Upper Shock Mounts for 68 Camaro - will this work?

[funbnme]

Trying to get my hellwig rear sway bar to fit. Only solution I can come up with is to move the shocks so they are behind the axle.

I have short shocks, so they will fit in this new spot (already measured).

Here's a shot of where I want to put an upper shock mount. This is pretty much a straight shot up right behind the rear axle tube.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/DSCF3072-1.jpg


Here's a rough idea of what the bracket would look like. I would have the top boxed in so it wouldn't flex and would make it not be so far away from the frame. Black dots are mounting spots to the frame.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/DSCF3071-1.jpg


I'd make it so it was large enough to house the upper shock end and put the bolt through the sides.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/DSCF3074-1.jpg


The lower mount is on the traction bar now. I'd just weld a mount to move the lower mounting position near the rear u-bolts instead of the front ones. Right now, I don't get any wheel hop, so I think I'd like to keep the bars. For road racing/auto-cross, are there any problems caused by leaving the bars in?

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/SwayBarHittingShock1-1.jpg


I checked for clearance on both sides and the shock will not hit anything. I'll have enough travel with the shocks I currently have.


Moving these shocks will allow me to put the sway bar where it needs to go. The sway bar is adjustable, so I'll put it on it's softest setting to avoid having too much firmness in the rear.


I think the mounts will be mounted firmly to the frame and the metal I'll use for the 'box mount' will be strong enough to avoid any flex.

I really don't have any other options. I can't find another sway bar that will fit, can't find any other shock mounting solutions that will work and I don't want to change out the rear leafs (trying to keep it cost effective).

Tell me if this will work?

[funbnme]

TTT - anyone got an opinion?

[Chevy]

Dan,
A few thoughts and questions regarding your question:

For starters, do you mean mounting both shocks on the same side of the axle? Chevy had that lay-out in 67, and staggered the shocks in 68 to solve what was a really bad wheel hop problem. It's recommended you keep the shocks staggered for this reason.

Also many on this forum are very much against rear sway bars in first gen F-bodies-it is thought that rear sway bars don't allow enough body roll in the rear and upset balance, causing oversteer. Check out:
https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14802

Lastly if you are set on a rear sway bar i think Hotchkis makes one that is not too thick so doesn't unbalance the handing too much and is designd to bolt right into a first gen camaro.

Have fun!
Paul

[alnoe]

Hi Dan

I have to agree with Paul. I had leafs and slapper bars on my '67, then swapped that out for an airride 4 link. The problem in autocross with slapper bars is this: When you pitch the car hard in a corner or turn, as I did when I first put on my slapper bars, it will go into snap oversteer because the slapper bar will hit on the leaf spring as the body rolls. I tried various air gaps on the snubbers, and even removed them when I would autox, which helped but did not eliminate it.

I then talked to a shock company and they claimed that with solid bushings (aluminum/del rin) in the leaf springs, and double adjustable shocks, I could dial out the wheel hop the car had w/o slapper bars. I could never achieve zero wheel hop with any combination of compression and bump settings, and I did try them all. Violent wheel hop WILL scare the heck out of you-it feels like the rearend is going to jump through the floor, so you want to avoid it if at all possible:)!

I would definately leave the shocks staggered, if possible, and do not run slapper bars. they work great in a straight line, but for autoX or open track, if you are an aggressive driver, the car will be a handful.

Al