rear suspension dilemna
You are not currently logged in. Login to myAccount   Forgot Your Login?   SignUp For a Free Account
 
Buy TShirts & DVDs!-Sell Your StreetRod FAST!-Help-Contact Us
Quick Search:
rear suspension dilemna
Posted: April 14 2008 08:56 PM
 
Ken Springhorn (aka REBORN55) [ View ] [ Email ] [ Car Ads ] [ Blogs ]
De soto, Illinois
(618) 534-6902
 Ken
 
Just took our first trip in ragtop(47 Chevy) did pretty well. Did ride like the proverbial log wagon. was told it was CE rear suspension--it wasn't. Not sure what it is. Looks likea mish mash of stuff. original springs--missing a leaf or two--to get it a little lower., Nova rear end with spring perches for 2 1/2 inch springs. not sure what the shock mounts are from. original spring shackles moved form one side to the other to fit the perches on the rear end housing. when hitting a good size bump--I fuess the right rear shock is bottoming--doesn't do it all the time. Can't dross the mubers on the shock to get travel. On rough roads it feels every bump at times it reminds me of the guys riding in the 57 Chevy in American grafitti bouncing down the boulevard.

Do you think a different shock would help? On a smooth or relatively smooth road it does really well. Looking for suggestions to improve ride.

Am enclosing pictures to see if anyone can help id at least the lower shock mounts. Would like to replace the right one as shock mounting hole is getting a little large.

Would like to go to CE suspension, but will have to wait till later in the year when I can talk one of my buddies into relocating spring perches--as I don't have welding skills or equipment to do it. Thought I could find a kit to match the position of perches, but I don't think that would help.

I had the same question on my coupe and you guys helped, but this suspension is more piecemeal than some of the one I have seen


Thanks
 
 
 
Comments
 
Posted by oilmanpat  -  04/14/2008 09:12 PM
Could the shocks be bottomed out at ride height or could you be so low that the rearend is hitting the rubber snubbers attached to the frame? Just a thought.
oilmanpat [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Warsaw, Illinois
 
Posted by Crazyhorse Rod Shop  -  04/14/2008 10:24 PM
that is a real hack job ken. real pro set that one up. get your ce kit and set it up. as for the perches you can make a spacer to fill the void on each side of the springs . use larger ubolts and put sleaves on them between the perch and shock mount.
dont poke the porchdog........he bites [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] BLUFF DALE, Texas Charter Member since March 2003
 
Posted by driver48  -  04/14/2008 10:28 PM
I put mid 1990 dodge dakota leaf spring and had a local company dearch them 2 inches to get the car on the groung. I am running the helper ( overload ) spring also that most dakotas that i found were equiped with. I have a pretty good ride but i am also running a front shock on the rear from a mid 70 nova. The combo no matter how weird it sounds is a good ride, my wife and 2 kids have never complained, the kids usually sleep in the car on long trips and they dont bounce around at all. This combo has been in the car since 1990 when i was driving this to high school, (everyday). The pictures of the 48s are the same car. The orange and silver is now.For a few years it was my only car. It still gets alot of use and dont ever plan on changing the combo. There are a million combo's, but thats what works for me. Good luck ,I love the convertible.
driver48 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] whiteland, Indiana
 
Posted by brian41chevy  -  04/14/2008 11:25 PM
Looks like Nova parts on the original springs. What do the shocks mount to at the top? If you use the C.E. kit every thing bolts in and you don't have to do anything with the perches on the rear end. They will fit right on the c e springs. The whole job from start to finish can be done in one day. And it really will ride sweet when it's done, get the sway bar to. It makes it corner like it's on rails.
There is a fine line between hobby and mental illness [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] New Lenox, Illinois Charter Member since November 2004
 
Posted by sellersrodshop  -  04/15/2008 12:30 AM
looks to me like some of those leaves have been flipped, or someone has heated them to take all the arch out. like everyone else said, better get a new setup & do it right. no patchjob will fix it.
sellersrodshop [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] old hickory, Tennessee
 
Posted by jimmothershead  -  04/15/2008 10:11 AM
Shock should have a minimun of 2" travel. Get out the 3/4" Craftsman and unbolt the shock......measure travel.

No problems, no fun with rods.
Jim [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Huntingtown, Maryland
 
Back To Top
Please Login or Register to Comment
Existing Member? Sign In.
New Visitor? Click Here to Get Started!
 
Existing Member but forgot your Login Information? Click Here.