Coilover rear shocks.

I've just read through the Tech Articles regarding suspension. While I understand that air shocks will punch through the weak area of the trunk, I'd have to assume coilovers would equal or surpass such damage.

Has anyone devised a solution to this that hasn't documented the success of their experiment to alleviate leaf springs? My thought is to somehow reinforce the area below the trunk with some sort of fabricated-fitted plating, so that a wider area absorbs the "press" of the shock/coilover.

Does anyone feel that this may be possible?

 

funny that you posted this...was having this discussion with my dad this morning at the shop..i see it working if you have the correct angles, reinforcement and the others things that go along with it...would really like coilovers on the rear of my car.

 

someone had suggested mounting a bar across the rear and attach the shocks to that...

 

Yeah, the easiest way to fix it is to weld a piece of round stock between the frame rails.Then all you have to do is fab. some brackets,that`s what was done on my race car.

 

I have coil overs on mine! They were on it when I bought it. I think they are made by Monroe.

 

It sounds like you're talking about replacement shocks with the helper springs fitting in the stock locations. Different than mine but here is the cross member bar I built for my coil over suspension.

Holes were drilled completely through both frame rails from the inside out (easy because my trunk floor between the rails is removed) and one inner wheel housing was notched so the tube could slide in through both frame rails. Not finished but you get the idea.

 

You are correct Bob! Mine just have helper springs unlike yours which are adjustable.

 

That is PRECISELY what I was referring to - thanks a TON!

 

Bob, how did you locate your rear end? (I mean the one in your car)

 

I took measurements from different points of the car body before I removed the leaf springs. I also measured back from the bottom ball joints. The hard part is the adjustment of 8 heim ends on the 4 link rods.

The other rear kind of just follows where I walk

 

How is your project coming along?

It appears where you have located the coilovers that you can use a deeper wheel for wider tires; is that the case?

 

Right now, the build is moving along faster than it has in a long time - you would hit the inside of the wheel well and frame before you would ever hit the coilovers

 

That is good news; very interested in seeing the completed product!

 

how hard would it be to stagger the coilover shocks.

 

I understand that the staggered rear shocks, on the later models, were an advantage, over the inline shocks that my 70 originally came with, but I never saw coil over assemblies staggered before. Plus it would be impossible to do that because the front of these brackets handle the rear mounts of the 4 link bars.

No room anyway