early armstrong front shocks

for those with Series MM sidevalve cars produced between September 1948 and February 1953
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tortron
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early armstrong front shocks

Post by tortron »

Hi guys

Im replacing my front shocks with recon items, and have found they are probably the originals to the car with 1951 date stamps. They have a different body and drain hole than the ones i have recieved.
I dont have a problem with fitting the newer ones (the rear shocks had already been changed, the engine isnt matching numbers etc)
but im curious as to when the design changed
tortron
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Re: early armstrong front shocks

Post by tortron »

i might say, im pretty impressed the old ones lasted 65 years
iv kept them topped up, but they leak pretty badly and have developed some play in the shaft
tortron
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Re: early armstrong front shocks

Post by tortron »

Interesting

measuring the shocks on the bench, height to the bottom of the top pin hole

original 6.3cm
one of the replacements 6.5cm
the other - 7cm

the arm on that one is clearly a different casting and will hit the edge of the window in the inner wing
RobThomas
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Re: early armstrong front shocks

Post by RobThomas »

First ones had central drain plug and then the plug moved towards the inside of the engine bay. Not 100% certain but I think it went from the big nut to a smaller one on the drain. I'm 90% sure that the yellow stripe of wax crayon marker on the shock denotes an improved damper valve assembly.

Where are the date stamps on yours? I've never seen any. Might be handy to know.
Cardiff, UK
RobThomas
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Re: early armstrong front shocks

Post by RobThomas »

Top pic is 'big drain nut' version from a later M1000 and the lower pic is an original 'central drain nut' version from a very original 1952. The '52 damper has some yellow wax crayon marker scribbled onto the top of the damper arm which I believe denoted a modified valve assembly.

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Cardiff, UK
tortron
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Re: early armstrong front shocks

Post by tortron »

mine are the central drain nut style
also one the filler caps, one is central and the other is off to the side

i dont have the car with me right now (just moved and the minor couldnt come because it had no shocks in it...) but im pretty sure the date was stamped on the underside of the bottom mounting hole webbing, on the 'inside' side - so it could be seen if you had your head inside the engine bay. perhaps an export or ckd thing?
RobThomas
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Re: early armstrong front shocks

Post by RobThomas »

Thanks. I'll have a look tomorrow.

The off-centre lid might be off a rear shock, especially if it is angled?
Cardiff, UK
tortron
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Re: early armstrong front shocks

Post by tortron »

ahh, actually the date code is below the bottom inner bolt housing, on the body
TvdWerf
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Re: early armstrong front shocks

Post by TvdWerf »

With this Post, I found out my original were in the box of spare parts, and the later type is mounted.
So I have to repair the original ones to put them back ;)
MM '51 LHD sidevalve
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