Air Shock Question

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Ed Sewell

Ed Sewell

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I have a 65 cuda with stock suspension, but a Moser 8 3/4 axle and brand new stock springs/hangers/polyurethane bushings. Recently bought the black Gabriel Air Shocks for it(from summit or jegs), cause I needed more rear end height to ease tire changes. The shop couldn't mount them, because the upper tubes are too wide and hit the gas tank. They even moved the tank back as far as it would go, but the shocks still rub the tank if mounted....so they couldn't mount them. I desperately need to raise the rear of the car at least 2-3 inches....and I don't think airbags are an option, cause not much room between the rear axle shafts and frame to mt a set. Shocks were listed as fitting this yr/make/model car!
Anyone have air shocks on their early a body with stock gas tanks & 8 3/4 rear end? What brand/part # did you use? (picture of them installed would be helpful) Id also consider coil overs to raised the rear, if adjustable, if someone uses them on the same setup? I hav a set of coilovers I bought for my 72 demon, but the bushings are too big for the early a body bolt mounts.
 
You want air shocks to get the wheels and tires off?

That's crazy. Sorry, but it is.

Just unbolt the stock shock from the lower mounts, put some jack stands under the FRAME and let the axle hang all the way down.

Install the wheels and tires and then put it back together in reverse order.

No need for air shocks. Ever.
 
one air shock on passenger side, for the drag way to keep the car level when the front end is up.…. :)
 
Ed Sewell said:
I have a 65 cuda with stock suspension, but a Moser 8 3/4 axle and brand new stock springs/hangers/polyurethane bushings. Recently bought the black Gabriel Air Shocks for it(from summit or jegs), cause I needed more rear end height to ease tire changes. The shop couldn't mount them, because the upper tubes are too wide and hit the gas tank. They even moved the tank back as far as it would go, but the shocks still rub the tank if mounted....so they couldn't mount them. I desperately need to raise the rear of the car at least 2-3 inches....and I don't think airbags are an option, cause not much room between the rear axle shafts and frame to mt a set. Shocks were listed as fitting this yr/make/model car!
Anyone have air shocks on their early a body with stock gas tanks & 8 3/4 rear end? What brand/part # did you use? (picture of them installed would be helpful) Id also consider coil overs to raised the rear, if adjustable, if someone uses them on the same setup? I hav a set of coilovers I bought for my 72 demon, but the bushings are too big for the early a body bolt mounts.
Click to expand...
just get a set of super stock rear leafs. It'll raise the back up.
 
Ed Sewell said:
I have a 65 cuda with stock suspension, but a Moser 8 3/4 axle and brand new stock springs/hangers/polyurethane bushings. Recently bought the black Gabriel Air Shocks for it(from summit or jegs), cause I needed more rear end height to ease tire changes. The shop couldn't mount them, because the upper tubes are too wide and hit the gas tank. They even moved the tank back as far as it would go, but the shocks still rub the tank if mounted....so they couldn't mount them. I desperately need to raise the rear of the car at least 2-3 inches....and I don't think airbags are an option, cause not much room between the rear axle shafts and frame to mt a set. Shocks were listed as fitting this yr/make/model car!
Anyone have air shocks on their early a body with stock gas tanks & 8 3/4 rear end? What brand/part # did you use? (picture of them installed would be helpful) Id also consider coil overs to raised the rear, if adjustable, if someone uses them on the same setup? I hav a set of coilovers I bought for my 72 demon, but the bushings are too big for the early a body bolt mounts.
Click to expand...

Nope, the applications say they fit but they don't. The overload shocks with the springs are the same thing. My old 65 Dart had the overload springs clamped to the shocks and tore my gas tank out of the car when driving over rough train tracks at highway speeds. If you are having issues when changing tires, jack up the body at the front spring perch area and let the springs hang down like was mentioned above.
 
It seems years ago I had to bend the flat seam on the tank that sticks out. it was hitting the large part of the shock.
 
I used air shocks for years. They work ok. Your problem is your missing the upper adapters to move the shock away from the tank. Typical problem with all a-bodies.. I have a bunch from years ago in the shock hardware drawer. They are getting kind of hard to come by.

The center two pictured below have the spacer . then they take that special nut with 4 washers with all having the large hole as the inner factory style. This moves the shock away from the body at the top as seen between the factory style below .

shock%20plates[2].jpg
 
Looks like oldmanmopar has the proper solution if you are set on air shocks.

Thought (good or bad, you decide) would they fit upside down?
 
The spacers would be easy enough to make. I have air shocks in my 65 Valiant wagon to help with the weight I carry up to my camp. You know ,camping gear tools generator chain saw .All that stuff is heavy. They bolted right in .I have a 7 1/4 rear but I can't see how that would make a difference .Had them in my 65 Barracuda to way back when .
 
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Dana67Dart said:
Looks like oldmanmopar has the proper solution if you are set on air shocks.

Thought (good or bad, you decide) would they fit upside down?
Click to expand...
Because of the fluid reservoir in the shock there is a top and bottom and can not be reversed. I have these shock pieces if needed. Should have a couple of sets. You also need these when using coil overs on the rear of an a-body. These were available for the use of all wide body shocks. I believe I got them at the dealer when Hustle stuff parts were available. then I just started saving them off all cars that were parted out here.
 
The nuts have a shoulder that is the same length as the spacer. Then you would have to drill the small dia. washer to the size of the shoulder.
 
Ed Sewell said:
I have a 65 cuda with stock suspension, but a Moser 8 3/4 axle and brand new stock springs/hangers/polyurethane bushings. Recently bought the black Gabriel Air Shocks for it(from summit or jegs), cause I needed more rear end height to ease tire changes. The shop couldn't mount them, because the upper tubes are too wide and hit the gas tank. They even moved the tank back as far as it would go, but the shocks still rub the tank if mounted....so they couldn't mount them. I desperately need to raise the rear of the car at least 2-3 inches....and I don't think airbags are an option, cause not much room between the rear axle shafts and frame to mt a set. Shocks were listed as fitting this yr/make/model car!
Anyone have air shocks on their early a body with stock gas tanks & 8 3/4 rear end? What brand/part # did you use? (picture of them installed would be helpful) Id also consider coil overs to raised the rear, if adjustable, if someone uses them on the same setup? I hav a set of coilovers I bought for my 72 demon, but the bushings are too big for the early a body bolt mounts.
Click to expand...
Thanx for all the help/recommendations. Looks like the spacer type upper bolts are what I need, rather than switching out springs to espo or 2inch risers. Hope i can find a pair? Certainly didn't want to do longer shackles....hi-schooler bs would ruin the new springs! I think the larger 8 3/4 axle shafts make a difference, cause itll move the shocks back more, unless you modified the shock mt plate on the suspension. The lip on the tank(new) was already bent up as far as possible, and the tank slid back as far as itd go, but the passenger side upper shock tube still rubbed the bent lip! Purpose here is to get better rear end height at least higher than front by 2-3 inches. This'll provide ease of frequent tire changes from slicks to street(moser axles also have long stubs), provide slightly more ground clearance behind frt wheels where the 3inch s pipes to the sidepipes scrape the garage floor on entry, and accept the rear window install possible more weight in cargo area without further rear end drop. Id actually prefer airbags & their adjustibility...but then more mods would be needed as space between the big moser axle & frame is minimal. So air shocks were the cheapest temporary fix to allow rear height adjustibility. Heres a couple pics to showthe car as is now, but with gas shocks. FYI...she been "modified" a bit....
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I used air shocks all the time as load levelers. Some guys get out of hand and raise them up to there limit. No different then air bags on new trucks. Monroe's or Hi-jackers were the ticket. We use to use them for street racing. You could control Height and stance for better launch back then. I have seen them meliminate wheel hop on some cars. especially Novas and Camaros body style with staggered shocks. We did what worked the cheap way. There is nothing wrong with that. "Air Ride" is Air ride
 
Oldmanmopar said:
I used air shocks all the time as load levelers. Some guys get out of hand and raise them up to there limit. No different then air bags on new trucks. Monroe's or Hi-jackers were the ticket. We use to use them for street racing. You could control Height and stance for better launch back then. I have seen them meliminate wheel hop on some cars. especially Novas and Camaros body style with staggered shocks. We did what worked the cheap way. There is nothing wrong with that. "Air Ride" is Air ride
Click to expand...
I'm new to the 4 wheel version of custom building so this is a purely hypothetical question... what are the cornering characteristics of air ride suspension systems, if properly tuned? From what I've found so far it seems like a pretty charged subject. Most of the "pro" opinions come from people selling air bags, and most of the "cons" are inflammatory and don't lend a lot of data or examples to back their opinion. I understand that if it was worth a damn you'd see it in professional racing. I'd just like to know why without feeling like I just ruined someone's toilet web surfing time.
 
Air shocks can be used with success if you don't do something stupid with them. As mentioned, you do need the spacers for the upper shock bolts. I don't think I would use them for simply being able to tale the tires off though.
 
Ok, I just did this a couple months ago on my 74 Duster. Yes the Gabriels don't (too wide) fit, but I got a set of Monroes. They did fit. They were just a little tight. I added a extra shock washer on the top post and they fit real nice.
 
I ran them to get a 10 inch wide tire on the back of my 65 in 1985. had to pump them up to get the lip off the tire. 3" Shackles out back too. Hey it was the 80's! The shreader valve was bolted through the trunk floor right in front of the trunk latch. Needed shock extensions bad. I didnt know **** back then, got it like that.
 
OP has the wide top Gabriel Hijackers that hit the tank.

Have had good luck with this style Monroe Air Shock with the air bag lower and on the outside.

Fit good on a 67 Dart A Body.

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Screenshot_20200906-204956_Chrome.jpg

Part number is for the '65 Cuda
 
So I'm looking at eventually doing all the chassis/suspension goodies for my valiant. I've been fabricating for a long time and have done a lot of motorcycle work. So, I'm interested in taking the routes that cost more time and effort than money, where I can. I'll be fabricating the rear suspension and find the instant adjustability of an air system appealing... but not at the cost of performance. Also, not gonna drag it. Might get it on a road course but not building it just for that. Do the performance characteristics of springs outweigh the convenience of bags?
 
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