I has a historic question regards the very late 40's how it was done about the shock bone ball on the perch on front axle and on the rear axle. As my coupe is more city street racing, not desert and not pre war style. I'll just changed my rearend from a 37 axle to a late 32, as I got a better feeling about that. Besides a chop and homemade hood sides on this 5W I has a 32 heavy mid-section ( Okie Adams ) on the front axle and LZ -41 brakes but most parts remain 32 Henry, but the engine is a more or less full race version on what parts was made and could be bought in LA area that time, so I did not overkill with blower or Ardun heads, magnet etc. So it did feel better to use a 32 rear axle, and this axle I found is from a very nice Texas car and the perch are NOS, but I don't need think twice if I cut them off ( as one do as one like ) but this factory made parts are not made new, so one might can think this over twice. To remove them and ground them off might feel too much street rod and too much prewar keep them, but I seen on some cars they keep the stump up say 1/2". I has not seen to many detail pictures of the era on this.
You’re over thinking it. Some people cut them. Some didn’t. If the rest of the car is tidy I would cut them off and go about your day. If the car looks like some kids put it together to go have fun I could see leaving them. They aren’t being made anymore but you’re not going to remove yours to give to a guy running mechanical brakes so what’s it matter. There are tons and tons of them over here.
Actually, they are making them new. Drake makes a good looking stock perch. I think you’ll need to remove the brake pivot boss to clear the steering, so you are halfway there. But personally, if I needed a cut down perch, I’d go find some already cut and save the nice ones.
Ok so it can be a steering case issue in the front that might explain why they might be radical cut way then, or later on smooth them out. I had a set grounded down but then I bought this set and the idea of this car at picture, but I did not know the historical aspects how it was done. Is this also the case of the rear axle ball, to shop them off.
You could also use lever shocks. I used mg levers, they seem to work well. You don’t have to cut off the rears for juice brakes, it all clears.
I think I seen cars with juice brakes rear and ball still there ( modern shocks ) but idea of thread was the historic aspect. On shocks I will not use std lever design so I’m not need the ball. One idea is how McGee had it done but I guss I use modern shocks.
On a 32 - 34 rear, you can install juice brakes and you do NOT have to lop off the shock mounts . . . I know this because this is exactly what I have on my 32 Cabriolet. With that said, I'm going to be removing the stock shocks and will be putting modern tubular shocks on the car . . . have had enough of the Houdaille shocks! I see no good reason to keep the stock shock mounts - they make the car look like it is "missing something".
Bored&Stroked, I will cut the front off but keep a stump, but as you said it look like something is missed, that's a good point, as back in the days they had a grinding machine aswell if not use something.. I will not cut rear now but feel it in, then as you said use modern shocks is the way.
Or just buy new forged spring perches . . . they will have a longer threaded section at the bottom, which makes room for the lower tubular shock mount adapter. I'd save the originals - why even cut them up? Take a look at Pete and Jakes: 1042 - forged extra-long perches 1067 - Lower shock mounts (attach to perch bottoms)
Maybe just nonsens to try to use the Henry stuff all over, but I kind of like the stump. But a good idea to has the P&J shock mount.I like it that way. Not drill in the axle etc. I wonder how Kennedy did on Dick's coupe to has the shocks there as they used std perch. I hardly think Dick had repros on that car as loaded on nice old stuff. ( Se picture above.
Who knows what perches he is using, but he does have the shock mount on the bottom . . . or maybe attached to the hairpin bracket?
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