How To Build Custom Tube Shock Mounts - The Ford Free-T

The Ford Free-T has not been featured on this channel in quite some time, but that doesn't mean we haven't been working on it in the background. The Free-T was rushed to "completion" at the beginning of last summer due to a few commitments. While rushing to get it to the stage of looking like a completed car, a few things were skipped. Matt has driven the T a few times around the block to work out carb and linkage issues and the bounces all over without shocks. So today Matt is going to work on creating custom and lower shock mounts so the Free-T will be one stop closer to on the road and driving. Let us know in the comments what you think of the front shock mounts, and how badly do you want to see a driving video!??
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- Eastwood TIG 200 Digital Welder- www.eastwood.c...
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- Deluxe Polishing Automotive 18 pc Kit - www.eastwood.c...
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[@--jefferson1555]

The flow of the mounts and the way they mirror the headlight brackets is so slick. This is why this is my favorite custom channel, and why I share every episode with friends and family. Great work!

[@xozindustries7451]

I think the best part is that it looks like it was always like that, doesn’t look tacked on after thought

[@robertlabaw2037]

When a project is "done", it's never really done. Proof positive that any custom car is always a work in progress. Really like the effort to match angles of other components where possible.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Never truly done! Always something to refine and change!

[@mattomon1045]

As with all things in life You are never dun fixing the house or mowing the grass all things are a work in progress.! be safe live well stay healthy.!

[@OldIronRC]

They look really good. My geometry & symmetry OCD's are appeased.

[@WiredCustomsSpeedShop]

I laughed too hard at the Bung jokes lol

[@jerrylong381]

@Randall Johnson I think that may have been the point. It must suck having to be mature all the time.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Im glad a few people enjoy our humor!! -Mike/ITG

[@matthewmoilanen787]

@Randall Johnson I bet your fun at family get together's huh. Christ man I'm 60 years old and I think a little humour is kinda nice.

[@AbvAvgJoe]

Hey Matt, great job on the shock mounts! I was wondering when you were going to put shocks on the Free T . They definitely fit the style you were going for.

[@_Peremalfait]

Every time I see the Free-T I can only think what a beautiful motor that flat head is.

[@hpelisr]

I think that was a better place to put that mount, behind the headlight post.

[@frankjamann5671]

Looks great Matt, lot you can do with a hot wench. Thanks for the video!

[@Radiowild]

Ha ha, ha ha, Hey Beavis, Matt said "Bung" Ha ha, ha, ha. Wait, he said it again!

[@79tazman]

He needs TP for his bung holes

[@IronTrapGarage]

glad a few people enjoyed that little joke! -Mike/ITG

[@StLouisSled]

Great job as always. I love the look of early styles cars...I love that "busy and mechanical" vibe where there is "stuff" to look at. Although I respect the work that goes into a smooth and sleek modern fuel injected engine bay, I would walk past 10 of those cars to look at this one. Keep true hot rodding alive!

[@IronTrapGarage]

Couldn't agree more!

[@Paleoman52]

Very cool, love the "Great Cornholio" flashes every time you mentioned Bung, LOL!

[@jamiewaddell1598]

They look brilliant matt really suit the car style.

[@brianbarney1885]

Just got the opportunity to watch this installment and love everything you’ve done, this car reminds me of cars featured in Rod&Custom magazine when I was a kid. Love it so much that I’d make you an offer if my wife wouldn’t kill me!

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks for watching!

[@glennhooper7174]

Great job, clean neat. adapt and overcome .

[@JONMEREDITH]

Every time you make a mod to this car, it becomes my most favorite rod in the world!!

[@IronTrapGarage]

It’s our favorite as well!!!

[@jasonrackawack9369]

Just another case of future Matt getting annoyed with doing stuff in a hurry Matt 😁😄.

[@IronTrapGarage]

This!!!!

[@redmonarocv8]

Nice job Matt.

[@gardena-osonho7762]

Este carro está muito show, não vemos carros assim no Brasil, só em colecionadores, rodando e raro. Aqui são poucos os entusiastas desses carros. Seu trabalho e muito bonito, todo detalhado, parabéns. Rogerio Lauria Espírito Santo Brasil.

[@chuckstith838]

Looks good. I hope you are going to use button head bolts for the top shock mounts. That would " top it off."

[@IronTrapGarage]

that's the plan!!

[@MrPanzerblitz]

I saw what you did there! " i am Corn Hulio. I need tee pee for my.......!" LOL!

[@IronTrapGarage]

Hahah glad you enjoyed the Beavis and Butthead reference

[@REMBRANTTUBE]

NICE JOB MATT!!!!!!! SHOCKINGLY GOOD!!

[@davidmspinelli8951]

In my opinion Matte, that project turned out awesome! Not that my opinion is all that important...

[@davidmellott5049]

That was a very good way to mount those shocks, looks completely professional as I would expect coming from you.

[@shanewright6958]

It's looking good 👍👍🇨🇱

[@jerrylong381]

I had an old timer ( back when I wasn't one) tell me, " you can tell it's right, when it looks like it grew there" I'd say you nailed it. Thanks for sharing your passion with us.

[@terrykeithley6183]

Very much likey Matt. Carry on bro, later Terry.

[@TurboLundin]

Did you pre-heat the axle before fully welding it? Going to weld some mounts up on my axle as well. Just looking for some tips, thanks 😊

[@jamiecampbell3068]

Love it. Nothing wrong with polished cars. Just as much as nothing wrong with non-polished cars. Although, I prefer choice A over choice B .. .. 99% of the time.

[@michaelguinn5736]

Hey Matt & Co. I definitely feel your pain on the 3 P's(p#@% poor planning), it bites you every time! Another great video, hopefully soon you can start putting some miles on your rods....Build on Dudes!!

[@onehotpinto]

Very clean looking. For some reason I was under the impression the "Free-T" had front shocks, I obviously was mistaken. It just looks so clean that I overlooked it. Congrats, I don't miss stuff like that to often.

[@garycamara9955]

One of the first things To fail was a bolt threaded into a bung on my frame that held my shocks. I used a modified F1 shock mount that I had nickel plated. One of the bolts came out (the front one) it tightened the rear bolt by going up and down, turning the remaining bolt. Then it just broke the forged steel mount , the rear eye. The fix was ; drilling the threads out and replacing the bolts with a through the frame bolt. I later crashed the car and rebuilt the frame. I used MGB rear lever shocks instead. Those shocks are a direct bolt on on a Model A frame. The bolt holes line up. My car though has a severely modified original 32 frame. I like your solution, they didn't make those stainless steel shock mounts when I built my roadster. My shock mounts akso were modified to hold my headlights, i had a crossbar across the front of the radiator that was removable connecting them.

[@not2fast4u2c]

It looks right to me to have these nice shocks at a Cool angle right out where you can see them

[@stevemiller7654]

So this appears to be the last installment of the Free T. How did the money turn out? Is it still "free"? ....RooDog....

[@docholiday1034]

Learned a long time ago. Dielectric grease is your friend on rubber bushings.....be nice to make the shock brackets part of the headlight stands like race cars...out of stainless. Using tri mix gas welding stainless? Nice series bud👍👍👍

[@traviswilliams1801]

Just my observation....I might be totally wrong. The shock mount that you bought is designed to be bolted on. With the curve in the mount could you have bolted it to the inside of the frame just ahead of the motor mount? Not sure if it would've worked but it looks like it might've been possible. 🤷‍♂️

[@chuckfish5189]

Looks awesome.. I mounted my shocks almost the same way on my 36 chevy pickup. How much space is there between the shock and headlight? "About a pinkie" LOL

[@davidlyon2927]

Great job Matt. Great informative video. Keep up the good work.👍🇨🇦

[@detroitcowboy1313]

Can you drill through the front axle and use a bolt with a sleeve and spacer instead of welding to it ?

[@11LowDown11]

Looking a Merc mid-sump pan... is there anyone stamping these? I’d settle for a used pan in any condition too. Message me if you have any insight! Love the vids!

[@Ecosse57]

great work, matt! doesn't look like an afterthought imo and wonder if you're gonna use the same style for the back. great editing, mike!

[@semperfi5861]

Dude... I fricking love that car man... 👍🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@roadlizardcu8664]

Looks good.

[@andrewharrison8782]

Looks good

[@mattomon1045]

that bracket looks great.

[@mikesonneson2824]

Enjoyed

[@randallfelber9056]

Can't wait for some ' on the street' driving vids, Free T rocks.......

[@evelasq1]

Looks Good! If I get a classic car than I know who to turn to and that would be Irontrap Garage!!!

[@glassblastcollision]

Share the headlight bracket fastener with the shock rod.make your plate your welding to the arm with an added ear on that mounting area. Tig and grind it to a sweat spot. lots of pounding on just two fastener bossed into a 1/8 inch or is it for some reason thick just there?

[@dennisc.1189]

Looks nice and it sounds like you will have better control, over bumps.

[@79tazman]

Don't forget your going to need TP for your bung holes LOL!! ;)

[@keithkrause3386]

They look pretty nice, thanks alot, may have to buy a set and put them on my 23t. lol

[@steveanderson5888]

Perfect angle on those shocks brother!! I can't wait to see that thing on the road it's a beautiful thing

[@RedBullMan7]

Matt, what Is the length of shock you Are using?

[@ricadams]

Awesome looking shocks and mounts!!!😃

[@roywallace207]

F100 mounts are the bomb and sure make the top end easier.

[@robertwayne2004]

Thanks for sharing your friend from canada Rob ✌

[@RichieCat4223]

03:08 You can take a steel part and nickel plate it easily using a battery trickle charger, nickel plate material and the correct solution. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2m7oGdpqMt_nbs&feature=emb_logo 07:08 Look into Tap Magic when you're cutting threads. Also good for when you're drilling holes.

[@WiredCustomsSpeedShop]

Awesome video! Thanks for sharing

[@RichieCat4223]

@@WiredCustomsSpeedShop No problem, always like to help if I can.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Something we will have to look into. Matt has oil in the jug for drilling and tapping

[@garyhodder2784]

Another great video,no nonsense just get in and get it done.👍👍

[@yomangull2538]

The shock angles and the mount look great. Just a little tip I was given by a WW2 ship builder. When heat bending metal rod and such, the metal that's on the outside of the bend has to travel much further then anywhere else on your bend. Try and keep the majority of the heat on the outside of your bends instead of the inside or sides. That will help keep the metal from getting tiny (or big) stretch fractures and radius distortion.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks for the tip! we will keep that in mind!!

[@dougmcclellan1656]

Nice job on the shocks Matt. They look great!!

[@mattomon1045]

You mean you are no like chop chop rebuild where you have a pile of parts and the host tells every body that have one day to to gt this to sima . Matt I love to see the way you work things out. thank you.

[@IronTrapGarage]

no rushed sema builds here!!

[@836dmar]

2 yrs since this mod. It’s killing me!

[@ddd228]

HEY MATT! Who cut your hair, during this lock down? Fabrication is a lot of fun. I put a '37 Plymouth front axel under a '61 Ford Falcon when I was 19. Stick welder. I paid a blacksmith to make the steering arms.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Kate is a hair dresser! She keeps me looking sharp!

[@tdeje]

Mounts look solid enough, Its not going off roading !

[@dtruth5769]

Nice job! What type of weld is that?

[@rayk9315]

Nice job Matt it looks like it was suppose to be like that.

[@henryg683]

A great job as usual keep up the good work!!

[@tomdadisman1400]

Love it! That thing is bad ass looking!!!

[@JB-sx3db]

Nice job! Keep up the great vids!

[@rogermiller8262]

This is what I was trying to say in my last comment, you offer Real and instructive content. You admit when you jump past a step and then show, tell and do what it takes to get the job done and I thank you for that. Seeing the Free T in person was why I went to the Macungie show. Looks great Matt.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thank you so much Roger!

[@davidgourdie3691]

Nice work on those shock mounts.Here in NZ those top perches that you heated/welded would have to be crack tested to pass certification prior to putting wof(warrant of fitness)/rego on it.

[@IronTrapGarage]

We have a few friends in Australia that have mentioned the X-ray inspection for chassis parts

[@maltmakers]

They look like perfection Matt!!

[@paulwhite7475]

I always hated T based hot rods until I saw this one . It's the only one that doesn't look like a 3 year old reconstructed a train crash , to be used as a prop in the Beverly hillbillies. It's the only T rod I've ever seen with lines that flow . You made me like it against all odds 😆

[@IronTrapGarage]

Hahah thats awesome thank you!

[@kennethreiver985]

I hate when I shoot myself in the foot lol !

[@mick_1949]

Looks great to me! Thanks guys 👍

[@bobgaylord8883]

Love the shock mounts. Great job on them, Matt

[@jimsullivan2729]

The shock mounts look great Matt.

[@stevennewcomer3452]

With this car more chrome is more better

[@pennypincher6730]

This car has turned out awesome. Just proof rushing kills you at the end. Any update on the sweetheart roadster or the sweet sixteen T

[@IronTrapGarage]

SHR will be getting updates soon!!!

[@willsee1822]

Past Matt screwed over future Matt and now present Matt has to fix it! The same happens to me on my A coupe.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Past and Future Matt are in a constant battle with each other!!

[@craigcaggiano431]

Matt a lot of planning goes into creating and mounting the shock mounts and fabrication of the lower mount.

[@IronTrapGarage]

That’s the most time consuming portion!!

[@hensleyshobbies-doug7761]

I know you like the old hot rods and I can see why, the other day I was just thinking out loud basically that I bet you could make a helluva Ratrod! But I can understand why you’d rather stick with the Hotrods! I can dig it brother! 👍👍🤘✌🏻

[@robertjean659]

Nice work on the shock mounts. Is it the camera angle but the wheels look out of alignment.

[@IronTrapGarage]

The car isn’t 100% done. Didn’t do a final alignment yet.

[@srchastain859]

Shock mounts are great!

[@howardkoster4026]

Matt, to me, I like the top front shock mount set-up this way. It's not as busy, keeps it clean looking. Yes, I am no expert with cars, or period correctness of hot-rods built from the 50's, 60's etc...This build is cool...

[@danielkeel9265]

Looks meannn! The way the shocks and headlight stanchions crisscross gives a real expression to the car. I get the impression of a gleeful, slighty maniacal grin. Much as you'd wear cuisin in such a dar, having made it. Don't know much about meta, 'cept it can be anyshape you want when you know how (and every othe shape when you don't)... been a great trip, this car, looking forward to seeing it in action. Man you and Mike will both be wearing the same grin as the Free Tee!

[@ronniezentio7646]

Where are the drivning video 😉

[@TrendsbySterling]

Nice job well done Matt!

[@joell439]

Stunning result. 👍😎👍

[@chuckster6513]

Hey Matt, Great Video ! Welding the bottom shock mount to the axle verses drilling the axle and building up around that hole does not seem like a good idea to me but it is your car ! The top mount worked out really nice. I never cared for the look of thise two bold mounts on the outside of the frame. ( The part you cut off and did not use ) Your use of pollished Stainless on this car is absolutely Fantasmagorical ! See Ya in the Sunday Video. Be safe and well

[@thomasbrighton6159]

The mounts came out great!

[@josecarlosgrandinetti6195]

TOP 👏👏🇧🇷

[@BrianSmart1959]

Nice solution for the top mount. It would have been pretty cool to build some new headlight brackets or modify them to incorporate the shock mount, but that would have probably been way too much work.

[@gordonstroup1741]

Well Matt, for doing the front shocks after the fact, they really look as if you had planned them that way! "They look marvelous darling, simply marvelous"! OK, what TV program is that saying from and who said it? It's from way back, almost 50 years and it is still on the air! Really though Matt, they do look awesome. Like always, love the work you do and love the show. You, the wife & Moon stay healthy, God bless and have a terrific day.

[@IronTrapGarage]

The biggest goal was to make the shocks look like they were always there. Thanks for watching!!! Oh and line was from Billy Crystal from SNL!!

[@gordonstroup1741]

@@IronTrapGarage WOW! You are correct! Haa! Great answer and what a great show! Thanks Matt, have a good one. 😁🇺🇲✌👌👍

[@deucerider430]

Just spotted your red press (Next to the refrigerator) I have one just like it! Aren't they incredible machines? Unmatched for power by a hydraulic one!

[@IronTrapGarage]

That press is amazing! We used it all the time. We plan to fab some wheels to the bottom to make it a little more versatile

[@deucerider430]

@@IronTrapGarage I remember the first time we found about the 'impact mode'! we thought we had broken it. Closer examination revealed what had transpired and we knew we had something special! I literally bought it off a truck loaded to go to the scrapyard for scrap value in weight

[@hotrodmyk]

Great project, the brackets look much cleaner behind the headlight brackets, He said "bung" hehehehe.

[@davelewis2174]

Why didn't you use the lathe to cut the threads for the lower mounts ?

[@IronTrapGarage]

not that good with the lathe yet!!

[@gregworkshop5713]

hi car still looking very cool

[@380.motorsports]

Yet another excellent fabrication job. Love the shock mount design and finished look.