47-55.1 Rear shock mount

[Matt_50]

I just made some new rear upper mounts and I need new lower shock mounts. I'm seeing a couple different ones online. One looks like I'm guessing the original on CPP.

This is Chevy of the 40s in the picture. Looks like mine but with a hole drilled in and a bolt stuck through it and the head tacked to the bracket. Looks like a tight fit for the U bolt nut what ya Think?


Here's also a picture of mine. Both sides look like they were cut off like the uppers were. I'm thinking drill a hole, run the shock bolts in and just weld bthem together. No big nut where U bolt nut needs to go.

Thoughts? Drill out mine and weld or buy new?

[mr48chev]

I think you can grind that weld off and take a big punch and knock that piece out. I'd give that a go before ordering a piece that will look just like the one you might be able to fab up in a few minutes.

[Matt_50]

It's two pieces? Beats drilling it out, I'll give it a shot tomorrow.

[popstand]

Photo of my original '53

I'm now using a spring retainer plate with a lower shock mounting ear

[Matt_50]

My buddy came by for a few this morning. Said my little flux core welder might not work for this. Said TIG would be better to weld the stainless to mild steel.

So that's a bummer...

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by popstand

Photo of my original '53

I'm now using a spring retainer plate with a lower shock mounting ear

That is what I went to, the lower retainer with a shock mount. Got ones for a 55 Chevy passenger car.

Brian

[Matt_50]

Looks nice. I had holes drilled in some half steel I had left over. Wonder what cheaper, new retainer or new mounts.

[popstand]

Notice on the original parts that the stub is welded on the face of the bracket - not in a drilled hole thru. Requires big welding equipment, probably resistance welded. Hard to see in the photo as I had them powder coated black.

That Chevy of the 40’s part is crap. BTW I don’t buy from them after they sent me a damaged part a few years ago and wouldn’t do anything about it. Bad guys for that.

The spring plates with shock ears are for a GM 3 inch axle housing on ’53 Chevy springs. My springs are actually Posies super slider springs. I bought the plates for $59 from the Truck Shop. Good guys never any problems.

[MARTINSR]

And by the way just remember when making those shock brackets one very important thing people overlook. They look at it like "just a shock" bracket like it's not holding the car up or anything so it doesn't need to be that strong. Well it has MILLIONS of pulls and pushes on it during a trip. Pulling down, pushing up, pulling down, pushing up. MILLIONS of times and that can cause a LOT of fatigue cracking something that is pretty strong.

I recently had to weld up cracks and missing pieces around the holes on a 74 Blazer. It was a simple hole in the side of the frame made of 1/4 steel. Just a hole in the middle of 1/4" steel and those MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS of pushing and pulling cracked around holes breaking it into chunks! I removed the shocks then taped on the frame around there with a hammer with these "corn flake" chunks falling off the frame around the hole! We are talking up to about 3/8" long chunks!

That pushing and pulling can cause a lot of stress, respect that!

Brian

[Matt_50]

Yea, I was a bit paranoid about the mounts. The upper ones I made are probably over done. A lot thicker than the stock one.

I can't find those lower plates by themselves. I see them in kits, I see them without shock ears, and the ones I do see either are not for 1.75 inch springs or don't specify.

I think the plate would look nicer than the stock one under the plates I have but I guess no one would ever see.

[joedoh]

get some leaf plates from an s10 blazer, you will need to open the holes slightly for the u bolts but it has a stronger shock mount than the s10 truck which is just the single shear pin. the blazer mount is double sided.

[Matt_50]

Any particular year Joedoh? Something like that would look better, I would just need some advice on how to figure out what shocks to get. These would just need a little modifying to accept the 1/75 inch spring? That sort of thing doesnt cause any shifting issues?

[joedoh]

I think its a 95 up thing, it might be 98 up. I have had a few sets but never an occasion to use em, the pin mount has never given me any problems.

[Matt_50]

I decided to go with these. Silly question, but does it matter if the shock mount ear points up or down?

[MARTINSR]

I think you made a good choice, my stock 55 passenger car ones are REALLY close to the backing plate, think I will need to modify them.

Brian

[Matt_50]

Yea they look pretty nice, much nicer than my 1/2 steel plate ones lol.

Do you think it matters if I mount them with the ears up or down?

[Matt_50]

Downward!