46 SD tube shocks interference

[Fairlane514]

These were on the car when I bought it....46 Super Deluxe 2dr sedan.

The sway bar is hitting as the the pictures show. I do have the car on jack stands with the suspension unloaded.

 

[Fairlane514]

Seems like the lower mount is oriented wrong.

Should the shock be more vertical?

I have no idea what kit this is......maybe some instructions out there somewhere showing correct install.

 

[Ggmac]

Any chance installing shims ( large washers )behind the shock mount ?

 

[Fairlane514]

Im going to try flipping the lower mount around and see if anything improves.
Feel like I shouldn't have to use shims if its a kit. You can see the witness marks and dent on the lower shock tube.

 

[drolston]

Maybe if you switched the left and right mounts so that it leans towards the rear instead of towards the front?

 

[Bruce_MO]

I think the sway bar is mounted at the links incorrectly. The sway bar should angle down about 30 degrees and not be horizontal with the frame. That means the sway bar links will point down and forward, where they go thru the ends of the sway bar. I just had to swap mine because I assembled it incorrectly. It’s a pain to get the links out of the ends of the sway bar to make the swap. May damage them, but reproductions are pretty cheap. Good luck

 

[Fairlane514]

Im going to mess with it today and see if anything makes sense

 

[rich b]

Couldn't the lower shock bracket be bolted on the other side of perch bolt and rotated rearward so the pad rests on the top of the wishbone?

 

[Fairlane514]

I took off the lower mounts from both sides, definitely a right and left (mirror images). The is a small hole and a large hole. the large is for the shock bolt.

Played with it and this is the "best" scenario....it puts the shock more forward and clears the sway bar. Anything towards the rear of the car the shock wont reach, and puts its at an odd angle.

The welded "pad" on the aftermarket bracket doesnt sit flat at any position I place it. Not sure if the manufacturer intended it that way or not.

I would have to move the sway bar link to the rear hole on the original wishbone mount.

 

[Fairlane514]

Rich....I tried your suggestion, the welded pad doesnt sit on top of the wishbone, its just off to the side......also places the lower shock bolt hole further back, shock wont reach.....

 

[Fairlane514]

Ok.......see if Y'all agree

I think the lower mounts are aftermarket perch bolts that were cut off.

Hopefully the pictures show the "serrations" I think were done by a cut off wheel.

My shocks measure about 14 1/2 from center to center......maybe too short and someone made them work with lower mounts they cut off.......people do weird ****

 

[Fairlane514]

Flipped the sway bar end links.....I assume its in the correct position now.

Gives me room for a shock to clear everything. Will require about an 18 inch shock, which I think is correct.....

Was thinking the frame mount may need to slant rearward, I could swap sides, left to right

 

[Bruce_MO]

That’s the correct sway bar/link orientation in your last photos. My ‘46 has Houdaille shocks, but when the sway bar is installed wrong, there’s less than 1/2” clearance between the sway bar and the underside of the shocks.