Ride height and shock travel

[FE3X CLONE]

So I have a bit of a problem and was curious if other's have had the same.

On my '87, I've set the ride height where I think it would look the best. Its not overly slammed, just to where the top of the fender is about even with the top of the sidewall of the tire. Here's a picture:

However, I noticed that at this ride height I can't compress my shocks enough to get them installed on the studs mounted on the rear end.
The shocks I have are the QA1 Stocker Star single adjustable's. I checked their height against a set of Bilstein replacement shocks I had and they both match perfectly.
So what's the deal here? I thought for sure I've seen guys with G-body's this low that weren't using air bags, etc. Heck, my brother's car isn't much higher than what I show and we didn't have any trouble with his.
Is my only option to find a shorter shock so that I won't be bottomed out? I'd hate to raise the car much more because it just doesn't look right.

You can see here the car years ago. This was the stock ride height front and rear:

It looks about 2" too high to me.

Thanks,

 

[DrRansom442]

I don't ahve experience in lowerring cars, but I did sell shocks and helped out a few times with non-stock applications. See if you can get the specs on the QA1 Stocker Stars and compare them with the stock shock applications. My bet is there ISN'T enough distance between compressed height and fully extended height (a.k.a. travel length) in a "stock application" replacement shock. So that leads to the question of QA1 are they stock application replacements or do they have extra travel to compensate for lowerring and is that adjustment more than 1" +/-. My quess is, your shocks simply were never designed for a 2" drop and that non-"stock replacements" need to be orderred based on your fully extended and compressed wheel ride heights. That said, I am sure there are plenty of shops that cater to lowriders, selling QA1's that already "know" your answer.

 

[FE3X CLONE]

I don't ahve experience in lowerring cars, but I did sell shocks and helped out a few times with non-stock applications. See if you can get the specs on the QA1 Stocker Stars and compare them with the stock shock applications.

According to QA1, their replacement shocks have a compressed length of 13.5" and an extended length of 21". I don't have a stock shock laying around here but I remember checking a Bilstein replacement shock and it was the same length.

My quess is, your shocks simply were never designed for a 2" drop and that non-"stock replacements" need to be orderred based on your fully extended and compressed wheel ride heights. That said, I am sure there are plenty of shops that cater to lowriders, selling QA1's that already "know" your answer.

I think your right. I believe these were designed as a "stock" replacement. Now I just need to figure out where I can get a shorter shock.

 

[DrRansom442]

not even neccessarily a shorter shock, but one with a longer travel would work. Call up one of these shops that sells and installs airbags .... tell emm what you got and see if they know of the right part


wait that is assbackwards ... you are right shorter shock

 

[Doober]

That's strange, I was able to install mine just fine, cheapy OE-replacement Gabriel Guardians.
Front/Rear
They may be a little softer though. I see Autozone carries Bilsteins for G-Bodies with a lifetime warranty, so I may spring for that when it comes time for new shocks... but so far these have been good to me (only a couple summers). Front tires are about 24½" tall for reference, suspension is 2" Belltech spindles, and Hotchkis 1902 springs.