2008-08-23 - Shock Relocation - The Mounts
Moderator: Specialdeluxe
- Specialdeluxe
- Administrator
- Posts: 511
- Joined: Mon Aug 12th, 2002 9:01
- Plymouth: Special_Deluxe_4dr_Sedan
- Location: St. Paul, MN
- Contact:
2008-08-23 - Shock Relocation - The Mounts
I had heard that this was one of the best modifications one could do to these cars. After doing the mod and moving the control arms up and down and looking at what the movement of the shocks were in their original location, I'm glad I did it. The shocks will actually do what they are supposed to do instead of sitting there and providing minimal cushion. I can't wait to see how it's going to handle driving it.
When I went to weld on the shock mount I found that the bracket needed to be modified. If I let the suspension hang all the way down with the stop bumper in place and the shock at full travel, the bracket was a few inches off. I made some measurements and made a template out of cardboard. I used a cutoff wheel to trim the bracket. I also made a template for the positioning of the bracket. I ended up with 1/4 inch clearance between the shock and the upper control arm. After welding the bracket in I connected the front suspension and checked out how it works. It's very cool. Time for paint!
When I went to weld on the shock mount I found that the bracket needed to be modified. If I let the suspension hang all the way down with the stop bumper in place and the shock at full travel, the bracket was a few inches off. I made some measurements and made a template out of cardboard. I used a cutoff wheel to trim the bracket. I also made a template for the positioning of the bracket. I ended up with 1/4 inch clearance between the shock and the upper control arm. After welding the bracket in I connected the front suspension and checked out how it works. It's very cool. Time for paint!
- Attachments
-
- The stop bumper is in place, suspension all the way down and the shock fully extended. See where the bracket needs to be trimmed?
- 000_0064.jpg (150.01 KiB) Viewed 10583 times
-
- Top view looking at the clearance and lining everything up.
- 100_1719.jpg (207.08 KiB) Viewed 10583 times
-
- After getting the suspension assembled I checked out how it worked and moved around.
- 100_1718.jpg (208.1 KiB) Viewed 10582 times
-
- Bottom of shock mounted to the Fatman dropped upright. The sleeve and rubber that was removed from the shock is shown.
- 100_1701.jpg (199.78 KiB) Viewed 10584 times
-
- Working with my cardboard template I came up with a shape that angles the shock away from the frame a bit for good clearance. The gap between the template and the frame is the "buffer" I left for the shock travel after the bracket is welded on.
- 000_0066.jpg (153.02 KiB) Viewed 10614 times
-
- There's the mount welded to the frame.
- 100_1728.jpg (181.32 KiB) Viewed 10613 times
-
- I traced the template onto the mounting bracket and used a cutoff wheel to trim it.
- 100_1725.jpg (324.29 KiB) Viewed 10613 times
Last edited by Specialdeluxe on Wed Sep 10th, 2008 10:50, edited 1 time in total.
.
Good going in your Plymouth!
Paul Schettner
'49plymouth.com - Webmaster
Good going in your Plymouth!

Paul Schettner
'49plymouth.com - Webmaster
Re: 2008-08-23 - Shock Relocation - The Mounts
well hell yea i had something diffrent in mind but thats really a better idea thanx alot i will have one made up real soon and will be shareing the info on it with my friends who own 49's =D>
Re: 2008-08-23 - Shock Relocation - The Mounts
by the way that isnt the origanal shock is it its hard to tell and i would think that i would need a longer shock for travel
- Specialdeluxe
- Administrator
- Posts: 511
- Joined: Mon Aug 12th, 2002 9:01
- Plymouth: Special_Deluxe_4dr_Sedan
- Location: St. Paul, MN
- Contact:
Re: 2008-08-23 - Shock Relocation - The Mounts
roughn3ck wrote:by the way that isnt the origanal shock is it its hard to tell and i would think that i would need a longer shock for travel
Yep, you're right. You need shocks with longer travel.
.
Good going in your Plymouth!
Paul Schettner
'49plymouth.com - Webmaster
Good going in your Plymouth!

Paul Schettner
'49plymouth.com - Webmaster
Re: 2008-08-23 - Shock Relocation - The Mounts
thanx again friend youve been a big help
Re: 2008-08-23 - Shock Relocation - The Mounts
do either of you have a template you can post or email me? one i can print out, cut out, and use? i am only putting the disc upgrade on the front not dropping it or anything.
Re: 2008-08-23 - Shock Relocation - The Mounts
i dont think it matters how tall it is becouse your going to have to buy new shocks anyways to fit new towers so you can use your own templet but i wouldnt make it to tall or to short
Re: 2008-08-23 - Shock Relocation - The Mounts
ok cool...thanks...
can you give me a good range in inches from the top side of the frame up to the mounting hole in the bracket???
also...do you have to worry about any certain angle of the shock/bracket when doing this? or i am i worrying about to much.
what thickness/gauge steel is the bracket made of?
thanks
can you give me a good range in inches from the top side of the frame up to the mounting hole in the bracket???
also...do you have to worry about any certain angle of the shock/bracket when doing this? or i am i worrying about to much.
what thickness/gauge steel is the bracket made of?
thanks
- Specialdeluxe
- Administrator
- Posts: 511
- Joined: Mon Aug 12th, 2002 9:01
- Plymouth: Special_Deluxe_4dr_Sedan
- Location: St. Paul, MN
- Contact:
Re: 2008-08-23 - Shock Relocation - The Mounts
http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/tec ... index.htmlsnids53 wrote:ok cool...thanks...
can you give me a good range in inches from the top side of the frame up to the mounting hole in the bracket???
also...do you have to worry about any certain angle of the shock/bracket when doing this? or i am i worrying about to much.
what thickness/gauge steel is the bracket made of?
thanks
When I did this I really worried much more than I needed to. I found this article to be helpful, and is what I followed for the shock relocation. Interestingly, they were mounting the shocks this way on the Dodge trucks. If you check them out you will see a bracket that is mounted to the frame that the shock then attaches to. Strange that they weren't doing it to the cars also.
I did make templates so I'll see if I can track those down.
Re: 2008-08-23 - Shock Relocation - The Mounts
cool! good luck and let me know how it went i still need to do the same to my car but i am waiting till car season is over and it cools off
Re: 2008-08-23 - Shock Relocation - The Mounts
roughn3ck thanks and i will.
paul...good to see you on...thanks for the info...its good to know when you need to worry more or worry less!
when i built houses in college during a summer my boss always told me to "measure faster cuz it aint cabinet making"...sometimes i get pretty anal.
im in limbo though now...my frame is all torn down (well except the clutch pedal and pivot on the frame which i cant figure out how to get off???) and im in the midst of sand blasting...then primer...then paint...when would be the best time to weld those on??? i think i know the answers and im not really going to like any of them but oh well.
ps..paul..i have read and re-read and re-read all your progress posts...cool stuff, i will have to by you a cold one or something one of these days for all the help...since my build will end up being a bit different i will have to post my steps down the road...if i ever get there!
paul...good to see you on...thanks for the info...its good to know when you need to worry more or worry less!

when i built houses in college during a summer my boss always told me to "measure faster cuz it aint cabinet making"...sometimes i get pretty anal.
im in limbo though now...my frame is all torn down (well except the clutch pedal and pivot on the frame which i cant figure out how to get off???) and im in the midst of sand blasting...then primer...then paint...when would be the best time to weld those on??? i think i know the answers and im not really going to like any of them but oh well.
ps..paul..i have read and re-read and re-read all your progress posts...cool stuff, i will have to by you a cold one or something one of these days for all the help...since my build will end up being a bit different i will have to post my steps down the road...if i ever get there!
Re: 2008-08-23 - Shock Relocation - The Mounts
befor you mont your front fenders would be my best guess that way nothings in your way
Re: 2008-08-23 - Shock Relocation - The Mounts
yeah i just wish i would have done it before i stripped off the suspension and started to blast/primer/paint...now my choices are going to be a lot of extra work no matter what...oh well cant beat yourself up to much for what you didnt know then that you know now...thats experience...thats life.
Re: 2008-08-23 - Shock Relocation - The Mounts
hi guys..paul could you just let me know how thick the metal is for the shock relocate bracket then i will fab it up!
-
- Hey! I'm new here.
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Thu Aug 19th, 2010 5:13
- Plymouth: Special_Deluxe_4dr_Sedan
Re: 2008-08-23 - Shock Relocation - The Mounts
Hi Paul
I did the shock relocation thing but can not find the right shock, that gives a decent ride with no bottoming out, perhaps you would share your choice of shock....... Thanks Pete
I did the shock relocation thing but can not find the right shock, that gives a decent ride with no bottoming out, perhaps you would share your choice of shock....... Thanks Pete
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot] and 2 guests