Topic: rear shock length

[Oz66FB]

hi guys,

anyone got a set of rear shocks lying about 64-66?

I need the compressed and extended measurements taken from the mounting surfaces (ie the outside edge of the inner rubber bushing)

anyone able to help?

thanks
Oz

[Soaring]

Nah, my KYB's are on the car.  Why do you need that measurement?

[66GTKFB]

Brand new in opened box (but the bag of parts will remained sealed), measured closed - 10 5/8, extened - 17 3/4.
That's the best I can do for you.
Jim

[Oz66FB]

thanks Jim, can you confirm where the measurement was taken? I assume thats without the steel caps and inside rubber bushes?

Glen, I bought some new Spax adjustable shocks. As you may recall i do play with my car on the open track occaisionally, so i wanted something i could quickly adjust. Double adjusting Konis are too expensive and the single ones have to be partially undone to change. THe spax have a screw adjustment on the bottom...takes 2 seconds.

anyhow, the supplier sent them and they were about 1.2" longer than the old Napa shocks that I removed. I did some measuring of the available space and figured I was in trouble!

the supplier has been pretty good about it and offered to fix the problem but I needed to know the lengths to make sure the shorter ones do fit.

I had attempted measurements to see what the ratio was between suspension travel in a vertical line was (ie between axle housing and bumpstop) and what the shock travel would be (ie this is less because the shock runs at an angle).

I couldnt get accurate measurements and the best answer i could come up with is that the shock needed to be 11.75" compressed including the inside rubbers.  Givent the old ones were around 12.8 this didnt seem right. The car is lowered but only about 3/4", so the shock travel would be reduced by less than that and the fully compressed measurement should stay the same as it is determined by the bumpstop contacting the axle housing.

I have done a fair bit of suspension mods in the last few months and the cars handling is improving. I'll post the changes and the reasoning when i get time.

thanks again for your help

[66GTKFB]

Ben,
 Measurements are without any hardware. I figure about 3/4 inch longer with. You do use inches down there?
An Auzzi Cab with steak tonight.
Jim

[Oz66FB]

thanks Jim

we use metric, but everything Mustang is inches because the car was built before we changed over!

Which Cab?

[Soaring]

Hey Ozzie....I guess you figured out where to come for good advice.  Jim and Stephen know a few things about our old mustangs don't they?    It's good to see you on here.  I didn't realize that 3/4 of an inch made that much difference in the performance of a shock, but since you are into roundy round racing, I suppose you know what you are talking about.  How's the weather down under?  We've been having some 70-80 F and a lot of rain here in central Texas.

[Oz66FB]

too true Glen

Actually i like to keep my forum options open
there are a few i visit fairly regularly and each has its strengths! depends what i need to find out. Its down to individuals whose knowledge and opinions i can trust and you, Stephen and Jim are on that list

[66GTKFB]

Ben,
 Yellowtail, and it was so good I repeated it last night.
 Why is the stock length critical? Are you raising or lowering your rear height?
Jim

[Oz66FB]

Glen we just had 2" of rain over the weekend which is the first significant rain event in my part of the world for almost a year. It has been the driest period on record for all of 2006 and most of 07.

The shock length shouldnt be an issue at all. But by softening the rear springs there will be a chance that a good bump could see the bumpstops come into play. If the shock wont compress that far, i imagine a shockstop instead of bumpstop would be a pretty ugly thing.

The good news is the manufacturer (Spax) is now reviewing their standards as a result of the measurements I sent from my old shocks and confirmed by Jim. The vendor is sending some new ones this week.

Jim, I will tell Mr Casella that you are enjoying his product next time I go over to Griffith. Our company handles solid wastes from that winery.

[66GTKFB]

A friend of mine came down from Oregon last Thursday to pick up some Motegi wheels and we made a major dent in a 1.5 L bottle of Yellow Tail. It got a vote of approval, quote ' one could get used to this'.
I remember seeing a race prepped 65 Mustang hardtop that had a reinforcement plate between the rear shocks and the body. That plate allowed a second set of shocks to be used with a modified spring plate. It was made from a 1/8 inch steel plate and bent to fit. I'm not sure, but it may have had an attachment to the roll cage too. I don't know how effective it was.
Jim 

[Oz66FB]

I've seen similar set ups before but only on dedicated open track cars...massive spring rates so 2 shocks required to control the rear springs. personally i think it is overkill as the cars are so light in the rear anyway.

the way they set them up in the 60s was much softer. I have photos of 66 and 67 stangs squatting so hard on the outside rear they are pulling inside front wheels off the ground!

I will find a link and post it...great racing pics from here.

[Oz66FB]

http://www.autopics.com.au/cache/item-282public.html?cache=no

hope this works

[Oz66FB]

http://www.autopics.com.au/cache/item-3740public.html?cache=no

[Soaring]

Great pics Ozzie.  It shows you how far we have come in the last 40 something years. 

[Oz66FB]

the driver is Ian "Pete" Geoghegan...one of those larger than life characters who is unfortunately no longer with us. The car survived and is still being raced today.

http://www.touringcarmasters.com.au/photogallery/rnd2_gallery.htm flick left arrow backwards to pic 40. That was 27April this year!

2 of Pete's other cars (including a 65coupe) are also survivors in the hands of a private collector.

Same collector also has Allan Moffats 69 transam Boss302 which was one of 3 Bud Moore cars built that year and came out here new. It won something like 101 races from 151 starts.

I love those old race photos. I have about a dozen on my office wall

[Soaring]

I love them too.  Great shots.  Even the bowties look good.