Shocking!!!

[Zeus33rd]

Mounted my front shocks today with the Ford towers. Drove a tire up on the back of the '83 K20 flatbed to check clearances and fit...Tallest "ramp" I could find..lol So far so good I think.

14" travel Ranchos. I've got about 2.5" of shock left on the extended side, and 4" on the compressed side. Sitting flat and level, I left 6" of shock extended. I need to fix the rear setup so I can test the front more accurately. The rear still has the stiff as a board springs with an add-a-leaf and 4" block- In the pictures the pass rear tire is about a foot off the ground. I came soooo close to flopping in the driveway...lol! The next project is to shackle flip the rear, and loose the blocks and add-a-leaf. Then I can see if it'll flex anymore, I think it will, and see if my shock mounts need to be adjusted anymore.

And this is my bud Joey demostrating one of the many uses of shock boots-

 

[84_Chevy_K10]

Any particular reason you chose to mount them so vertical? Not saying that's bad, just asking.

 

[Zeus33rd]

Convienence. I didn't want to deal with grinding flat and re-plating the "bump" on the passenger side like I did on the drivers. That was a pain in the ass. That and if I had angled them back more, since they are so damn long, and I wanted to leave 6" extended on flat ground, they interfered with the steering shaft and speedo cable. I still might have to reposition them again anyways. The shaft of the shock on the drooped side is within 1" or so of the steering shaft. When it's compressed, it kicks out further and might come in contact with it. I might also move the mount on the axle in a bit to help correct that. I have a few days of testing planned.

 

[84_Chevy_K10]

Looks like it worked out great for you anyway because your shocks are longer.

Mine are farther back and angled, near where the stock mounts were.

 

[Fierospeeder]

tell your buddy he needs viagra. Or put a rod inside the boot before taking a picture

 

[Greg72]

Shock setup looks good......except aren't those shocks "upside down"?????

 

[Zeus33rd]

Shock setup looks good......except aren't those shocks "upside down"?????

Eh?

 

[Greg72]

.....just referring to every shock thread I post in, where somebody tells me MY shocks are upside down, and that I must be an idiot.....yadda yadda yadda.


.

 

[Zeus33rd]

Ohhhhhhhhhh....For a minute there you about had me second guessing myself.

 

[BlueBlazer]

Excellent setup, one off topic question though, what is holding your radiator in besides the hoses?

 

[jekbrown]

.....just referring to every shock thread I post in, where somebody tells me MY shocks are upside down, and that I must be an idiot.....yadda yadda yadda.

I think thats a 1st gen thing... took GM awhile to figure out which way shocks were supposed to go.

j

 

[Zeus33rd]

Excellent setup, one off topic question though, what is holding your radiator in besides the hoses?

It's bolted at the bottom. You can see both bolts in the 2nd picture, just above the lights and 1 in the 3rd. When the tube work gets done, it will be supported at the top as well. I never said it was done.

 

[JK5]

Very Nice!!!

Thanks I'll have to break-out a shock boot...when I get home.
I may have to find a way to shrink one down or somethin'.

 

[84_Chevy_K10]

.....just referring to every shock thread I post in, where somebody tells me MY shocks are upside down, and that I must be an idiot.....yadda yadda yadda.


.

It's beating a dead horse anyway.

 

[CyberSniper]

The more a shock is vertical the more dampening it does. I'm afraid that since my shocks are short (13.5" of stroke) I might have to angle them a lot.

 

[84_Chevy_K10]

The more a shock is vertical the more dampening it does. I'm afraid that since my shocks are short (13.5" of stroke) I might have to angle them a lot.

Yep.

Mine are 12.5". Seeing how well his work out with them straight up and down, 14" travel, I might go that route when I finally get some REAL shocks on mine.

 

[Zeus33rd]

The more a shock is vertical the more dampening it does. I'm afraid that since my shocks are short (13.5" of stroke) I might have to angle them a lot.

Hmm, never considered that. More damping is good in this case with the way soft 52" springs.