No space

[RedBeard]

To start off this is my first build. I thought I was on track and then I noticed what appears to be a lack of space for the Clevis end to fit on my front bat wing. Due to my lack of experience in T building I may have ordered the wrong parts or I am just not familiar with how it should look, anyway here is a couple of pics. If anyone can steer ( no pun intended ) me inthe right direction I would be appreciative.

 

[2old2fast]

My setup is very close to what you have , the only difference is , my shackle is "angled" more to the inside , but I made my plates.... have you tried to install your radius rods ???
dave
can youtilt the upper shock inward more to get clearance ???
a larger pic w/the radius rod might help....

 

[RedBeard]

 

[RedBeard]

No I just ordered the clevis ends

 

[roadmonster]

It looks like you could use a long bolt through the spring perch and original shackle plate. What does your top mount look like? There are other types of mount shackles too.

 

[choppedtop]

Looks pretty much like what I have except my shock mounts to the front. Another difference is, my lower mount is an elongated triangle instead of a angled L shape like yours. Any chance you can move the shock mount to the front of the spring. I guess if your upper mount is already installed, that may be a problem. You might check with Josh at Spirit for a set of their lower spring shackles. Those brackets would let you keep the shock on the rear side. That, I think, would solve the problem.

 

[roadmonster]

That spring seems very short. Your shocks and radius rods should be splayed out more.

 

[2old2fast]

O.K. there's the big difference between yours & mine... the upper shock bracket ... mine are mounted "angled in" so the upper shock eye is nearly in line w/ the INSIDE of the frame rail..... at full extension ,the shock body is only about 3/8 " away from the upper RR.... remember that the shackle will swing inward w/the chassis loaded .... maybe "massage" those upper shock brackets..
dave

 

[choppedtop]

Oh ya, with weight on the front end, the shock will move away from the clevis. You may not have a problem after all. From the picture, it looks like the stands are under the frame, and the front end hanging.

 

[roadmonster]

It looks like your shocks will be vertical and your radius rods will lay very close to your frame, which is far from ideal. A longer spring will allow you to triangulate your radius rods and lay your shocks out for better damping, and give you clearance for clevises. The batwings should line up with where the radius rods mount to the frame.

 

[RedBeard]

I am going to move the stands to the axle and load the frame with some weight as suggested to see how much the shocks move from the radius rod mounts,

 

[old round fart]

Does the spring go to the forward hole?

 

[roadmonster]

I am going to move the stands to the axle and load the frame with some weight as suggested to see how much the shocks move from the radius rod mounts,

Your shocks will only move a tiny bit and even if you got enough clearance to mount the clevis, it would still hit on the rebound.

 

[RedBeard]

There are 3 holes for adjusting ride height , I think a different lower shock mount may be the solution as suggested. I have read several post that say the shock and front spring only move a minimal amount

 

[roadmonster]

You need a longer spring for things to work properly. You can't have your radius rods parallel up against the frame with vertical shocks. It would be very squirrelly and probably dangerous. And you will never get the shock clearance you want.

 

[Zandoz]

I'd say it calls for a different style shackle/shock-mount....the kind with an extended shackle bolt that does double duty as the shock mount. That would eliminate the tab sticking up for the separate shackle mount that is in the way of the clevis.

 

[RPM]

Well you DON'T need a longer spring. You have the standard 26" T Bucket spring, and they work just fine!!! Just because someone else does it different does not mean that is the ONLY way to do it!!!! There are thousands of buckets running that spring with NO problem at all. You know what they say about opinions........

Anyway try leaving the shock off till you have the radius rods bolted on, and the weight on the spring. This will allow that shackle to rotate around. If that does not work then you need to try the shackle kit that Zandoz posted above.

 

[old round fart]

How about turning the shackle around to put the shock on the other side of the shackle?

 

[RedBeard]

I will do as RPM says because i trust his learned sugestions and the fact that both the frame and front axle and upper shock mount are from RPM!

 

[PotvinGuy]

Shocks are overrated anyway. Ditch 'em, problem solved. REAL rodders like their stuff bouncing around.