The Ford Barn

40-A Twins · 10-09-2021, 06:47 PM

This was a minor issue before I put the original radiator shell back on and added shims under the body & radiator to get body/hood/radiator shell to align. Now with crank actually resting on the front splash apron, the hand crank end is at least 5/16" too low to engage with ratchet nut. Radiator shell crank hole also interferes. The front motormount springs are completely compressed at this point, and it looks like that spring plate underneath the springs is backwards. Also the front crossmember has been repaired with a plate welded over a broken out section, so the crank guide is already at least "1/8" higher than stock. The only fix I can think of is to make some shim plates to raise the crank guide up. Anyone else run into this issue ?
Kevin

Ivan in southeast va. · 10-09-2021, 07:11 PM

Yes, the plate is backwards and I would not tighten the springs down that much.

jw hash · 10-09-2021, 07:20 PM

you do have the lower plate in backwards, and I can see where someone welded the front cross member is the top of it in the right location, and how does the hood fit. there could be a problem with the frame itself.

Big hammer · 10-09-2021, 07:23 PM

Frame sag at the rear motor mounts will cause the front of the engine to be too high.

mercman from oz · 10-09-2021, 09:49 PM

40-A Twins problem.
Hand crank guide misalignment with ratchet nut

nkaminar · 10-10-2021, 07:27 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I would find an original frame that has not been modified and measure it, then compare those measurements to what you have. You may have install a new cross piece.

Take the front engine mount out and correct the bottom plate if it is wrong.

Unless the body mounts are damaged, adding shims to the body to correct a misalignment usually is a fix for a sagging frame. Correcting the sag is the better fix.

Raising your hand crank guide may result in it interfering with the bottom tank on the radiator.

40-A Twins · 10-11-2021, 10:57 PM

Added 1/4" of shims under the hand crank guide and now the hand crank lines up good with the ratchet nut. Hand crank clears the splash apron. Front motormount plate is now positioned correct. The motor had to be raised to remove front motor mount, so rear motormount bolts had to be removed, exhaust disconnected, fuel line & choke rod removed. With shims sandwiched underneath the guide, there is approx .070 clearance between guide and bottom of radiator. Front body block is shimmed to .290" and hood / body / radiator shell alignment was pretty good before disassembly.

J Franklin · 10-11-2021, 11:53 PM

Where there is a will there's a way!

updraught · 10-12-2021, 02:56 AM

https://web.archive.org/web/20190131...shop/mount.htm

40-A Twins · 10-12-2021, 11:22 AM

I figured out. The top of the cross member had been cracked along a line 1/4" lower than bottom of front spring channel, and that plate is actually 1/4 lower than it should be.
I welded it myself, but that was 25 years ago and a little hard to remember details.

10-09-2021, 07:11 PM	#2
Ivan in southeast va. Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Portsmouth, Virginia Posts: 303	Re: Hand crank guide misalignment with ratchet nut Yes, the plate is backwards and I would not tighten the springs down that much.

10-09-2021, 07:20 PM	#3
jw hash Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auburn Washington Posts: 2,552	Re: Hand crank guide misalignment with ratchet nut you do have the lower plate in backwards, and I can see where someone welded the front cross member is the top of it in the right location, and how does the hood fit. there could be a problem with the frame itself.

10-09-2021, 07:23 PM	#4
Big hammer Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Land of Lincoln Posts: 3,127	Re: Hand crank guide misalignment with ratchet nut Frame sag at the rear motor mounts will cause the front of the engine to be too high. __________________ Don't force it with a little hammer tap, tap, tap get a bigger hammer tap done

10-09-2021, 09:49 PM	#5
mercman from oz Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 10,361	Re: Hand crank guide misalignment with ratchet nut 40-A Twins problem. Hand crank guide misalignment with ratchet nut

10-10-2021, 07:27 AM	#6
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,899	Re: Hand crank guide misalignment with ratchet nut Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I would find an original frame that has not been modified and measure it, then compare those measurements to what you have. You may have install a new cross piece. Take the front engine mount out and correct the bottom plate if it is wrong. Unless the body mounts are damaged, adding shims to the body to correct a misalignment usually is a fix for a sagging frame. Correcting the sag is the better fix. Raising your hand crank guide may result in it interfering with the bottom tank on the radiator. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past. Last edited by nkaminar; 10-10-2021 at 07:32 AM.

10-11-2021, 11:53 PM	#8
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,959	Re: Hand crank guide misalignment with ratchet nut Where there is a will there's a way!

10-12-2021, 02:56 AM	#9
updraught Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Australia Posts: 1,969	Re: Hand crank guide misalignment with ratchet nut https://web.archive.org/web/20190131...shop/mount.htm

10-12-2021, 11:22 AM	#10
40-A Twins Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Oregon City, OR Posts: 121	Re: Hand crank guide misalignment with ratchet nut I figured out. The top of the cross member had been cracked along a line 1/4" lower than bottom of front spring channel, and that plate is actually 1/4 lower than it should be. I welded it myself, but that was 25 years ago and a little hard to remember details.