Reinforcing For Air Shocks

if anybody has reinforced their mounts can you post a pic of how you reinforced it. i'm thinking about putting on air shocks because i dont really want to replace the springs right now (too expensive...) and the backend on mine is starting to sag down

 

I would think you could get some 1/4 inch steel plate, and cut it to fit along the panel that the shock mounts are on. Then just tack weld it in several places, put the shock mounts back on and that would help distribute the load.

 

The sheet metal in this area is too thin to support weight.Best way to do it would be to:
Remove stock mounts and floor pan brace they are attached to.
Weld a piece of 2X2" square tubeing between the frame rails.
Drill an tap holes on bottom of tube on passenger side for stock shock mount and bolt it on.
Drivers side takes a bit more finesse.
Since the shocks are staggered on our cars you will have to either mount the 2X2 tubeing on an angle between the rails to compensate for the stagger or fab up an out rigger mount off the tubeing on the left side to maintain proper shock geometry,and mount your shock to this or make a fixture that will allow you to use the stock shock mount on the left as well.Dude...save yourself the headaches,round up some cash and get new leaf springs.Dont screw around with suspension stuff,your cars good behavior depends on a well rounded suspension set up.Air shocks make your car less than sure footed on rough pavement as well as around corners.Good luck.
PS: Had to do this to my blue mav after tearing the left mount off the floor pan. (one and only time I ran the car on slicks)
If I go out this weekend to work on it I will take pics of the set up for you.

 

Why not, remove your rear springs, take them to a "Spring Shop" have them re-arched, and repacked, then be done with it. It's simple.

 

i like the idea of saving up, buying new ones and then just R&R....

 

your right, that is the simple part but i'm 16 with limited cash lol. i was just thinking it would be so much cheaper considering my grandparents own a welding shop and air shocks arent all that expensive... but i'm gonna have to look into getting the springs out of the vans. is there a tech article for it?

 

air shock extravaganza!

 

http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=49782&highlight=econoline+springs

 

Save up the money. I have run air shocks before on stock mounts and didn't bust anything. Low air pressure helped that.
This time I saved the money, got the leaf added
and well you saw the great results.
The car handles really well too.

 

thanks i love tech articles...they remind me of those books that are for dummies lol

 

Lower the front. You know you want to anyway . . .

 

good idea! i cant believe i never thought of that i need the backend up a little bit and the front down a looot more. my six cyl springs didnt compress down much with the v8 in it

 

I'd lower the front first, which will improve your handling, and then re-arch the rear springs like Dave Boyer mentioned above, if you need to. If I get over your way before you make the change, you can drive my car and see how you like it.

Somehow I doubt I'll be over there in time - and not because I'll be late!

 

do the e150 conversion if you still need the back raised, then get taller shackles if absolutely neccesary

 

it least you dont have racing springs