Front shocks for "super-sized" 64-67 Special/Skylarks?

Maybe cars matter too. (Re: "super-sized" 64-67 Special/Skylarks?)

Hi Gary and V-8 Buick "survivors,"

Well, you call it luck, I call it a blessing. Lots of guys around here grab parts from here and there and cobble a car together. How many wonder how many cars died so that their "creation" could live? There is nothing especially "miraculous" about why Biquette (Billy Goat) is still around after 48 years. The car was lucky enough to find a home with a family that took care of their cars. Even the kids didn't trash the back seats. Those kids include me. You can't tell me that at age 7 I knew I would be driving the car at age 50. Still I behaved well enough in that car so that now I still can drive it.

The question we should all ask is why aren't all kids like I was at age 7. Biquette isn't lucky. The human race is failing to live up to what it could be and we all really hurt for it. Think about that the next time your rob something from a car that died an early death thanks in part of a misbehaving kid or an insincere spouse. Junkyards are full of humans tossing virtue to the wind and insisting we can replace what we refuse to take care of. This project of mine is in part a profoundly philosophical stand against this kind of wanton waste of resources: human, environmental, perhaps even spiritual. If all I have left to save of this world is a car, perhaps we all should be deeply troubled - perhaps in a way, we already are.

Edouard

 

Just wanting to add a suggestion here. I tow a 25' travel trailer with my 2008 dodge 4x4 1 ton diesel long bed truck. I also use the equalizer hitch during towing. I hated the way the trailer "bucked" the truck until I added shocks to the trailer. They make special trailer shocks. I fabricated mounts and placed 2 shocks on both axles (4 total) made a huge difference!! I wont own a trailer again without shocks. Just a thought if yours does't already have them.

 

Thanks for the trailer shock tip! (Re: "super-sized" 64-67 Special/Skylarks?)

Dear B-rock and V-8 Buick caravan haulers,

Indeed thanks for the suggestion! I'm a little surprised that shocks wouldn't be standard equipment on a travel trailer, at least larger ones.

I'm really hoping to go retro in this lash-up and have only started to research vintage Airstream and related trailers. So I have plenty of time to figure this one out!

Still thanks for the tip, I wouldn't have thought to check into it.

Cheers, Edouard :beer

 

As to extra weight on your car's suspension, I don't think that would be excessive even with the use of torque arms.
Three adult passengers would add 450-500 lbs between the wheels.
That should be about the maximum amount of added spring/shock load from a trailer with the good hitch rig.
An old style Airstream would be a classic touch for sure. I saw many of those in the 50-60's.
Any ole' billy goat should strut with pride when harnessed to such a vintage cart.

 

Just out of curiosity what's your dream Airstream?? I have a 65 Airstream Caravel I may sell.

Todd

 

We'll see! (Re: Front shocks for "super-sized" 64-67 Special/Skylarks?)

Dear Gary, Todd, and V-8 Buick fans of summertime vacation cruising,

Yes, that's correct. The trouble is that after all, my trusty billy-goat wagon is . . . . . a wagon! So I might also have a significant load in the cargo area at the same time that I'm hauling the trailer. However, I'll just have to see how these things work out. My past habits were things like scuba diving or astronomy. While those items are very bulky, they aren't that heavy.

I'm definitely leaning toward a vintage Airsteam or possibly "clone" (like the Silver Streak.) However, I've only gotten started looking into this and honestly, I have no way to move an travel trailer and no place on the property to store one either. So for the moment I'm daydream only mode when it comes to the trailer. Given the very slow progress on converting my trusty wagon, it seems unlikely I could even start looking at the trailer for at least another year.

Thanks for the feedback!! :TU:

Cheers, Edouard :beer