opinion. A number of guys on the HAMB run them and if one had had trouble with them we surely would have heard about it.

 

I have Fatman up-rights in both my '39 and '46 Plymouth, never had a problem and have never heard of anyone using them having any problems. Sounds like just another "expert" running their mouth.

 

I heard the same thing on Moparts.com about FatMans Mopar drop spindles. Complete BS by folks who are not qualified to say such things. Are there ANY do***ented failures? No. Are any of the people saying the negative things degreed mechanical engineers who have done destructive testing? No. They are just people talking out their *** while hiding behind a computer screen. Be very wary of stuff you read on the Internet. Including my opinion...

 

I saw the thread over on the shoeboxford forum when you were told this story. The discussion goes on all the time over there about fatmans stuff and I don't know why. It seems like the guys *****in the most are from Canada and I think what they are saying is they are illegal in Canada something to do with welding on front suspension parts but I am not real sure. I know I run Fatman dropped uprights and dropped steering arms an my shoebox and do not have any trouble. I tried to find the ad where they said the ad said for show only and could not find it. Did you ever find it?

 

if they are for show, why ain't they chrome?

 

I had my 49 ford in a local alignment shop after flipping the uprights. With a little grinding on my upper control arm holes, my frontend was able to be aligned. I noticed a buddy's 49 Plymouth 3 window coupe in the shop and the shop owner said it had fatman uprights. He said they were of a good quality but he was having a ***** of a time getting the front to align after installation of the fatman uprights...were a little "off". I later rode in that car and the owner was happy with the way it drove..looked great.

 

Forgot to add... Usually these rumors get started by some dumb *** who builds the suspension or steering incorrectly and does not check for over travel , shock bottoming or the like. When something breaks because he used the part incorrectly the fng blames the part on a forum and these rumors spread like wildfire.​

 

No. I looked at their catalog, but never found anything that would indicate any limitations on their parts.

I am always skeptical about what i see on the internet, but I did get kinda worried. I appreciate all the responses I have received on this thread. It puts my mind at ease on this matter.

 

hahahahah THIS!

 

Unless the parts are completely frigged, I would never throw 'em away.....

 

I have known Bret for 30 years,,he is no fool and wouldn't sell anything he didn't think would work as well as an original part.

I've got Fatman dropped spindles on my wife's Ranch Wagon,,no problems and no worries.

Quit listening to so called experts on other web sites. HRP

 

Got a set on my 49 Chevy. They fit great, lined up with no problem and have worked fine and dandy for 4 or 5 years.


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total weight of the car does not matter, it is the weight on the front wheels. MII's carry a lot of weight over the front wheels because the motor is way further forward compared to most old cars. 49 - 54 Chevrolets use 4 cylinder springs a V8 and MII.. that should tell you something right there.

 

must be true, he heard it on the internet!

 

No that's funny! HRP

 

I have Fatman uprights on my 50 shoxbox and its a everyday driver for me . They are quite strong and never had any problems. Just remember opinions are like a--holes , everyone has one . Some just stink more. Call Fatman and verify this with them.

 

I know this threads old as **** but in my research I came across it and also saw this. Look right in the middle of the page

 

Yes, old thread BUT, that is your typical boilerplate legalese. They are just trying to CYA for themselves