Shock support bar or not

[Dave DC]

I have benn contemplating for a while now whether or not to go with a shock support bar to relocate the shocks in my '55 sedan from the trunk floor to the bar/frame. Looking for some feedback from anyone who has done this for reasons other than a rusted out trunk floor. Did it improve your ride, the ride hieght?? Was it a difficult install?? Can this be installed properly from underneath the car ??
Thanks
DaveD

[trifive]

I am retoring my 57 chevy , so I had the same thought, and I decided to go with the relocation of the shock supports.

Reason for doing,

Better support for car if I want to use air shocks, or spring shocks etc

As far as ride I don't think it will make a difference.

I bought a relocation kit, it was under 100.00 and it simply bolts to the frame and then has 2 places on the bar to relocate the shocks.

My recommendation , go for the kit.

Otis

[reborn55]

go for it. I have the earlier version where they used individual brackets and they work fine. I run air shocks on mine with no problem.

[chevman57]

I say go for it. Another good reason is to take some of the road noise out of the body since the shocks bolted directly to the body. Terry.

[Bama57]

I have a double tube shock support that is welded.
( current catalogs show a single bar bolt-on )

I think it makes sense to do it that way.

[chevman57]

I built my own shock bar from a stick of thick walled 1 1/2 inch square tubing and two pieces of angle iron welded to it to attach the shocks to it. Terry.

[trifive]

I agree with the guys on this one.

I got the kit, but Terry is right pretty much a square bar either welded or bolted to the frame and then a couple places on the bar for the shocks to bolt to.

Otis

[chevman57]

I got the drawings for my shock bar from an old CCI tech article. If i had a scanner i`d post it. You might be able to look on their website and search in the tech articles. Terry.

[chevman57]

This is about what it should look like.
http://www.classicchevy.com/product.asp?pf%5Fid=21%2D28&dept%5Fid=1800

[reborn55]

Got the same article here and also the one for the individual shock mounts.

[briarpatch]

Sorry to resurrect such an old thread but I didn't see an answer to part of Dave DC's question. Is it a good mod to attempt with the body on? My eyes were opened by L&L's comments so I searched the mounts since I've installed air shocks to lift the back just enough to level the 56. I want to use the reinforcing bar, but if it's tough to do correctly w/body on, can reinforcing plates be installed on the trunk floor? My mount holes seem OK now, but if this site wasn't here I guess I'd have trouble not too far down the road. THANKS - Stan

[ETriggs]

I was really interested in this too. Will the shocks be the standard length? I would like to put one on too.
Eldon

[dseale4888]

Yes the shocks are standard length. If you put in the spring relocating kit it takes a different bracket.
Dave

[ETriggs]

I am going to build my own relocation bracket with some tubing I have. Does anyone have the exact location they are supposed to sit with them relocated?
Thanks,

[Belairmark]

I bought the kit.

Fitted with the body on the only issue I had was the access for the power drill. As to the position Mr Triggs, I aligned the new mount points to the old in line with the lower shock points. I suppose you have no reference points to work from at the moment.
Are the originals mounted vertically? If so, that should give you the position directly.
It is deffo quieter with the bar fitted. I have used airshocks, but fount the rod end of the shock fouls the old shock mount on the body due to the bar bending! Also the top mounts came loose due to compression of the rubber mounts. So very little pressure can be used.

[ETriggs]

I have the frame out and pulled back. I am assuming that if I align them so that they move up and down directly, I will be good to go. Not sure what tabs to weld on though. I have the 2in square tube, but it is pretty thin tube. What are the other tubes mad out of? This is probably 18 gauge tube. I know it is thinner than 1/8th In thickness.

[chevman57]

Eldon i used the thick wall tubing, about 1 1/4 or 1 1/2. Then used angle iron for the shock mounting tabs. The shocks don`t mount straight up and down, they are angled in toward the center some if you look in the trunk you can get an idea of how much. I built mine with the body on the frame.
Terry

[ETriggs]

Was your tube directly over the axle or offset a little toward the front?

[Belairmark]

Eldon i used the thick wall tubing, about 1 1/4 or 1 1/2. Then used angle iron for the shock mounting tabs. The shocks don`t mount straight up and down, they are angled in toward the center some if you look in the trunk you can get an idea of how much. I built mine with the body on the frame.
Terry


I was thinking 'side view' of course they are angled inward!

THe mounting tabs on mine were made from 1/8" thick angle iron mounted 'pointing up' to mimic the original

[ETriggs]

Sounds good. I think I will use thicker 2" tubing than what I have. I will make the trip after I get back from DC.
Thanks guys!

[Belairmark]

The tube on mine is only 1 1/4", and it does bend!

Was your tube directly over the axle or offset a little toward the front?

The centre line of the tube is behind the shock line to allow the tabs to be on that line.

[Cruzr55210]

Whatever style shock bar you decide to go with, definately put in the shock bar.

[ETriggs]

I just don't understand what the engineers were thinking by attaching the shocks to the body. That is just asking for problems if you ever bottom out really hard.

[ETriggs]

Ok all, Here is what I have fabbed up today. It is not welded in yet so don't panic and say that it is too far back. I have to remove the fuel line clip that is in the way first. It is set in there and is snug enough where I don't have to use anything to hold it up. I will get in there and make the proper measurements and weld it up tomorrow. Question though, Should I drill holes through the plates and bolt it to the frame, drill holes and plug weld it to the frame, or weld the entire perimeter?
Thanks!

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/2634000-2634999/2634772_92_full.jpg

[daves57]

so i guess you could modify the shock mounts to give you a little height by increasing their length. just put that on my list, i think i'll make one for my 57 also. just put a sway bar kit in might as well.:)

[ETriggs]

I plan on front and rear antisway bars as well.

[dseale4888]

Eldon, I bought mine from East Coast. I installed while I had the body off the chassis.
Dave

[daves57]

any tips for locating it on the frame?

[ETriggs]

Dave,
Thanks for the pic! That looks exactly like what I made, but now I have to go make the tabs and weld it in.

Other Dave,
Do you have a 1 or 2 piece frame? I will make measurements and pictures as I weld it in.

Eldon

[daves57]

2 piece frame, thanks

[ETriggs]

Not sure if it will be exactly the same as my 1 piece frame. I will post what I do though.

[dseale4888]

I had left the shocks in place when I did it so it was positioned where the shocks should be located.
Dave

[ETriggs]

Finished fabbing mine up.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/2634000-2634999/2634772_114_full.jpg