1/4 ellipticals & Rear Shocks ....

[George Zeck]

Hi All --

Have run into a small problem. Trying to convert the rear dampeners to shocks. All of the other posts reference the conversion starting with a semi-elliptical car (1965 and on). I have a 1964 & 1/4 elliptical setup.

Has anyone done the conversion with a 1/4 elliptical setup ? And so -- what shocks did you use ? I've called Monroe / Gabriel & Shockshopusa.com -- all without a workable answer. The space is just too small.

Need a fully compressed shock in the 7" to 8" range (mid range = 10" to 10.5"). Any small and I can use a hood strut :<))

Have read a few past posts @ Monroe # 5877R. Fully compressed is 10.5. Just too tight. Great for semi -- no good for 1/4.

Thanks for your help.

George
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif

 

[Trevor Jessie]

I don't think I've seen a 1/4 ellip car with tube shocks. I would think that you may have to cut the floor and make some custom towers. For the amount of trouble involved... I'd stick with lever arms dampers.

 

[GB1]

WC has a set in there catalog

Carrera's https://www.spridget.com/ see catalog and then page 20, bottom right.

I know that others have made there own here and can probably provide more info.

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Have you ever seen any on a car? Does carrera still make this shock? Maybe something for the front of a streetrod?

 

[GB1]

Try these guys out they seem to have some shorties

https://www.pitstopusa.com/shocks_springs.htm

or give WC a holla, they are "nice people" (seriously) there

 

[dickc]

I have worked with the guys a qa1 a few times they can make anything happen. The tech number is 292-985-5675 the 800- number is 800-721-7761.

 

[jollyroger]

The end result in added benefits of you guys installing tube shocks(especially on the rear) is zero. I will bet if you ran a slalom course before and after all the hacking required to install this stuff, you would not see any change in performance. Keep those swing arms oiled and they will work great. Been there done that. Won't do it again. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Till I took a real hard look at what I ended up with...... Might as well install curb feelers too.

 

[spritenut]

I agree with jollyroger. I just finished up a rally car with tubes shox only because they car came with a new tube kit so I installed it. Levers are better. I guess if I spend a couple hundred bucks on better tube shox, it will be the same as levers. I am not keeping the car, it's gone after the Babe rally. Now you know why I painted it "resale red" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Nelson]

Re: 1/4 ellipticals &amp; Rear Shocks ....

I have a 62 MK 2 Sprite and have installed Koni shocks on it. I did it back in the mid-sixties so I don't know if they are still available. We are neighbors as I live in Medina, OH.

Nelson with car under reconstruction

 

[GB1]

Re: 1/4 ellipticals &amp; Rear Shocks ....

Welcome to our forum Nelson!!!

 

[George Zeck]

Re: 1/4 ellipticals &amp; Rear Shocks ....

Hopefully I'll see you at a show. I like the local Emerald Necklace MG Club. Good group. You might want to consider attending an event and meet a few folks.

https://www.mgcleveland.com/

George Zeck
gzeck@email.com

 

[aeronca65t]

Re: 1/4 ellipticals &amp; Rear Shocks ....

Welcome Nelson!

As far as tube shocks on street cars, it's kind of a toss up. I like them better if I was doing a complete rebuilt, but not on a "driver" car if the lever are still OK. My brother asked me about this on his 70 Midget. The levers on his car are still useable, so I advised him to leave them be....just refill them.
As for racing, I can't think of anyone locally who uses lever shocks on a race-Spridget...they fade after about 5 hard laps unless you have crazy-stiff rear springs.
I remember seeing Spreen's race Sprite in the early '70s with tube shocks. Back then, my 1275 racer had levers....the tubes absolutley transformed it in terms of handling, especially on bumpy turns (Bridgehampton). A half-elliptic car can be switched to rear tube shocks for less than $50 (if you use the gas Monroes).
The other Spridget I co-drive in enduros (orange one) has tube shocks and quarter elliptic shocks...I keep forgetting to ask Pete what shocks he used.

[Note: Sorry Brits!....I know they are really "dampers" and the springs are actually "the shock absorbers"] /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif