ClassicCar

STOCK THEM LHERE AT VINTAGE COACH, EMAIL Xalbrighthudsons@msn.com

Glen: There is also an article in the Nov/Dec 2007 issue of WTN on adapting available shocks to the '46. :cool:

Glen's question, and the fact that it comes up frequently with respect to stepdowns probably warrants another thread. But here's an introduction. All said, the best fit for front shocks on stepdowns today appears to be Monroe's Sensatrac Shock no. 5751. That said, it is not perfect for the stepdown, as the compression limit is 8.500 inches(Monroe's figure), not the 7 3/4 inches that Hudson calls for in the Mech Proc Manual.



Finding short enough shocks is apparently a problem also with the late pre-step down models, as the article by Andy Cooper in the Nov/Dec2007 issue of the WTN bears witness. Mr. Cooper has proposed dropping the attachment point for the '47 front shocks by fabricating a mount from a bracket designed to hold an anti-sway bar. As such, it drops the point of attachment through the A arm to a point where the use of the Monroe 1168 standard shock is possible within its limit for compression and still meets the limit for expansion.



A similar approach for the step down using the Monroe 5751 would not need as much of a drop- 3/4 of an inch would let it meet the 7 3/4 inch standard used by Hudson, and would still be with in the expansion limit, having started with 13 3/4 inch (according to Monroe). That is after the 3/4 inch drop, it would still have 13 inches of effective extension available, where Hudson called for only 12.



I've popped one Tenneco shock, supposedly suitable for stepdowns, but don't want to do same with the 5751. As Bill A says, they aren't cheap.



Anyone out there want to take the fabrication challenge?



Walt-LA