Question on shock placement

[phils]

After I made the switch to spring-behind-axle setup to lower the car on my 1947 frame, it's now time to get the shocks back on. Next 3 pics show some choices that I'm pondering:

Option #1: Lower mount was the axle, upper mount is some kinda Ford(?) mount. This is how it was setup when I got the car and before I made the suspension change.

Option #2: This pic shows another option if I could find (or make) longer, flat-top spring perches and build (or buy) a lower shock mount. I would also either need to build (or buy) upper shock mounts.

Showing both options, side-by-side. I like the "look" of option #2 (drivers side).

Does anyone know if the lower shock mounts that Speedway sells will fit? Would I need to buy or make longer perch bolts with a keyway?


Also....Is there a angle I should be trying to get the shocks placed at. I've seen shocks mounted almost straight up & down and other cars, I've seen 'em mounted like almost a 45 degree angle.
Thanks, I appreciate any thoughts/ideas on how OR where to mount the shocks, that you can share with me.

 

[Tripper]

Yep... I like option #2 best!

 

[hotrod preacher]

i like option 2 better as well......as far as i know the closer to staight up-and-down you get them the better they work....with that said my wifey's stock minivan rear shock has a serious angle on it so i guess as long as they can work is the key.....

 

[fuzz]

Looking at the Speedway lower mount, I used that style lower mount on a couple different rods but they didn't have the keyway. Seems to me that the perch bolt would rotate making the keyway of no real use. The speedway perch bolts with keyway are designed for the spring over axle so the spring keeps it from turning. Point I'm trying to make is that I didn't have a problem with the lower mount turning witout the keyway so I think you could use them without making a special perch bolt. I agree the shock location in option #2 looks best and would probably work best too.

 

[BigIrish]

Got enough room to move them behind the axle and mount to radius rod like so? Another option maybe.

 

[Track-T]

here's some more pic's
most everything I've read says they should mount at 20 degrees
to work right.
you can mount at different angles of course , but 20 degrees seems to be
best...
http://www.nationaltbucketalliance.com/tech_info/chassis/shocks/shocks_front.asp

 

[phils]

thanks for all the help, pics, and the link to see the NTBA shocks page. I would of liked to put the shocks behind the axle (just cuz I like the look of the '47 axle with all the holes that are now milled in it). But there is no room to do that, with the new spring occuppying that space between the wishbones (and the tie rod just behind that)........and I am going to build and put in a panhard bar from the frame over to the passenger's side wishbone, in between those. I ran for years w/o one, but thought I'm this deep into this project, I may as well build one and put that in, too, hopin' it'll tighten everything up just a bit more.
So.....I'm gonna go for the forged steel lower mounts and will go with option 2. I also think this gives me the best place to mount my headlights & upper shock mount.

.......seems like every part on these rods want to occupy the each other's space!

 

[phils]

Here's how the parts that came in, mocked-up Saturday:
I will need to buy shorter shocks if I use these upper shock months. I like the look of these mounts, so I will sell these and buy shorter shocks. The next size down, will fit the front - perfect. So the front seems good-to-go.
But, the flat top perch bolts that I got from Speedway are TOO short with the lower shock mounts, that were placed underneath the axle/wishbone. I'm guessing the ones I got from Speedway, are for the earlier 2" boss?...I need a bolt that is at least 5-1/2" LOA (or 5-1/4" from the top of the shank). Any ideas were to get these? Pete & Jakes?
Today, it was time to tweak the rear to get just a touch more rake. I made a shim to go on top of the rear transverse spring & faricated new shackles......and now I have the back of the raised to where I think the car now has the correct rake. The air shocks have been dumped, but now I will need shocks that have a 15-1/2" ride height. Everywhere I've been searching seems to have shocks too short, nothin' in that length. Any idea where I can start to look to find the rear shocks?

 

[IAM-LDS-2]

I have found Tractor supply has the best selection of bolts etc. Fastenall also , but in packs of 10 usually .