Where is the best place to install rear lower shock mount when doing u-bolt flip and what is the best style of mount. Also in the process of building flatdeck for my '82, Ive shortened the frame 4" but had to lose the chains that keep the shackles from kicking up what is a good remedy for this?

Here's how I did my lower shock mounts. You can also weld the mounts to the axle. You want to keep the shock bolt in line with the frame/perpendicular to the axle for best operation.

Not familiar with the chains you are talking about with the shackles. Is this some sort of anti-inversion setup?

Yes, anti-inversion apparently, since I bounced the rear and the shackle flipped up. Its justa chain with one end tacked to the outside center of the shackle and the other end on the bumper bracket.Looks like prev owner may have done work(poor welds)lots of mickey moused stuff on this rig.

Definately not stock. The shackle should be the proper size to accomdate the spring's length change from full extension to full compression without inverting or folding backwards up to the frame. If there is indeed a problem that the chain is "fixing", it would be better to fix the problem and lose the chain.

It is my understanding that to acheive the best travel the shackle should sit @ 45deg or so to the rear. Mine are almost in line with the leaf angle facing inwards. Wrong springs?

Sounds like the springs may be too short for the setup you have. Some aftermarket springs are made in the stock length (allows for use of the stock length shackles) but with the higher arch, the ends end up much closer together than stock, resulting in the shackle swinging too far forward. They may even be lift springs for another application and are just too short. They are likely very stiff if they sit with all that arch at rest.


A longer shackle might help, but the real fixes are to either move the front hanger back or the rear hanger forward or get a spring with a longer length leaf.

In responce to your shock mount question, your 82 uses the same mount size as the 2wd trucks (which are spring under).
The shock mount on these are under the spring packs, so you already have the right clamping surface.
You could use the ubolt plates from a 2wd and achieve the ubolt flip and shock mount all in one item.

I would like to know more about this 2wd U-bolt flip idea. I realy need to do something different with my rear U-bolts. A little more info would be nice, Thanks.

The pre-84 4wd trucks have the same shock mount sizes as the 2wd trucks. Since the 2wd's are spring under and the mounting plate is under the spring, you have the correct mounting surface (flat) to use it ontop of the 4wd springs.
Here's a pic of what I'm talking about (with a broken spring pack, lol!):


I'm currently using shocks spec'd for an 83 4wd with 3" lift.

Any body know any one that has done this. This just seems to easy. Will the shock mounts still be in the same place.