Well Bolters I must say that after lots of fit, remove, drill and fit, I've been able to install gas strut (shock kit) kit from Chev's of the 40's on our 1948 3100 Chevy Truck.
The kit, as you may know, doesn't have instructions, it's up to you the installer to do plenty of research that will enable you complete the installation. After viewing many unrelated YouTube videos and comparing where to locate the fitting that are welded to the frame.
I didn't weld the supports to the frame, I bolted the supports to the frame. The parts that go on the leaf spring was the easy part. Finding the angles at which the rear supports on the frame go that's the hard part. Locally the location of the front shock upper supports are relatively easy to locate and drill the holes. The rear supports was the toughest. Specifically the issue that their location requires that these be installed in the section of the frame that is concave and requires you to locally manufacture shims that to allow the support (fitting) to sit in such a way that it doesn't affect the linear relation of the shock shaft/body to the leaf spring fitting.
Fortunately I was also able to look at a 1949-1951 3100 and compare support locations as well as Deve TechNet. On Deve's site he posted some pictures were he used a measuring tape laid on top of the frame rail and it laid between the fixed point (hole) on the rail and his 1954 3100 trucks frame rail.
I installed the supports using Class 8, ⅜" inch, bolt about 3/4" long, washers, lock washer and nuts. One caution for the front is that you must check that the steering drag link on the drivers side doesn't contact the shock, we have about 1/2 to ¾" gap.
Well that's as much as I can provide. I did take lots of pictures, if someone is interested I can see how i can provide them. We have not yet road tested the truck but by jumping on its bumper supports we are pretty well assured that they will perform well.
Last edited by TexasA&M48Truck; 07/23/20242:17 PM.
