55 buick special shocks

http://s748.photobucket.com/albums/xx129/nailheadracin425/?action=view&current=010.jpg&newest=1

http://s748.photobucket.com/albums/xx129/nailheadracin425/?action=view&current=009.jpg&newest=1

http://s748.photobucket.com/albums/...acin425/?action=view&current=008.jpg&newest=1


http://s748.photobucket.com/albums/...acin425/?action=view&current=006.jpg&newest=1

http://s748.photobucket.com/albums/...acin425/?action=view&current=005.jpg&newest=1

http://s748.photobucket.com/albums/...acin425/?action=view&current=004.jpg&newest=1

http://s748.photobucket.com/albums/...in425/?action=view&current=003-1.jpg&newest=1


http://s748.photobucket.com/albums/...in425/?action=view&current=002-1.jpg&newest=1


http://s748.photobucket.com/albums/...acin425/?action=view&current=003.jpg&newest=1

 

Hey, nice work. How does it ride now?

 

the car rides a whole lot better now,it still has all the rattles and such but the ride is good.the pieces i tack welded on, then the guy who did the exhaust welded them up real good .i couldn't get any penetration with my small mig.i usually work on and drive the cars i am working on,a little bit here and a little bit there.i love doing a hood or fender or such and then drive it down the road.i could never tear a car down all the way then wait for years to drive it,just my way.donny

 

My dad bought a 1940 Cadillac Limousine in 1969. Started a frame off restoration. He got the frame and engine finished. But, like you say he wanted something to drive in the mean time. So, he got 1935 Ford Coupe. Then, he got the 1955 Roadmaster (He drove the roadmaster for two years back and forth to work before we restored it). Then, he got Triumph TR4a. Then, he got a 1952 Chevrolet coupe. Then, he got a 1966 Lincoln barn door convertible, along with 4 other barn doors from 1961 to 1968. He traded the 35 ford coupe to a body shop for first class paint jobs on the 55 Buick, the Lincoln convertible and one of the Lincoln sedans. Then he got a 1936 Buick coupe. Now it was 1984, the Cadillac still sitting a million pieces. He sold the Cadillac, still in a million pieces. Since then, Dad sold off his cars one by one. He kept the 55 Buick. And a 2004 Lincoln town car. Dad is 81 now and I'm 49. We drove his buick all over the country in the 1970's to car shows. We came home with a trophy from every show. Even if , we were in a class with tri-five chevys we could eek out a third place (we could'nt find parts back then, but one build a brand new chevy out of the J.C. Whitney catalouge!) We, even drove it from Alabama to Minnesota and back for the national BCA meet (third place, 53-56 Supers and Roadmasters)! . And now I keep his Buick clean and running. We take it to cruise ins now and then. I love driving it. We have a lot hills here in Birmingham, it's great fun to get in the left lane and watch thier faces as we blow by going up a steep hill! I love driving it!!

Bulldog

 

I signed up here to find out what the part # of the shocks you used are.

Very nicely done...and simple!

 

Here is my 2nd post so I can send PM's! :laugh:

 

Is this the "before" photo?



Why are the shocks upside-down? I'd expect them to not function properly mounted that way; doubly so if they're gas pressurized. The air bubble will be at the wrong end.

 

i welded the 2in piece with a small mig ,no penetration had them welded at a local shop.i dont think it matters with a stock shock if it,s upside down or not,it dont know its upside down.

 

Yes, it does make a diff. which way the shocks are installed & it does appear they are up side down.

 

i will turn them over and see what the difference is,we did things a while back with vw stuff and flipped shocks was one of the things we did .they just looked better.on a heavy car might be different i'm gonna try it to see thanks.donny

 

also they are stock 56 buick rear shock.i eventually will put 15 in. american racing wheels on it i have lookede at a lot of wheels and i like them best.15x6 in front 15x8 or possible 15x10 if i can get the back spaceing i need hopsters is the name of the wheel.thanks donny

 

I'm interested in how you did the dual exhaust on your '55.
Can you post some pictures of that and a description on how you did it?
Thanks,
Steve

 

If I may, in most rod building books, and from advice I've gotten from various car builders, it's not a good idea to have solid parts of your suspension lower than a wheel without a tire. It looks like you might be pretty close. A flat tire and you're not riding on anything that will roll easily. The bottom of the rear shock mount is just looking for something to grab hold off and get your car started in a direction you don't want it to go.

The application looks good, I'd just go for shorter shocks and move the mounting point up.

 

Nailheadnut, that's very good advice for any vehicle. The lowest part of the car should never be lower then a wheel with a totally flat tire - unless it is a skid for just such a purpose. In the event of a blowout, things can get out of hand very quickly if something drags or digs in.

 

thanks i will check it,am planning on putting a bar across the top of frame and relocate the shocks,the ican use a wider tire .donny

 

still running the shocks the same, no problem.rim is lower than the bottom of the mount.