rear springs and shocks, QA1
 

Rear shock and springs. Time to replace these, just curious what you think of these. I do need to lower it a bit. Although UMI has a front and rear kit that's looks interesting. Anybody have any difficulty installing the rear kit.

thanks

wrong pic, how about these in the rear

The shock mounts on the frame really aren't designed to support the entire weight of the car.

I can't imagine the frame would hold up for very long with those coil over shocks.

Am I wrong in my thinking?

hhmmm,,, nope, not wrong in your thinking. Very good point

I ended up using some Global West S-60 lowering springs and Bilstein shocks on my '64 Tempest: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...16&postcount=2

I can appreciate the ability to be able to adjust the ride height easily with coil over shocks, but I just wouldn't be able to trust that the mounting points would hold up for the long term.

The rear coils are easily trimmed on the '64 -'66 cars since the top of the springs aren't pigtailed, I've trimmed them and heated them a half coil away from the cut with a torch to flatten them so they seat properly in the frame. No issues.

What about the kits that include a support brace that ties in both sides of the frame?

http://abcperformance.net/coilover%20conversion.html

Interesting link concerning A-body chassis and suspension mods: http://www.chevydiy.com/how-to-upgra...-step-by-step/

Quoted from the website:

Another option is to convert the rear to a coil-over system. There is a little more involved at the rear of the car than there is at the front to do a coil-over conversion. The natural location for a coil-over at the rear is where the original shocks mounted, but the upper and lower mounts need to be strengthened in order to now manage load-carrying as well as shock-absorbing duty.

Kits range from bolt-on conversions like DSE’s, which includes upper and lower mounting brackets. The ABC Performance kit includes bolt-on brackets and an upper-mount support brace. The Global West system has weld-on brackets to move the coil-overs in front of the axle and mount them to the original upper spring pocket in the frame.

I like the Global West approach using the original spring pockets.

Nope, not wrong at all Bart. I was thinking of posting the same thought yesterday but figured someone would over rule me. ;) Glad I'm not wrong in thinking that.

I really like the Global West weld on bracket coil-over shocks, I gotta remind my self that I have another iron in the fire right now. Maybe some SPC springs for now.