Hey guys so I just received my Aerostar coils and 4" blocks. I was doing some research about replacement of the struts and couldn't figure it out. So heres what I was I found out about the (front shocks)When swapping to the Aerostar coils it will give your car 2+ inch drop. I was looking at swapping out the shock but found that the 54 stock shocks have a 13.42 in. extended length 8.56 in. collapsed length well I was thinking the best way to swap out would be to use the stock aerostar shock because it's men't to go with that coil spring. Well the Aerostar shock has a 15.13 in. extended length 9.75 in. compressed length which is about the same. Anyways So what do I use? Should I replace both shocks with a shock that is 2+ inches shorter than stock and aerostar? Thoughts? I'm so confused with this whole situation. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
Your stock shocks should work with the Aerostar springs if they are a Gabriel replacement shock,it seems they are shorter than the OEM Ford shocks were.When I replaced the shocks on my '54 I had the rear wheels off and when I went to put them on they would not go in the wheel well because the axle would not drop down as far so I checked the fronts and same deal almost 1 1/2" shorter.
I'm not quite following you. The back shocks is a whole different situation because when you lower the back using blocks your actually creating a longer distance between the to mounting on the axle and leaf spring plate. So with the rear you would need a longer shock to compensate for the 1"-4" blocks you installed between the axle and spring plate. With lowering the front sense the coil is shorter and allows a 2+ inch what is the correct shock to use?
My point was the Gabriel shocks avaiable over the counter at Autozone are shorter than the original Ford shocks (my '54 is not lowered) if you put Aerostar springs in search here tons of info will pop up,try this one for a starter part numbers are in 2nd post:http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?do=discuss&group=&discussionid=9906
I used the shorter Gabriel shocks from Autozone and I think its going to cause a problem down the road due to it seems theres not enough extended travel in my opinion. If I had to do it over again I would go with the Aerostar springs your talking about. When I jack my car up with these new springs and shocks the tire comes off the ground Immediately so it makes me think if I hit some good hills in the road or a speed bump its going to ride like hell over them. (I'll know once I get it one the road) But from just bouncing the car up and down this is what I think may happen so with it being a pain to change them I wish i had opted for a longer travel shock.
Sirca - are you talking about the front or rear tires coming off the groud immediately when jacking it up?
Hmm yeah that's wierd. The thing I don't understand is how the shoals for the stock coil amd the stock aerostar coil are about the same demensions even though the aerostar coil is way shorter in length.
Hmm yeah that's wierd. The thing I don't understand is how the shoals for the stock coil amd the stock aerostar coil are about the same demensions even though the aerostar coil is way shorter in length.
The length of the shock is determined by where the mounting points are on the lower A arm and on the frame, so if the Aerostar upper mount is high, it will require a longer shock. Clear as mud???
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