welding a shock with a eye housing

[slickrock]

welding a shock with an eye housing

I have a strange post and not sure where it should go so I'll try here. I was given some great shocks, right length, very high quality. Only problem is they are the lower eye bushing mount to upper rod mount type. (The type that you put a bushing on the bottom, then mount it through a hole, then another bushing and bolt to hold it in place.)

I can probably fab up a new type of mouthing system on my shock towers, but I figured I might try just cutting off an old eye bushing and weld it on to the top of the new shock (after removing the rod mount). Bushing eye mounts are welded onto shock tubes anyway so why not just modify these new ones to work for my rig (73 fj40) without modifying the mounts? It would seem easier.

If I kept the stock shock towers, I would have to place a flat metal (1/4”) piece on top of the factory shock mount that overhangs the existing bar that normal shocks go into and drill a hole in it and remove the original mount bar. Would fit the same and work the same I would guess.

Comments? Is it fine to weld on a new shock eye to the new shocks? It would just take a few tacks and be done with it.

 

[cheap 40]

I would fab new mounts if it were me. In all likelihood, the bushing is welded on before the shock is charged. I have seen what happens when fire gets too friendly with a shock, my uncle was torching on off and got too close, cutting into it and releasing the charge. Flamethrower, anyone?

If you do it, make sure you have your flamesuit and extinguisher handy!

Tony

 

[brian]

weld on a charged shock????
it's a very bad idea. i'm not going to waste my time explaining why it is.
just take it as that.
you have two choices.
1.hack your cruiser just to use some free shocks
2. buy the right shocks.

 

[slickrock]

Thanks for the advise. I was able to not weld directly to the shocks. I used the attaching rod. Worked like a charm. Never even got close to the housing. I would weld a little bead, let it cool, then another, let it cool and so on. Nice and solid with no issues.

 

[brian]

congratulations. you cheated the very real possiblity of disfigurement or death.

was it worth it?

 

[slickrock]

congratulations. you cheated the very real possiblity of disfigurement or death.

was it worth it?

No, no, no, the shaft sticks up like 3 inches and did a quick tack to that. The tube never got hot. Besides, Ford Towers are going on and new shocks. Now I know what size to get. So if you read carefully, the shock tube never had contact with heat. THE ROD DID. Some people cannot spend an ungodly amount of money to do this and that on a cruiser. Sometimes it takes a little creativity and to look back, the rod never got hot and this is not a long term deal. It will work for a few test flexes and a few weeks of street driving until new shocks can be afforded.

No cheating death.

 

[brian]

No cheating death.

you're welding on nothing less than of a stick of dynomite.
one missed placed or accidental arc where it was not intented and well, the fuse would be pretty short.

you got lucky.
i'd buy some lottery tickets next.