Shock Length for Lowered Cars

JWRICH said
What shocks are you guys running with your lowered cars? Were you able to still use "standard length" shocks, or did you need to go to a different compressed/extended length due to being lowered? My build is noted below for reference. (following some of what has been done by @72bluNblu with his Duster... at least in the front. Thanks

I'm building up my 71 Demon as street / autocross car. Hotchkis Sport leafs in the rear which have been relocated under the frame rail. Front utilizes 1.14" bars, SPC Uppers, Reinforced Lowers, and QA1 Adjustable strut rods. I'll be running 18" rims on all 4 corners as well.

I haven't had the engine in the car to see where everything is going to settle out, but starting to look at shocks. I've got my eye on the Hotchkis shocks. Beyond performance, the Hotchkis shocks are about 1.20" "shorter" in compressed/extended length vs the QA1 offering.

I run the Hotchkis shocks on my Duster. It's lowered about 2" overall in the front. The Hotchkis shocks are shorter as already mentioned. I have also run the Bilstein RCD's on my Duster at a pretty similar ride height, that particular set was also for lowered cars and if I recall correctly they were about 1" shorter.

It's also worth noting that the amount you lower the car is not the same as the amount the shock has to be shorter. The shocks are not attached all the way out at the end of the LCA, so, a 2" drop at the spindle is not a 2" drop at the shock mount. On the stock LCA's the difference in the drop at the wheel vs the change in height at the bumpstop is almost half.

And like autoXcuda said the shorter shocks really come in when you start altering the bump stop heights. To lower that much you'll have to run a shorter lower bump stop. And with the larger torsion bars you will also need a taller upper bumpstop. On my car I have to run both, it basically re-centers the suspension travel the match the new lowered height.

PST said
Have you considered looking at the Warrior line of shocks by Viking? They are a smooth body aluminum bodied shock that is double adjustable that has the ability for 19 Positions of compression and rebound for a total of 361 different valving combinations. Unlike the Hotchkis shock that is single adjustable and only controls rebound. We are able to offer the Viking at stock ride height or for vehicle that are lowered 1-3" below stock. The Vikings retail at $750 (compared to Hotchkis at $762.99) but with the FABO member discount they are $675 and shipping within the US 48 States is free.

Here is a link to the shocks that I am referring to. Please let me know if you have any questions:

Front & Rear Vi-king Warrior 4 Pack Shocks

Thanks
James From
PST

Looks like a nice setup James!