The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Tons 'o Fun Rear Shocks on 53 one ton -never had rears before

Two Bolter responders asked me to make this a new post. Thanks for your responses and interest. By the way, I located and bought the original equipment rear shocks now have to figure how to bolt them on.

Re: rear axel [Re: retcon]
c matamoros
Moderated Registered: 29/01/14
Posts: 2
Loc: CA
I have a '53 Chevy one ton pickup. Had it for 29 years. There are no shock absorbers on the rear and as I am getting older, the rigid bouncing around is no so much fun anymore. An old '47- '52 shop manual that i have says the 1 ton did not originally have shocks but it could be added on. I don't see any holes or brackets that I could fit shocks into. I have searched the internet until I am blind, called Chevy parts dealership, called many old Chevy parts houses - nothing. Do you know how I can get brackets and shocks on my old beast?
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#1002940 - 30/01/14 12:51 AM Re: rear axel [Re: retcon]
Dave51Chev
Shop Shark Registered: 25/04/11
Posts: 214
Loc: Provo, Utah
Matamoros, that's a great question. You should post it as a new topic/separate thread so other's will be able to see it and answer.


Edited by Dave51Chev (30/01/14 12:52 AM)
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Dave Baird
1951 Chevy 3800

Foot starters are for Stovebolters and people who need a kick in the ...
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#1003119 - 30/01/14 07:58 PM Re: rear axel [Re: retcon]
1951Chevy1Ton
Shop Shark Registered: 16/04/05
Posts: 419
Loc: Near Sleepy Eye Minnesota
Where is Cletus? This is an excellent question from a new Bolter and needs to be transferred to a new post.
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If I remember my rear axle on my 1 ton had brackets but nothing on the frame. I replaced my rear end with an 85 1ton rear and trying to come up with a simple solution for mounting. I'm looking at using 85 1ton rear shocks from NAPA, making new brackets on the axle and a bolt in crossmember to bolt them to. Also trying to see if the 85 had mounting brackets that could potentially almost bolt into the existing frame?

Maybe something like these?

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/...4-4647-AE27-7D93C6A25FF0_zpsdxfv4ouc.jpg

Dave I tried to PM you but you do not have enough posts yet, call me I have the solution. I will take some pictures for you tomorrow.
801-231-1077
dakar959@yahoo.com
I am in Salt Lake (east side).

Brad

[IMG]http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag3/cuz2424/Chevy/DSC00740_zpscee96b5c.jpg[/IMG]

this is on my truck lower brackets, but i have no idea of what upper brackets look like

I find it funny that they post, solutions are offered and then cue the crickets and tumble weeds?

I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be the same as the 3600 trucks. They used the same frame bracket as what is on the front shocks.

Thanks for the helpful responses. I cleaned up the rear axle jack points and found two holes that I drilled out a bit wider, mounted the bottom of the shock on that and found holes in the frame 48" and 53" back from the front of the bed, reamed those out a bit to accommodate a 1/2" bolt, drilled out two 8" long 2x2 heavy duty square channel, rust proofed that and bolted on top of these a 1" x 1/2" steel "U" about 40 " long running across the frame and drilled holes to accommodate the top of the shocks at a 10 degree angle or so. Works great! Not exactly a ride like my old Jaguar, but better.

Not everyone is glued to the bolt like some of us.

http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag3/cuz2424/Chevy/DSC00740_zpscee96b5c.jpg
i have these on my 52 1 ton. looked like they were there a long time. don't know if original. wish i could find upper brackets

Jimbo. Here you go. The 3600 trucks had a plate bolted to the inside of the frame, but this is the bracket they use. Same as the front.

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/ca/full.aspx?Page=90

any idea

The brackets in Jimbos picture are the same as those on my 50' 3600. That is the correct bracket that was used as cartridge shocks replaced the lever actions.

brad any idea what the upper brackets look like and can i get them

I figured out the rear shocks. I got rear shocks from a local wheel shop and found that under the rear axle the jacking point had holes on both sides to accommodate a bolt. I drilled out one hole as the bolt that came with the shocks was a little bigger on one half and bolted it through. Had to do a little grinding but it fits nice. Then for the top mount I found holes on the frame at 48" and 53" and drilled them out a bit and drilled, cut and bolted some 2 x 2 sq tubing to the frame and on the bolt nearest the rear I attached some channel 2" across and 1" high across, drilled some holes for the shocks and presto! it works great and smoothed out the ride quite a bit.

My 49 3800 dual rear wheel has the old lever action shocks on it so the axle brackets (which are basically the same on the front and rear) are just a simple whole, basically like a washer was welded onto the axle. The frame just has two bolt holes where the shock bolts on. I can post pics later if you would like.

My 1 ton panel uses rear upper shock mounts as in the link.


They mount over the top on the frame with one leg and inside the frame with the other. Hope that helps.

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb460/gibsonflatpicker/rearshockmount_zpsa352179d.jpg

I found these Jeep shock brackets. I like the looks of them better than the chevy pin type.

http://www.4wd.com/Jeep-Lift-Kits-J..._s=90&t_pt=9208&t_pn=OAI18271.10

This one you could bolt to top of frame.

http://www.willysjeepparts.com/Brackets.htm