34plodge Posted October 13, 2012 Report Posted October 13, 2012 hi all, figured I should join this forum as I jst bought a 47 plymouth coupe. Its pretty stock apart from 12v conversion and telescopic shocks all round. At this stage I want to lower it a little and maybe do a 5 speed conversion. I own a parts shop here in Perth Australia and we specialise in hot rod parts, dealers for So-Cal speedshop and mooneyes etc. I own a 32 ford with a 270 red ram and a 59 chevy sedan delivery (project just started) and have owned several MOPARs over the years including a 70 roadrunner, 72 challanger, 34 plymouth sedan hot rod etc thanks Alan Quote
Frank Elder Posted October 13, 2012 Report Posted October 13, 2012 Welcome aboard! The plymouth came with modern type shocks from the factory....if that is what you mean by telescopic. Quote
Robert Horne Posted October 13, 2012 Report Posted October 13, 2012 Welcome,, My Uncle's 36 Coupe had the old style "knee action" type shocks. My 37s, and 38s, have the modern type shocks. A 5speed conversion is a great improvement in driveablility. I am very happly with my TK5 Ford Ranger 5 speed conversion to my flathead Coupe. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted October 13, 2012 Report Posted October 13, 2012 as pointed out, the shocks are stock telescoping style..the fronts are better suited to be independent of the A-arms with the upper mount moved and fixed to the frame for a much better ride and handling..take a lot of water from under the boat so to speak..no more floating.. Quote
34plodge Posted October 13, 2012 Author Report Posted October 13, 2012 thanks for the info guys, the shocks are all newer ones so I figured maybe it had been upgraded....fords of the same era still have knee action very keen on the 5 speed conversion, used the search function and found some info, looks like I need a t5 from an s-10 pickup? I'll post pics of my car when I get it out of the workshop tomorrow (blocked in by customers car at present) Quote
TodFitch Posted October 13, 2012 Report Posted October 13, 2012 As previously noted, the shocks are modern style. Plymouth switched to them in '37 and was, I think, the first auto manufacturer to do so. They called them "aircraft style" when they were introduced and the early ones were repairable. With my short memory span nowadays I keep getting surprised when some late 40s or early 50s American car owner posts a question about where to get fluid for their lever arm shocks. I think some makes, Buick comes to mind, were still using lever arm shocks after the war. Quote
Niel Hoback Posted October 13, 2012 Report Posted October 13, 2012 I had a 56 Buick with lever action shocks on the rear. Quote
karl head Posted October 13, 2012 Report Posted October 13, 2012 Many of the British cars used lever action shocks into the seventies I believe, MG Triumph Quote
Andydodge Posted October 13, 2012 Report Posted October 13, 2012 Aaln, welcome to the best mopar forum on the net, I'm on the other side of the country however have had my 40 Dodge since 1971 and the 41 plymouth since 2007 so might be able to help. The Plymouth is still stock at present with a 201 six but will get a 230 six with Edgy Head and T5 from an S10 pickup both of which I have. Paul Curtis in the US does a T5 conversion..........whats your shop name?........my son Mark lives in Mandurah and we visited February 2011 and called into Fiddy Customs whilst there........anyway have attached a pic of the cars......andyd Quote
34plodge Posted October 14, 2012 Author Report Posted October 14, 2012 Aaln, welcome to the best mopar forum on the net, I'm on the other side of the country however have had my 40 Dodge since 1971 and the 41 plymouth since 2007 so might be able to help. The Plymouth is still stock at present with a 201 six but will get a 230 six with Edgy Head and T5 from an S10 pickup both of which I have. Paul Curtis in the US does a T5 conversion..........whats your shop name?........my son Mark lives in Mandurah and we visited February 2011 and called into Fiddy Customs whilst there........anyway have attached a pic of the cars......andyd Hi Andy, I own and run armadale auto parts www.armadaleautoparts.com maybe 40 min from mandurah. it would be handy to get the conversion info for the t-5 cheers Alan Quote
Andydodge Posted October 14, 2012 Report Posted October 14, 2012 Alan, thought you might be the guy........lol..........I'll catch up..andyd Quote
58prostreet Posted October 14, 2012 Report Posted October 14, 2012 Alan Do a forum search for t5 conversion that Don Coatney did. It is very thourgh and extremely helpful. Bobi Quote
falconvan Posted October 14, 2012 Report Posted October 14, 2012 Welcome, Alan! How about a few pictures of your 47? Quote
Robert Horne Posted October 14, 2012 Report Posted October 14, 2012 thanks for the info guys, the shocks are all newer ones so I figured maybe it had been upgraded....fords of the same era still have knee action very keen on the 5 speed conversion, used the search function and found some info, looks like I need a t5 from an s-10 pickup? I'll post pics of my car when I get it out of the workshop tomorrow (blocked in by customers car at present) I am using a 5 speed transmission, 1983 to 1987 Ford Ranger, TK5, in my 38 Coupe, with the flathead. Project was not difficult. Check the thread, "5speed not T5" I am setting up another TK5 onto a 1956 Dodge engine, for another project. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted October 14, 2012 Report Posted October 14, 2012 Many of the British cars used lever action shocks into the seventies I believe, MG Triumph Yes..they used them quite a bit..my split window 54 Morris Minor 2dr Saloon has them and if you go to telescopics..you have to retain the original 'knee" on the front...part of the suspension.. Quote
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