I made custom rear shock mounts this week. check them out.

[mike657894]

the top bushings may prove to be a problem. if they do I will have to weld a tab to the top plate to do a dual eye shock. I couldnt tell but the kits for sale looked like they required the body to be removed. they work well and keep the car going straight on a rough road. I heard that the gas shocks were too harsh but at a 45 I think the force required is reduced maybe by half. I am very happy with how they turned out.

[JDupuis]

Looks Great! Now, wear'em out. . Jeff

[katy]

You've got the shocks upside down.

[Railcarmover]

Your angle is too steep,the shocks won't last.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Railcarmover

Your angle is too steep,the shocks won't last.

45* should reduce the stiffness of ride by about 30%, but why would it shorten the life of the shock?

[Jacksonlll]

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Can't quite see all of it, but looks like that upper Brkt will fatigue quickly. Let us know how the last.

[emf]

And another thing.....

[gweilbaker]

Mopar mini vans have the rear shocks angled like this and they are fine.

[western77]

My F150 also has the shocks at an angle. Seem to work for the last 250,000 miles.

[duke36]

Chrysler used tube shocks in '37 on some of their cars all at angles to the frame. We read somewhere that having the shocks at an angle is good for operational reasons and fractional loading. Also, we installed modern (supposedly) non-gas charged shocks from a kit on a heavy town sedan and the ride is somewhat choppy. Perhaps with 4 or 5 passengers, that may smooth out some. There is also a panhard bar on the rear only and not sure that is a good idea without offset from a front bar.

[Railcarmover]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

45* should reduce the stiffness of ride by about 30%, but why would it shorten the life of the shock?

The shock is designed for linear load,not side load,when they are angled they are on the same plane as the suspension travel so,in essence they are angled to maintain linear operation.The angle he has on his runs on an axis to the suspension travel,side loading the cylinder..they won't give full life like that

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Railcarmover

The shock is designed for linear load,not side load,when they are angled they are on the same plane as the suspension travel so,in essence they are angled to maintain linear operation.The angle he has on his runs on an axis to the suspension travel,side loading the cylinder..they won't give full life like that

Since each end of the shock has an eye, I see the shock action as still being linear, but I also see the reaction of the shock causing more fore and aft force to the driveline, which means the force is transferred to the bell coupling at the end of the tranny.

[Railcarmover]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

Since each end of the shock has an eye, I see the shock action as still being linear, but I also see the reaction of the shock causing more fore and aft force to the driveline, which means the force is transferred to the bell coupling at the end of the tranny.

I agree. the force should be centered on the upper and lower mounting points. When that force is moved off the center line,even with eyes stress acts to 'bend' the shock.I'm not criticizing the work,hell they might give good service and a long life,I hope they do.Its just that the method used goes against engineering principal.

[Tinbasher]

For some excellent reading on this subject. Get Steve Smith's Advanced Race car Suspension and design. Lays it all out the way it should be.

John Poole.

[mike657894]

Originally Posted by Jacksonlll

Can't quite see all of it, but looks like that upper Brkt will fatigue quickly. Let us know how the last.

the upper bracket is 3/8 if it goes ill redo it in 1/2 the bottom are 1/2 was going to do it all in 1/2 but it was taking to long to work so i switched to 3/8

[mike657894]

I got the shocks on ebay for 60 shipped. They are gabrial classics 8-12in. Here's a link. I have a bumpy gravel rd that when I drove the car bounced all over and high third gear was dangerous. It is a private road not a county graded rd. With the shocks installed they seem the perfect resistance for the fordor. The car felt great and there is a furrow to cross that I hit with a little speed to attempt to bottom them and they passed that test. very smooth. And took all the bounding bounce out of the rear end. When they fail I'll revive the thread . Or I'll revive it when a few years have passed and and they are still going.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shocks-by-le...53.m2749.l2649

[old victoria]

good job mike! your car your way that's all that matters