Build Thread: 1937 LaSalle / Family Hot Rod

[BradC]

Looks good nice start, keep us updated.
Brad

[jyardgirl]

love that car.

[37 Caddy]

My latest task on the Caddy has been to fabricate a setup to mount some rear shocks. The original camaro setup has been modified because there is no longer room to mount the shocks on the outside of the frame. I got a hold of the shock plates from a 71 Camaro, cleaned them up, flipped em over and mounted them. My thinking has been that by flipping them over the shocks will now mount inside the framerails and the angle of the lower mounting point will tilt the shocks inboard just slightly. The other oddity is that the camaro originally had the shocks staggered and I intend to do the same. In fact I kept the passenger side in front of the rear axle and the driver side in back of the axle just like it would have been. I don't know that it matters but I thought maybe there was a torque issue. Staggering the shocks is also supposed to help with wheel hop. The next step is to fabricate the upper mounts, but before I weld anything in place I have some questions.

* The bottom mount of the shock is just a hole in the bracket and I am uncertain what kind of mount to weld to the top bar I fabricated.
* If I can find the right shock I will probabaly have answered my own question, but I need a refresher on getting the right shocks. I seem to recall that the shock should be compressed some percentage at ride height, but I can't recall whether the compression is of the total length or just a percentage of travel.

Here are some pics. The metal bar is filling in for the shock. The upper bar is fabricated from some 1 1/2in OD, 1 in ID pipe and the ends are made from 1/4 inch plate. You may recall an earlier thread about how to best make holes in thick plate. Well, I followed CHR advice and got a good hole saw. then I ran the bar through the holes and welded the bar on both sides of the end plates. It is rock solid despite my gernerally mediocre welding skills...which are improving.
shock brace 2.JPG

shock brace 1.JPG