Front Shock Mounts

[FudgieB]

Hi there folks. I have been getting the parts together to do a little suspension work and I'm unsure if it has been previously modified. I know the PO had done a shackle lift and new body mounts as well as shocks but the leaf springs are in pretty bad shape. I was looking to replace them and decided I should at least have new spring plates on hand. So here is where my question comes in, when looking for replacements for the front I noticed what appears to be a place to connect the sway bar and the shock, but currently there is a mount welded to the axle for the shock and only one connection on the spring plates for the sway bar. As far as I know the axles and leaf springs are original. Judging by the rust and build up, the spring plates and U bolts have never been touched. Is that the original set up with the shock being mounted to the front axle, or am I in the land of PO modification? My other concern then became if maybe a YJ conversion was done. Is this the original setup? How can I figure out if a YJ conversion was done. Is that even something I should consider doing? I'm rookie and doing my best.

I attached an image in case my description was too confusing.



If anyone was wondering I am prepping the frame for por15 that why it looks like that. She is a 15 footer!

 

[Spieg]

Looks original to me. The lower shock mounting depends on the year. Later years (I forget the exact timing of the switch... maybe 82 or 83) had a taller upper mount (which you appear to have) and moved the lower shock mount up to the axle tube to keep the shock length the same. A trick to help fit a little longer shock (and possibly increased wheel travel depending on the springs installed) is to use the longer upper mounts and move the lower mount down to the spring plate (requires cutting the lower mount off the axle tube for clearance).

 

[FudgieB]

The wealth of knowledge and finite details here never ceases to amaze me. I truly appreciate the help.

 

[tower210]

Pretty sure "mostly" 81s came with the super stubby short shocks and mounts. 82 on (it was AMC, so likely no clean cut off) got a taller mount with the spring pads mounts. Guessing the shock mount was part of the narrow track axles in 81... Lots of guys upgrade to ford F-250 mounts that are taller and allow longer shocks with more droop to fit....

 

[gpassida]

For comparison, here is a pic of my frame a few weeks ago. The front shock towers are the F-250 ones tower210 mentioned. They are part Ford Part number E5TZ-18183 I paid about $30 each.

And I attached a couple of flex pis right before I started the tear down. I have Rubicon Express 1445 Spring Over YJ Springs.