Moving upper shock shock mounts?

I had a buddy fabricate a new subframe for me, and part of that package is moving the shock mount into the tube and getting rid of the bracket that normally holds them. He is an excellent pipe fitter and welder, but alas, he has no jig. Has any one moved there shock mounts? Did you make your own jig? is it necessary to jig it up, or can you get a very good fit my measuring and eyeballing it. Ideally We wouldn't make a jig, or would make a very simple jig.

But ultimately I don't want half-assing it at this stage to present problems latter. Most shops i have talked to about doing this want way too much to do this, but i suppose they have some crazy-ass jig that they would do it with.
Any advice on how to approach this would be appreciated. here is a photo of how it sits now.

Are you trying to gain ground clearance by relocating the shock mounts?

That looks like nice work
You need to make a basic jig that puts the top shock mounts in exactly the same position both sides regardless of the new subframe accuracy.
Use two bars that overlap using the swingarm spindle and swingarm shock mounts as the bottom corners to triangulate the new top shock mounts position.
Hope i've made that simple enough to be understandable without a diagram ?
Will be easy once you figure out what i mean.

wireman wrote: Are you trying to gain ground clearance by relocating the shock mounts?

Well that will be a perk of doing this, but when we cut the old subframe off we also cut off the swing-arm mounts, so i figured it would be easier to put them in the tube than fabricate some sort of bracket to hold it to the frame.

zed1015 wrote: That looks like nice work
Use two bars that overlap using the swingarm spindle and swingarm shock mounts as the bottom corners to triangulate the new top shock mounts position.
Will be easy once you figure out what i mean.

Very clever, very easy. I like. I think you mean something like this? any other tips for us when I'm helping my buddy get this done?

DoctoRot wrote:

zed1015 wrote: That looks like nice work
Use two bars that overlap using the swingarm spindle and swingarm shock mounts as the bottom corners to triangulate the new top shock mounts position.
Will be easy once you figure out what i mean.

Very clever, very easy. I like. I think you mean something like this? any other tips for us when I'm helping my buddy get this done?

Yes! that's it,
Once you've figured the right position for the mount tack the bars together so it won't move and you can quickly transfer it to the other side or make an identical pair then using an adjustable cross bar you could set up both of the mounts at the same time for width also.
Lots of possibilities here.

the one the sanctuary guys use looks like this.





zed1015's is much more appropriate for a one off project tho.

but i thought it couldn't hurt to look at this one.

leon

wow that is a manly jig. I wonder if they do enough of those shock mount moves to warrant that, or just like everything else sanctuary does, it has to be over the top bad-assery

Dont get too worried about the accuracy. i agree that its good to have the jig, but i did mine with a measuring tape and i cant feel and issues at the track.
Just thought mention it.

I moved mine forward. I cut out the old studs, made brackets out of tube, drilled to slip the studs in tight, tacked brackets to piece of angle steel to keep them square and dropped into place, aligned with tape measure, welded and ripped of angle brace.

I don't like what it did to the handling so I plan on shorter shocks to lower the back down again.

BTW the under brace on your swinger looks great.

damarble wrote: I moved mine forward. I cut out the old studs, made brackets out of tube, drilled to slip the studs in tight, tacked brackets to piece of angle steel to keep them square and dropped into place, aligned with tape measure, welded and ripped of angle brace.

I don't like what it did to the handling so I plan on shorter shocks to lower the back down again.

BTW the under brace on your swinger looks great.

what dont u like about the handling?

It's very twitchy at speed now, I keep feeling like a tank slapper is coming at any time. May be compounded by the blown fork seals making the forks soft and sitting low.

How straight do you guys think the stock mounts actually are on these frames? :sick: :woohoo: