The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop shock geometry

guys,
on my 57 3100, i am currently running my exhaust with dumps just before the rear axle, but soon want to get a new full system that will go up over the rear axle and dump after the rear tire.

because my truck is so low, my shocks are in the way. i will need to move the shocks from their factory top mounting points, and need to run them straight up and down. i had a few race cars back in the day with the shocks mounted like this, but am curious how it will handle on the streets ? i dont do any high speed cornering or anything like that, but what are your thoughts on me making that change to the shock mounting ?

thanks guys.

leonard

Well if you can put them on the outside of the frame they will work just fine. seen lots of truck with the shocks moved. Since its lower then stock I would think it would if any thing do better with the shocks up and down on the outside. But thats just me. In my oppinion they really did not use much geometry in the 50's. Was still a time when you when with what worked.

Goodluck

thanks for the input.... dont have any room to mount outside the frame, so when the time comes, i will fab something up and see what happens.
thanks again.

leonard

You did not state what kind of springs you have under the rearend. In order to lower it you had to do something. The old quick and easy way was lowering blocks. They can become a problem with the "scrub line" among other things.

If the shocks are not angled some direction, you'll lose a small amount of travel. The shock needs to form the hypotneuse of a right triangle to get the most movement through the range of motion of the rear end's up/down travel. If the truck is lowered, you're not going to get much suspension travel anyway, so the shock is just on there for decoration. Put it anywhere it's convenient- - - -it's not going to function well no matter how it's mounted.
Jerry

thanks jerry. yea, i only have about 2" of travel now anyway in the rear, before it bottoms out on the frame. one day i will get around to installing my C-notch kit. i am gonna fab up some new upper mounts when i get the time and see how it rides. im pretty sure i will need shorter shocks.

beltfed, i am running a flipped rear with factory leafs.

thanks again guys for the input.

leonard

What Jerry said, +1

my truck is very low.The shocks are at a steep angle and work fine.They are in front of the axle installed at the top edge of the frame to the lower spring/axle mount

ok guys, i got my vertical shock setup installed today. gonna work out just the way i wanted, giving me the room for exhaust tail pipes to run up and over the rear axle housing.
you can step through my album and see the new and old setup.

http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/gg307/RATRODKING/1957%203100/

one of these days i will get around to installing my C- notch kit to gain more suspension travel at the frame and housing.

thanks guys.

leonard