air shocks

[hotrod ford]

did most of swb bumps have factory air shocks installed? i could'nt se them good for a heavy work load.

[fordman]

i doubt any trucks came factory with air shocks but i wouldn't rule it out even as an option.

[hotrod ford]

unless the mounts have been changed were the shocks mount to the frame i think they did. i'm refering to the rear end of course. i have had to swb's and have seen others like this. you can service them just like a tire. most of the valves ar at the bumper, but i have seen the valve moved to the inside of the bed when the bumper was removed on one.

[fordman]

my 67 had the valve above the bumper. i think that is just a normal place to put them. i cant confirm this but my 67 may have been a camper special. it does have a slide out bumper. you undo 4 botls underneath and it will slde out i think. i havent tried it. my shock mounts are the same as the rest of the trucks i have seen though.

[hotrod ford]

the shocks on the rear are not the same as the front. the mounts for these have the hole facing the the bed and the upper part of the shock goes through it. on the camper special i had, the shocks had the holes(lolly pops) and bolt went through them and the mounts on both ends.

[Hawkrod]

Air shocks were never standard on any model. I can't actually find anything that even says they were optional but Ford did sell them as an over the counter item at the dealership. It may be where you live as to how common they are as I never see them and was stunned when my latest truck had a pair of them but I am sure that in some parts of the country the local habit is to add them to any truck. I would also note that relatively few trucks were built with back bumpers and you mentioned the valve being mounted in the bumper. I am thinking you are refering to a step bumper which would have been a dealer add on as well. Hawkrod

[hotrod ford]

why are the mounts on the frame different?

[fordman]

i dont understand your descrption of how the mounts face the bed? the hole the bolt goes through goes from side to side doesn't it?

[hotrod ford]

not for the top part of the shock. there is a bolt on the bottom that goes side to side. for the top of the shock though, there is no hole. it is a stud that goes through the mounts on the frame. once it is in the frame you install a nut to keep it put. these type of shocks have been on every swb i have seen. on another post that i found 'keith' refered to them as imo air shocks.

[fordman]

i wenty out and looked at all five trucks or bumpside trailer i have here. the 67 has a bolt /stud that goes sideways through the bracket with a nut on it to hold the shock on. so do the two 69 's. the 70 and a 71 f250 both have front type shocks on the rears of them. it is probably a design change between 69 and 70. is my guess. i can get a pic in the mornig of the 67 if you want to see it. it has no bed on it so it will be easy. these are all lwb trucks.

[hotrod ford]

i know what you are talking about fordman. i wish i had a pic to show you what i'm talkin about.the 68 f250 i had was just how you described your trucks. on these shocks the nut would be on top of the mount. instead of a stud from the mount there is a hole though the mount. i believe this is for structural integrety. because it is supposed to push on the frame and you won't have to worry about braking those studs off. they look like these on this page:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Parts-Ac ... 240%3A1318

those are similar to what i'm talking about.

[fordman]

those in that link would fit on the 70 F100 i have and the 71 F250 i have. but they wouldn't fit on the other three trucks i have here.