Simply Shocking

[J kippin]

Looking for a little help on shocks.
I have a 71 LWB that has a 2.0/3.0 spring drop in it.I am installing an IROC rear bar set up that I got from information from this site. I currently have a stock 1 1/16 front bar but that will be removed in favor of a 1 1/4 or 1 3/8 1 ton bar when I find it.
This now brings up the shock question. KYB or Bilstein
Bilstien I have heard are a high pressure design and will raise my truck(which I dont want)
KYB's are a low pressure design and have a pop off valve so they are not much better than stock.

The price difference is only about 40 bucks so that really is not the problem here best price on the Bilsteins is about 68.00 ea.

Any body have any input it would be greatly appreciated before I spend money.

[69gmcc10]

look at the monroe sens-a-trac for an option, they are good for the price and other people here have raved about them.

[J kippin]

thanks for the reply. How good are they though for spirited driving? I left them out because I thought they had weak valving in them.

[69gmcc10]

Anyone correct me if I am wrong! Monroe sens-a-trac is not a pressurized gas shock so it does not push against the frame and the axle, it lets the springs hold up the truck so the shock can manage the bumps and keep the tire on the road as well as possible.

If you read the “make it handle” thread started by Rob MacGregor owner of No Limit Engineering there is allot of great info about every aspect of handling and he covers different brands of shocks and what he likes and why. When I spoke to him on the phone he recommended the Monroe sens-a-trac shock for the rear of trucks and Bilsteins for the front. It sounded affordable to me and if Rob recommended it I am doing it.

[Cole Trickle]

I tried the monroes on the front/rear of my tahoe with a 5/7 drop

I'm replacing the front as we speak after about 2 weeks of driving. I don't like them one bit and there way to soft for spirited driving. I would call them floaty and slow reacting. My tire is getting into the inner fender on a serious level.

I just ordered the new Belltechs from summit...

[69gmcc10]

kippin,

did you decide what shocks to go with? let us know what you get and how you like them.

[J kippin]

What I am going to be looking for will be a compromise between a few determining facts.
*I use this as a daily driver so I want a decent ride..not too soft but able to haul 1 hour or more to work usually daily.
* Be able to take off and on ramps at a decent rate I do like too play a little.
* Be able to have decent weight transfer at the drags, LOL.
Okay realistically I have a 462 making an honest 700 hp.so traction will be a huge problem.Rear tires are 275 60 15 and fronts 265 50 15 on 15x8 rallys with stock hub caps.Tires are not designed to handle corners because of the side wall aspect ratio. The truck is riding on 2.0 lowered front springs and 3.0 lowered rears. I have a large 24 mm IROC rear sway bar and looking to add a large (1 1/4 or 1 3/8) front bar.
Obvioslly this is not the best 1/4 mile or canyon carver set ups but should make a fairly respectable street rod.
Here is a photo of the sleeper I am working with