Rear Shock Angle
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Cross-Country
Joined: Nov 2020
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From: Klawock, AK & Lewis, CO
Rear Shock Angle
I'm looking for the shock angle on a stock 54 F100. The pictures I have seen appear to have the shocks at almost 45° which I have always thought was too much.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 51
Likes: 23
From: Klawock, AK & Lewis, CO
Any chance you have a picture of that original set up
? My 54 came to me with a GM rear end that may have been perfectly good, but I really have a problem with GM parts in my old Fords. I pulled the GM rear end and am putting a 9" in place of it. I would like to keep the shock angle as close to original as possible. The 9" connects to the springs differently than the original in that the u bolts come up from the bottom and go into a plate on the top. I have a set of lower shock mounts that will be welded on and I want them to get as far from the pumpkin as possible without exceeding 30°. The pictures I have seen of the stock units look like they are close to 45°.
? My 54 came to me with a GM rear end that may have been perfectly good, but I really have a problem with GM parts in my old Fords. I pulled the GM rear end and am putting a 9" in place of it. I would like to keep the shock angle as close to original as possible. The 9" connects to the springs differently than the original in that the u bolts come up from the bottom and go into a plate on the top. I have a set of lower shock mounts that will be welded on and I want them to get as far from the pumpkin as possible without exceeding 30°. The pictures I have seen of the stock units look like they are close to 45°.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2021
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Here are a couple of pictures of my 55 before I started the restoration. I can't give you current pictures of the original setup because I installed a S-550 IRS.
I believe the previous post of 30 degrees is in the ballpark.
Attachment 277596
I believe the previous post of 30 degrees is in the ballpark.
Attachment 277596
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Mason City, Iowa
Any chance you have a picture of that original set up
? My 54 came to me with a GM rear end that may have been perfectly good, but I really have a problem with GM parts in my old Fords. I pulled the GM rear end and am putting a 9" in place of it. I would like to keep the shock angle as close to original as possible. The 9" connects to the springs differently than the original in that the u bolts come up from the bottom and go into a plate on the top. I have a set of lower shock mounts that will be welded on and I want them to get as far from the pumpkin as possible without exceeding 30°. The pictures I have seen of the stock units look like they are close to 45°.
? My 54 came to me with a GM rear end that may have been perfectly good, but I really have a problem with GM parts in my old Fords. I pulled the GM rear end and am putting a 9" in place of it. I would like to keep the shock angle as close to original as possible. The 9" connects to the springs differently than the original in that the u bolts come up from the bottom and go into a plate on the top. I have a set of lower shock mounts that will be welded on and I want them to get as far from the pumpkin as possible without exceeding 30°. The pictures I have seen of the stock units look like they are close to 45°.
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This forum is a wealth of knowledge.
Remember that many Ford rear ends have the offset differential to match the offset engine mounting.
Remember that many Ford rear ends have the offset differential to match the offset engine mounting.
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From: Mason City, Iowa
That is very true, especially when going with a different engine, engine mounts, and rear axle using the spring perches that were already welded on to them from the donor truck. I just went through all this last summer when I rebuilt my rear suspension and added "correct the pinion angle" to the list of things that needed to be addressed as part of that project. Once I got all the spring pins replaced, springs pulled apart, cleaned, broken spring bolts replaced, and had the rear upper shackle mounts rebuilt, I put it all back together just to measure my pinion operating angle. It turned out the the rear pinion was pointing up too high and needed to be lowered about 2 degrees, so I used shims between the springs and the spring perches to correct it. If a guy had ground off the old perches and then used new ones he could just set the pinion angle and weld them as part of the rear axle installation. One of my many problems is I don't weld, nor have a place I could do it, let alone a lift.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Nov 2020
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From: Klawock, AK & Lewis, CO
The instructions from Mid Fifty were exactly what I needed. Thanks. I bought the shock mounts from them but never got any instructions on location. Since the truck had a GM rear end none of the original mounts were present. I started this project back in the fall of 2019 and between Covid and moving everything was put on hold till I got settled into the new shop and new location. Doing a move in the middle of a build is a bad thing, especially for an old guy who has trouble remembering things anyway. It wasn't until a week ago that it got cold enough outside to start back to work on the truck in my warm shop. I have a lot of catching up to do.
Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2022
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From: Oh
Shock angle
Morning boys
new guy on board
I just checked my 54 (all original) factory shocks are 30 deg in to the top and perp to the frame
mou Ted to the original upper shock mount
Hope this helps
John
new guy on board
I just checked my 54 (all original) factory shocks are 30 deg in to the top and perp to the frame
mou Ted to the original upper shock mount
Hope this helps
John
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,834
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From: Mason City, Iowa
Welcome aboard John! And Thank You for verifying that for us.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,834
Likes: 467
From: Mason City, Iowa
The instructions from Mid Fifty were exactly what I needed. Thanks. I bought the shock mounts from them but never got any instructions on location. Since the truck had a GM rear end none of the original mounts were present. I started this project back in the fall of 2019 and between Covid and moving everything was put on hold till I got settled into the new shop and new location. Doing a move in the middle of a build is a bad thing, especially for an old guy who has trouble remembering things anyway. It wasn't until a week ago that it got cold enough outside to start back to work on the truck in my warm shop. I have a lot of catching up to do.
https://www.midfifty.com/
Once you get there. Look under their logo on top, you'll see a white banner strip with several links. To the lower right of the word "Parts", click on "Instructions" and it will load a page of many of their products instructions, videos, and support materials.
The files sometimes aren't clearly titled (at least in my mind) many are refrenced under the stock number of the part. But they are a great help and just another reason that Mid-Fifty is my go to.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2021
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I just looked at more of my pictures before I tore my truck apart and there are three holes, for each shock, in the upper shock mounts for the rear axle. My shocks were attached to the holes toward the inside.