Shock options for mini tub?

[dennis112]

I moved my springs in 3" on each side of the rear on the 65' Mustang. The angle from the body hole to the spring perch has changed and it causes a bind on the Rancho 9 ways when installed in the original holes. The Rancho's are also bottomed out on compression. The Ranchos have stock type studs on both sides.

I tried it out anyways and broke the ear off the bottom of my Caltrack lower spring perch. Now I'm stuck. How do I fix the angle problem? Anyone know of a shorter adjustable stud mount shock than the RS99204?

 

[dennis112]

To answer my own question and hopefully help others who might find themselves in this predicament, here are my findings:

The Rancho RS99204 is their shortest rear shock for stud mounting on both sides. There may be some front shocks that would be shorter and would bolt to the rear, but they would not offer enough travel.

Here is an excellent resource for specifications about Rancho Shocks: http://www.gorancho.com/assets/catalog/Specifications.pdf

Here is the solution to the problem, as given by Alex of Moneymaker Racing. First swap the stud mount spring support of the Caltracs for eye type as used on Leaf Spring Mopars (Calvert MT3 RH and MT4 LH):

Then replace the RS99204 double stud mount shock with one that has a stud top mount and a bottom eye mount:

Note that Calvert racing has taken over the original Rancho 9 way adjustable 9000 series of shock and now sell it under their own name and # system.

Here is the part # used:

Together these parts offer a little over 1/2" more compression travel before bottoming out. I now have a total of 1.250"+ of free travel from when the car is on its own weight until the shock is bottomed out. About 1/4" was gained by the shock and the rest was gained by the lower shock eye of the spring support.

Here are some misc photos for those who are interested. The Calvert Shock:

(Probably the old Rancho RS99136) Shock length comparison between the RS99204 and the CR42123:

You can see that the eye is a little higher than where the normal mount would be located between the grommets of the stud mount shock. Spring plates compared:

New setup installed on car:

Additional clearance could be gained by adding more length to the spring plate shock tab and drilling another hole either lower the the original, or closer to the springs.

 

[Wicked65]

I had the same issue when i changed my rear suspension. How i solved it was extending and gusseting the shock mount on spring support. I think i dropped it down 3inches to give me the travel i needed. still kept the mounting location above the cal trac mount so no big deal.

 

[mtaqua]

Wicked65 can you post pics, same issue here. Was going to do what Dennis did, but always open to another option.

Andrew

 

[dennis112]

Wicked65 can you post pics, same issue here.

I would like to see a photo too as I had originally considered this option, but couldn't decide the best way to do it.

 

[blown65]

I have those same lower mounts now when I switched to a Strange DA.

 

[Wicked65]

I looked for pics, guess i dont have any.. ill take some when i get home.

basically, i cut the shock mount tab off, took some 1/4in plate, made a 3in extension down. Welded that all back so it looked the same, just lower, and then welded two triangles, one on each side for support.

 

[mtaqua]

A little under $19 in metal (with shipping and some scraps I had). This is what I came up with. Installed the shock is about 1.75 inches lower than the before the mod (should give me almost 2 inches of travel upwards with the car at rest). One of the pics shows the difference with the passenger side complete and drivers side original. The shocks are above the lowest point of the caltracs, so the caltracs will bottom out first.

I cut the shock mounting tab off with a sawzall, then welded a 2.25 long .375X1.5 inch tab where the original shock tab was. Then reattached the shock tab on the bottom, decreasing the mounting angle slightly (to better line up with the angle of the shocks). Then I welded some triangles where I could to re-enforce the shock tab. I am pretty sure the shock will poke through the body before I loose a shock mounting tab.

 

[dennis112]

Nice and beefy-should work great!

Thanks for the photos.