I need to put some quality air shocks on the rear of my shoebox. I just need a little lift. I basically need them just to take my wheels and tires off the car with ease. Is there a part number or particular kit that's been used by a fellow shoeboxer?
Yup, they a can be a problem to get off when you run lowering blocks. Try doing it at the beach parked on sand!!! Can you jack the car up and put a scissor type jack between frame and rear axle? What size tyres are you running. Air shocks in my experience do not ride that nice.
I have 215 75 15. Should have gone with 205 for more reasons than 1, but got a deal on the 215's. Even with 205s they are not coming off any where but in a garage. I currently have to remove the shock from the leaf spring pad and lower my rear with a pole jack. Its quite the pain in the ***.
I run 225x75x15 and can barely get them off with 3 inch blocks. Have to jack on the frame in front of the rear. I also run air shocks. I changed the angle of the shocks thou as the stock shocks are almost at a 45 degree angle. Didn't seem right to me.I had to flip my lower shock mount as they where below the scrub line. I just ordered shocks for a stock 50 but they could have been shorter. I like to bump it up a bit when driving as the ride is pretty good. Another thing i did was used a longer brake hose to the rear as the stock one might get stressed as you strech out the rear.
I have a pair of air shocks off a '62 Nova that are like new. Top mount has stud mount and bottom slips over a stud. Send me a pm and we can talk if you think they will work for you. Joe
I installed a set on my car just to be able to haul 5 or 6 people without dragging. I keep 45psi for everyday driving and boost it up to 100psi with a load.. Have 205 tire on mine and they are pain in the *** even when lifting by the frame. If I have too change them on the road I let the air out and carry portable compressor to inflate them. Also used for the shocks.
Good info here. I will most likely run air shocks on mine , just to help with changing a flat tire. I have thought about relocating the upper shock mount , as like was said , the shock appears way too level with my 3-inch blocks back there.
I also did this... Air Lift Air Shock Controller Kits 25804 Pretty handy for $150 A ****on under the dash airs them up, another ****on (schrader valve) lets it out. Rich
Holy thread resection! But thanks so much @the-rodster ive just put MA727s and the air shock kit on my 50 based off of this thread. Machined up some new mounts which are 5/16” longer to space the shocks away from the frame and all went together great.
Hello, Having owned a new 1965 El Camino for over 10 years, we have used the stock air shocks plenty of times. From loading several heavy 90 lbs. cement bags to 250cc desert racing motorcycles, the air shocks were a life saver. When the air was minimal in the rear shocks, the El Camino drove quite well. Without any air in the shocks and a heavy load started, the rear tail started its low angle. Then I had to drive to the gas station to get air pumped into the rear shocks. When level, again, it handled well. Now, the rest of the heavy stuff could be loaded without any other leveling problems. It was always advised that the air should be put in first and not after a heavy load. The added weight could cause a blow out or damage to the shocks. So, we always remembered to put in the air first. Yes, it looked like a beetle with its tail raised until the loads could be put in the back. We never had to put in air with two motorcycles and tools in the back. But, with a minimal amount of air our shocks went almost straight up. See below photo: 1965 El Camino rear air shock installation.. almost vertical. Later model El Camino with almost the same factory air shocks installed and functioning. Note the angle of the shocks that were factory installed. One after market installation on a different El Camino, but the angle of the air shock is almost vertical. So, when the air gets pumped in, the bed or car goes straight up. Jnaki For 125,000 miles in 12 years of air being pumped into the shocks, we never had a blow out. It also helped that I put plumber’s tape on the threads of the fittings from the inlet to the line going to the shocks. I also installed a custom gauge behind the El Camino seat where the inlet valve was positioned. So, no more lost air gauge or borrowing the attendant’s gauge to check the pressure being put in. The circular air gauge was very accurate. In looking at your installation, something is not right. Sorry, but the angle of the shock is not the best angle to raise the rear end of any car or hot rod. Sure, it will raise the body, but the angle is not right. There will be tons of strain on the connection ends and the shock itself will have a force on it to possibly bend at that angle. Your system works like a pivot point, not a supportive raised lift. If the shock were mounted like it should be, the force of the air raises the whole car straight up. There is no pressure on the tube shock or attachment joints as per your installation angle. The air pushes the shock up directly as it is supposed to do when air comes in from the inlet...YRMV The best angle is vertical, (or near vertical)... not splayed out like the far left installation, shown.
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