falcben
Active Member
I am not sure how this has gone unnoticed, it must not be too vital to suspension....BUT:
I ordered both of my shock towers for my '70 Barracuda and I installed my right hand first because i have to do my left frame rail as well. I took way too many measurements before cutting the tower off, which I am glad I did. On the picture below, the spot marked, which is the rear hole for the control arm, measures at a different height on the AMD shock towers. AMD confirmed that the right tower measures at 1 5/8" at that spot, which is what mine was at as well. The left AMD one I have is 1 1/4". They are both 1 1/4 inches from the top of the frame rail from the factory, or at least they were on my car. The front side is the same on both replacements, and same as original, which is a hair over 3". This would make the right control arm slightly crooked in comparison to stock and the left control arm right?
I, with the experience of having to "cut to make fit" replacement panels not made by AMD, decided to cut it to get close to that measurement 1 1/4". Not thinking of the outcome of the rest of the shock tower itself. I finished up with all the measurements that mattered (from what I thought) which were:
-front of frame rail to front of shock tower
-upper shock tower hole from left tower
-control arm bolt holes from frame rail
None of the other measurements could be changed unless the shock tower was altered itself. I then went to mock up the inner fender to notice that the shock tower was slightly crooked in the cut out, and my firewall to shock hole measurement was 1/2" off. The rear control arm bolt hole ended up 1/8" low once it was welded in place, but that would not cause 1/2" on the top.
Personally, I think the shock tower itself being straight is more vital than the control arm being slightly crooked. So I plan on re-ordering and installing the tower based on the shock hole, not the control arm bracket.
Thoughts?
I ordered both of my shock towers for my '70 Barracuda and I installed my right hand first because i have to do my left frame rail as well. I took way too many measurements before cutting the tower off, which I am glad I did. On the picture below, the spot marked, which is the rear hole for the control arm, measures at a different height on the AMD shock towers. AMD confirmed that the right tower measures at 1 5/8" at that spot, which is what mine was at as well. The left AMD one I have is 1 1/4". They are both 1 1/4 inches from the top of the frame rail from the factory, or at least they were on my car. The front side is the same on both replacements, and same as original, which is a hair over 3". This would make the right control arm slightly crooked in comparison to stock and the left control arm right?
I, with the experience of having to "cut to make fit" replacement panels not made by AMD, decided to cut it to get close to that measurement 1 1/4". Not thinking of the outcome of the rest of the shock tower itself. I finished up with all the measurements that mattered (from what I thought) which were:
-front of frame rail to front of shock tower
-upper shock tower hole from left tower
-control arm bolt holes from frame rail
None of the other measurements could be changed unless the shock tower was altered itself. I then went to mock up the inner fender to notice that the shock tower was slightly crooked in the cut out, and my firewall to shock hole measurement was 1/2" off. The rear control arm bolt hole ended up 1/8" low once it was welded in place, but that would not cause 1/2" on the top.
Personally, I think the shock tower itself being straight is more vital than the control arm being slightly crooked. So I plan on re-ordering and installing the tower based on the shock hole, not the control arm bracket.
Thoughts?
Check back with AMD first. If there is a problem with their part being out of spec, they need to know that. Otherwise more of us end up with bad parts too.
