This past week I received 4 shocks in the mail. Two for the front are Procomp es3000's. Summit advertises them as 15.5" travel but I measured and its more like 14.5" but that should still be ok for me. The two shocks for the rear are Superlift shocks from their ebay scratch and dent store, they were $7 a peice. Those are 13.5" travel.
I took a look at the rear mounting situation and it looks to be pretty easy. Once the weather warms up I will mount the flatbed framework that we built a long time ago. We will add a crossmember with several mounting holes in it. The lower end of the shocks are going to be mounted to the axle truss clamps (I had Kert put some shock mounts on them).
The front is a little more difficult. The steering shaft is making it hard to mount these front shocks. I got two pairs of knuckle shock tabs from DIY4x. So now I am trying to figure out the best way to mount the upper end.
So I thought I would try out a few different ways. Here's some pics showing 4 ways I thought of mounting the front shocks.
1st way: lower end mounted to inner "c" with the shock leaned toward the rear of the truck. The upper end of the shock goes between the frame and steering shaft. With this way the lower mounts fit nicely to the axle housing, but the top clearance is tight.
2nd way: Lower end mounted to inner "c" with the shock leaned toward the rear of the truck. Upper end is mounted outside of the steering shaft. Also with this way the lower mounts fit the housing nicely, but it looks like the upper end is going to require some big hoop of sorts.
3rd way: Same as the 2nd way except that the shock is now mounted totally vertical with the top leaned in slightly. Also a upper hoop will be made, but the lower brackets don't fit as nicely especially the front tab because of the caster of the knuckles.
4th way: Now the lower end is mounted to the spring plate. I would use some DIY4x spring plates for this as it would be easier for mounting, plus I planned on getting them anyway. I could still use the mounting tabs I already have. The upper end would travel between the steering shaft and the frame and would be mounted vertical. The upper mount would require a tower or possibly a hoop. Because the tower/hoop would be so tall I would make a crossbrace that would travel over the engine from tower to tower and would be bolted in.
So I am wondering what do you guys think? Which is the best way to go and why? I am kinda leaning towards the 4th way right now. I have a pair of tubular seatbelt mounts that came out of the rear of an izusu amigo that with a little modification would make great shock hoops especially for the 4th mounting idea. Any input is appreciated
. Also another update, I can get several dana 60 axle shaft yokes. So I may be running 1480 u-joints on the t-case end. My brother's friend who's a machinist, said he can make us some driveshafts in his lathe once we are ready
