VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1916-1922 - Model 490 Wabble and shimming - what can be done?

When visiting CCW in Rãttvik/Sweden this August we experienced a lot of trouble driving over rough road surfaces in lower speeds. I had to stop very fast to avoid damage but with the risk of someone behind us hiting my car.

Is it possible to use a king pin set from 1921 and reduse the size to the will fit the 1916-size? what other actions should be taken?

Is it possible to use new parts to a T-Ford 1916 instead?

G'Day Solan,

As you know when you buy an Australian 1916 Chev 490 the condition you have is a Kangaroo hop and you have to send it back to Australa to have it fixed!
No really the early 16"s with Duplex (double) front springs are really bad for this and I found it for years with all the experts telling me it was bad wheel alignment. It shakes the car so voilently that it broke the chassis on my car. I had tried everything from alignment angles to tire pressures and in the end the only thing that made it driveable was a Steering damper fitted to the front axle. You can buy them from Snyders the T model guys in the USA.
The duplex spring model 1916 490's were a problem when new and that is why the springs were replaced sfter the 40,000 cars with the new one spring each side with the wide bottom spring. The thickness of the chassis rail was increased and the generator was upgraded from a 2 brush to a three brush model. and I think the latter models even got an oil gauge as a standard dash fittment. Chevrolet seemed to do these sort of updates in all models with early and later differences in each year. Hope this helps
Rearguards
Twin 4

Thanks. I hope we can solve this problem to some extend. It may be a long winter.

I just came from the work shop after demounting the steering damper. The oil was gone due to a leakage, so now I have to search for a new one. The damaged one is black and made in Brazil, most probably for a Beetle, old style. Article # 14004, 2 - D- 5.

Anyone having a new one for sale?
I also search for a unused king pin set to 490/1916.

Hallo all,

The old steering damper was the lead to the solution. As I thought the old one was made in Brazil and for VWs. So was the new one, exactly the same size, type and function. I got a tip where to find it in Norway, and today I got it and shipped it to my mechanics at Minnesund from Hot Shop AS, Trøgstad. The number of the item is: T-1 1954 - 79, VW Fusca/Brasilia.
The brake shoes have been sent for new linings to one of the very last work shops doing such work in Norway. New brake drums will be on in the same operation. The steering system also will get a check up before leaving the work shop. May be we will reach some few smaller tours before the storage.

Thanks for comments, Erling