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Replacing the lever shocks. Tube shocks has rings on each end. Since I am making the mounts I am thinking about mounting the shocks vertical instead of leaning them foreward like the factory. Seems like the shock would work better traveling up and down rather than in a foreward up and down motion. This is on my 48 half ton stock front axel.

Yes the shocks would work better vertical. But watch the travel. The PO of my truck put them in so that the shock bottoms before the rubber stop hits the axil. I've bent one set of shocks so far.

Actually, tilted slightly forward allows the most dampening effort to occur at the unsprung location where it will do the most good. You don't need dampening at the extreme compressed condition. Those engineers back in the 40's and 50's knew from experience that the shocks worked best when tilted at an oblique angle to the axel travel direction. Vehicles today that have shock displacement parallel to axle travel use linearly varying damping rates to accomplish the same thing. Hope this helps.

Theory has it that shocks are mounted at angles of travel to eliminate harmonic vibrations from out of balance tires. Seems to make sense to me. You know, you can get those GM type stud mounts at most parts stores....... don't just rig a bolt and washer deal together!