ok, from everything i've read on the topic of using crown vic shocks when adding spacers it seemed like it would be so easy... well that was not the case for me.  first i had one heck of a time getting the bottom bolts out, i actually ended up cutting them out with my sawzall.  then after i got them out i ran into the problem of the bolts that came with my monroe shocks were fatter on the unthreaded side than the threads(the fatter part makes up for the round spacer that goes through the rubber bushing like on the stock ones)  initially i was going to use 1/2" bolts but i couldn't find any spacers big enough to use.  so i went back to using the bolts that came with the monroe shocks,  but i had to drill the one hole on the frame mount out to 5/8"  is this common place to have to do?  or am i just the only unlucky one that had to do this?  after that though everything else went pretty well.... so far, i still have the front to do....

oh yeah, one more question.  how tight do i need to tighten the top nut and also how tight should the lower bolt be too?  thanks

mike

I had to buy new bolts from the parts store to install mine after cutting one side off. That solved the problem for me, as far as torque, I know I didnt do this right, but I tightened them about as tight as I could with a regular ratchet and socket, not using a torque wrench..... I don't have a torque wrench on hand, guess I should pick one up

Everything has a "torque spec" - too there's no way a torque wrench can fit in most places.

ok, but the little nuts on top i didn't put too tight.  i mean i could still tighten them up pretty good but i didn't want to really squish the rubber bushing out either.  the big bottom bolts i just snugged up, i could still tighten them up too but wasn't sure how much i should go with.  and there's noway i can get a socket in there at all, be it a regular socket wrench or a torque wrench, so i'm guessing i'm going to have to go with "until i can't get it any tighter" specs on that eh?  thanks...

mike

A lot of times your local autoparts store (or whoever you got the shocks from) can tell you what the torque spec is. A lot of suspension parts you don't want to overtighten, as it'll cause binding.

If you still have your old shocks then push the bottom rubbers ( shock mount) out of your old shocks and push them into the munroe shock. That way you can use your stock bolts from the original. I didn't want to drill out my bottom mounts as there wasn't that much material there to begin with.

re-read his first post, he doesn't have the original bolts, he had to cut them off...

when I cut mine off, I took the pieces in with me, and got a like-replacement. it wasnt exact, but it worked fine.

what a difference new shocks made

the old ones just slammed in and out with no resistance at all when I took them off 

oh i'm all done installing them now,  but i did have to drill the bottom mount out,  that's what i was wondering.  i've never read anything about having to do that.  but it's done.  i figure if it cracks ill just have to get it welded.  not much else i can do about it now. 

mike

I pulled the sleave out of the old zuk shock, and pressed it into the crown vic shock, then I could use the stock size zuk bolt, which I did have to cut off with an angle grinder, I just bought new ones at the hardware store.

I realize that he re drilled his already, but others reading this post will understand that they will not have to.

Agreed, the steel bushing in the stock shocks
can be removed from the rubber and cleaned
so they can be used for the Crown Vic shocks

Stock bolts fit fine like this.

i just used some metal tubing as a sleeve inside the larger bushings on the crown vic shocks and it's worked out fine.

ok...see this is what i'm wondering.  the shocks are crown vic....but coil springs are then used?  the lift achived with the Crown Vic shock, a spacer, and the stock coil spring?

ok...see this is what i'm wondering.  the shocks are crown vic....but coil springs are then used?  the lift achived with the Crown Vic shock, a spacer, and the stock coil spring?

the shocks don't give the lift, the springs do. the shocks have longer travel than the stock ones, which alows the rear suspension flex more.

i'm going to try these shock on my calmini 3" lift to see if they soften the rear a bit. this won't be untill later though, but i'll post feedback when i do.