Lowered 78 d150 shocks

So I ended up cutting a cool and a half from my front coils on my drag pick up. Also put the rear above the springs. I'm on a tight budget with the current oil prices causing low work hours. My question is what shocks should I run on the front and rear. I'd prefer to run something I can just get at Napa for now. Nothing too fancy. The front ones have the two bolts going up into the lower control arm and the tears are gonna need to be quite a bit shorter also. Anyone with part numbers?

Most shock manufacturers have reference charts in their paper catalogs that list extended length, compressed length, mounting style. etc. So your assignment is to get close to the NAPA counterman and have him let you look through the catalogs so that you understand what the stock application specs are, then determine what the custom dimensions are that you have created and find something that would fit the mounting points in your truck and have the capacity to control the mass of the wheel/tire combo that you are using, Good luck, that is what I would do for my Ramcharger racer when it is time to select the shocks...I have a ways to go yet.

http://www.monroe.com/assets/downloads/english/MonroeMountingLengthSpecifications.pdf


Look up the Monroe shock for your application, find it in this book. Then record the compressed and extended lengths, and the end fittings used.

Then just start browsing through the book, I usually look for end match first, then length. When you find a match look up the Monroe number to find application.

I have not searched for shorter shocks, so I dont have any part numbers to offer.

I usually lift the cars and trucks I drive so I have to find longer shocks

I find the shock absorber angle becomes severe on lowered trucks. Almost rendering them useless.

At the lower angle the shock absorber is not as effective. A stronger shock is required to do the same job.

When I lowered my D100. The top holes were redrilled a bit outboard and a clearance notch was made for the body of the shock. I think we used Mopar Performance drag shocks from a 68-70 B body. Not much length measurements made, we just had them laying around but the set up did perform well.

I forgot to add. I'm specifically referring to the rear shocks.

I have a new set of LCAs with ball joints from a B series van that I bought from rockauto.com and they lower the shock bottom mount about 2" (the depth of the spring pocket) and if you use them you should not have an issue of reduced effectivenes due to angularity. I may cut a half coil too...I need to get that body down out of the wind if I want to develope some speed in the quarter.

'68 to 70 B-Body shocks are a good place to start.

Well the Monroe book lists no shorter shocks for an s4 top and xp8 bottom

Use the stock shocks you won't bottom them out

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Use the stock shocks you won't bottom them out

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Mine do.

Does that mean I'm too low?

NAH!

I have maybe cut the spring too much, when jacked up the spring is only slightly loose in the pocket, no rubber bumpers, and it bobs like an unsprung rail dragger going down the road ...

Not sure if I am going to raise it (lesser cut springs) or do the van lower conversion.

The truck isn't worth the investment in the only real good alternative, the dropped spindles ... my GMC was perfect with the Bell tech drop (spindles, springs and a flip/notch).

And I have had no luck with the online shock catalogs either. So I tried the stock ones ...