The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Front shocks

Had my 48 Chevrolet half ton front springs rebuilt with reverse eyes. The distance from the top of the rubber bumper to the bottom of the frame rail is about 2 inches. The original lever shocks have been removed by the previous owner. Picked up the after market kit to install later AD tube shocks. The shocks are to long, less than one inch from bottoming out and the extreme angle to the front seems like it would not work very well. I am thinking of getting a shock with no dust cover and mounting then vertical with the rod end connected to the Ubolts. This would clear the rod from the pitman arm to the steering knuckle. If I install the rod end up there is not enough room between the spring pack and the steering rod. What do guys do for shocks using mono leave springs?

Not sure anyone here has done this, but I can think of two ideas... One, take the too long shocks to your local parts store and have them compare with others off the shelf to find a shorter one that will work.

Two, I'll bet that a local hot rodding shop that does lowering of old trucks shop has probably tackled this problem before, and can suggest the right part for the job.

Good luck!

-Boyo

Monroe has a tech line and if you call, knowing the compressed & extended length you need, they can tell you what will fit. I switched my 46 over to later shocks and I think it is shocks off a Gremlin that will fit, ie, were stud ends, same tube diameter, but were about 4" shorter than stock shocks for an AD truck. I will look for the box and maybe I can post a part number.