What is this set-up on my rear springs? The brackets say Duplex and they look like some sort of aftermarket helper springs. Can I remove this and use stock shackles or is the rear spring different as well?
My other question is about my steering wheel. The center nut that holds the wheel on has a button that says APCO, what is this?
The APCO button is an accessory horn button. You can use stock shackles on the spring you have.
Jim, those are pretty nice helper springs. I would rather have those than Hasslers myself. The Apco horn buttons are rather hard to come by in good shape, worth holding on to. Have fun, KB
Jim, if you remove those helper springs you will need a pair of standard rear spring perches. Those helpers have their own unique perches.
Hope this helps.
Allan from down under.
A lot of T owners would love to have those after-market spring helpers. The standard spring perches and shackles are easy to get.
The Apco horn button is a whole button assembly. If it is complete, it is somewhat desirable and fairly rare. Posting a photo of it would help to identify what you have.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
Here is a picture of the button on the steering wheel. The car still has the Ford horn button on the right side of the column.
Jim
Those 'helper springs' work good, at least my rear pair do on the '23 cut-down pickup. Like 'em
Jim, have you had that nut off to see what's under it?
Looks like the spring is gone in your horn button.
I rebuilt the after-market horn button on my coupe. It was easy to do. The most important thing is to make certain the insulators are in all the proper places and that voltage isolation is not compromised. Horns blowing when you least expect it can be annoying. Unexpected fires even more so.
But don't let me scare you. Mine was easy to fix. Yours may also be easy to do. They were an unusual accessory in the US, but (I am told) common in Canada.
Again, welcome to the affliction!
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
If you really don't want those Duplex Springs and Shackles, let me know, I'll be happy to trade you for a set of stock shackles...
Susanne I also have a complete set for sale danuser88@ktis.net
I pulled the Apco button off and did not see a way that it could have been wired. the steering shaft was solid and no place for the wires.
I'm pretty sure I will keep the helper springs.
The Apco horn button was wired as simple as possible - and it worked, amazingly enough
(The steering wheel doesn't turn as much as in a modern car)
Picture by Adrian Whiteman in this thread: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/166715.html