Hot Rods Generic Suspension Question

Is that with the existing shock in place or, without a shock in place?

 

Without, especially when the existing shock is probably not the correct one.
The springs are what carries the weight anyway........

 

...just wanted to verify...

 

The video tells you to remove the shock before you do the measuring (1:32).

 

C'mon guys. You are making this way more difficult for the OP than it needs to be. He doesn't need to move shock mounts. It has worked for 70K miles. With the dimensions he has already given I will bet my next SS check that a shock at 15.5" extended and 9.5" compressed will work just fine in this case if he has the proper spring rate leaf springs. I haven't looked but I believe a shock that is very close to that will be available.

 

Jaw22 Naw, we have droves of experts here ,they can confuse flushing a toilet & wax eloquent about it for days on end citing all sorts of conflicting information ! Its amazing !

 

You got that right. I am a simplethan, and that does not bother me. Ain't especially proud of it, but except it.
That is my mottow, K.I.S.S. lol
Jack

 

Wasn't trying to offend you. Just trying to help out.
Get the three measurements and post them up. Let's find you some shocks.

 

Oh no, you did not offend me, not in the least. I am grateful for your input, and gonna get you those measurements.
If you research this thread back, I think I posted those mesurements, but I will find them and repost.
Thank You very much for your input. I need all the help I can get, and do appreciate it. I am old and consider myself gentle, impossible to offend. That may be the best thing about being old. You learn what is important, and what isn't.....
Jack

 

You haven't posted measurement 3.
Car raised so wheel is just off the ground, and measure between top and bottom mount points.

 

Can do, tomorrow. Cooling it on the back porch for now. Cold beer and nice weather..
Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow.

 

I thought I did, it was 13 1/2 inches? But I will confirm that tomorrow. Should that be with shock unhooked or not unhooked.

 

Removing leafs from the spring pack will soften suspension, and lower ride height, but impossible to say how many it will take, and how much lower your car will sit afterwards. Best to start cautiously, and have to take more out if it's not soft enough, or low enough. Generally speaking the shorter springs have less affect than longer springs do.
And once you've got it softer, you'll also increase body roll when cornering. So you may end up needing to add a swaybar once the car's ride is softer.

 

Wasn't the 13.5" when the car was sitting on the ground at ride height?
We need the measurement with the car jacked up so the wheel is just off the ground, hanging at full droop.
Measure with the existing shock unhooked. We need the distance between the mount points on the body and on the axle.

 

I you go to the trouble of removing leaves out of the pack, just add aluminum blocks back to keep the same ride height as you have, thats how I did it. I removed 2 leaves, and added a block of aluminum slightly thicker than the 2 leaves I removed. I put it on the bottom, this way the ride doesn't change, the u-bolts still fit right, and driveline angles didn't change. Ride was greatly improved ( on the truck in my photo <<< over there ).

 

So, you are aware that the original '48 Desoto rear shocks were 12.5" compressed and 20.5" extended, right? That's an 8" stroke. When the rear end was changed to a B-body Mopar 8 3/4", who knows where the bottom shock mounts have ended up. ****, the top mount position could also have been modified, and the ride height is probably different with the aftermarket custom springs....... we just don't know. It will all be uneducated guesswork until some solid, accurate measurements are taken. Once modifications and different parts come into the equation, you would be wise to get the tape out to establish the new set of parameters that you have to work with. Does he just keep trying different shocks until he is lucky enough to stab it in the dark, or could we try and help him to do it once only.

If the term 'expert' means actually applying some reason to the problem instead of just blind guessing, then I thank you for the compliment......
Some of us expect a little more than mediocre and "close enough".

Now, I'm off to try and flush the toilet.

Smiling as I wrote all of this.......... And I will continue to try and help the guy out.

 

This has turned into another HAMB mind-reading thread

My advice here is .......Give up.
[he should put his car on a transporter and tow it to a suspension spe******t.

The whole thread was started about ride quality and how he wanted to lower his vehicle [but lowering blocks made it ride too harsh! and they shouldn't do that]

Then a few measurement questions were asked [which still haven't been answered] trying to determine if the springs are too stiff.

Basically if you jack the car less than 2-1/2" and the wheels come off the ground the springs are too stiff [like trailer springs]
Removing or Adding leafs is not necessary until he knows what he already has.

If the springs can be determined to be adequate [as in ride quality] THEN they should be re-set to the desired ride height .
AFTER the springs have been re-set and reinstalled THEN he should measure for the shock lengths .

In that order ^^^^

It is a total waste of time trying to find correct length shocks if they are going to change when the car is lowered later.





There are some very clever suspension people here on the HAMB that can usually help, but it is almost like they need to use "Sodium Pentothal" to get some answers here

 

I rank you ( and @Kerrynzl ) quite high in that group......

 

It has a sway bar.
Jack

 

You's guys (as in Yankee language) are right on. I know I am the weak link in this chain.
I am going into the garage, put car on the lift and get the correct measurements (hopefuly) if I have to stay out there all day. I do have small frig in my garage, with beer. I live in middle of nowhere, no neighbors in site, so do not have to go back to the house to use the bathroom. Got potted meat and pork & beans, so I am set. Will be back with correct info so I can help you help me.
Jack

 

I suspect that what is on he rear your car is a pair of front shock absorbers.[/QUOTE]

Me too?!

 

The KYB 349024 has 5.55 stroke, 9.5 compressed and 15.5 extended? How much of spacer to bottom shock mount would I need to make that KYB shock work?
Jack

 

5 inches clearance on the ground.
9 inches clearance wheel off the ground.
15 1/2 inches shock mount tires off the ground, shock disconnected.

 

Coilovers have internal bump stops.

 

Can you check one more thing? Have the shock top mounts on the ch***is/body been modified, or are they original as per 1948 Desoto? Some pics would be good if you are able. Pics of bottom mounts on axle too.

 

This ...
9 inches clearance wheel off the ground.
Is this with the shock disconnected??

Or does this same measurement become 15 1/2 inches clearance with the wheel off the ground and the shock disconnected???????

I am looking for some sort of consistency with where the measurements are taken.
If 2 measurements were taken in the same place and the third measurement was taken elsewhere it is meaningless

What I am trying to establish is how much your springs compress from "free height" to "loaded height"

 

Gotcha.
I am going back to garage today, and do ALL new measurements to be sure I get them accurate . Going to measure everything, on the ground, off the ground, off the ground shocked disconnected, frame to axle, on the ground, off the ground, off the ground shock disconnected, length of the bump stop. Will get these posted this afternoon.
Thanks,
Jack

 

I would imagine, since the rear is 8 3/4 B- Body MoPar. Rear end, front clip, ****** A727TF. It was a rolling (not running) car when I bought it about 20 years ago.
Will attempt to get you some clear pictures, but I would have to E Mail, I have not figured out how to post pictures on The H.A.M.B. site. Would like you to share them here if I get you the pictures.
Jack

 

Can you take the pictures and save them on your phone/computer? If so, when you reply here hit the 'upload a file' ****on at the bottom right of the reply page and it will take you to your saved files. Choose the pic you have saved and double click on it. That will load it up into the reply.

 

Here is what I have:
SHOCK:
On Ground 13"
Off Ground 16" Shock hooked
Off Ground 16.5 Shock unhooked ??
***When off ground, shock unhooked, I can extend shock 3 1/2" past bottom shock mount hole.

AXLE:
On ground 5.5"
Off ground 9.5 Shock hooked
Off ground 9.5 Shock hooked

I have pictures on my phone (Android), but don't know how to download??

Jack