Newbie here, need help with rear shock mount

My friend bought a 55 Tbird kit car. He received an installation manual with hand drawn diagrams that aren't very specific. He installed the rear end and is having a problem mounting the rear shocks.

Under the leaf springs are plates for the U bolts that also have holes to mount the bottom of the shocks. These holes run parallel to the car. These plates are the same, so the holes for the shocks are in front of the axle on the passenger side and behind the axle on the drivers side.  

Above the axle are cross members in the frame behind and in front of the axle. There are holes in the cross members to mount the top of the shocks and the holes are equally spaced from the outside of the frame and located about 6" in towards the center of the frame from where the lower end of the shocks would attach to the leaf spring shock mounts. The shocks would be angled in about 6" towards the center of the frame.

The problem I see is that the axle is not centered between these cross members where the top of the shocks mount. The cross member above the rear of the axle is about 4" closer to the axle than the cross member above the front of the axle. The drivers side shock would be mounted nearly vertical, while the passenger side shock would be mounted at a much lower angle. Basically, the shocks would be mounted at different angles front to back but equally towed in towards the center of the car.

I'm concerned that the shocks won't operate properly and may put too much stress on the mounting bolts on the passenger side by being mounted at a lower angle front to back. I'm also concerned that the shocks would be mounted at two different angles, front to back and towed in.

I'm thinking that he should add another cross member to the frame ahead of the axle to keep equal spacing from the axle to mount the top of the shocks. Anyone have any suggestions about how to solve this?   Thanks, Steve  

acesmith 1st off welcome to the forum. The practice of having 1 shock infront & 1 shock in the rear has been done on Fords & Chevy's  for a long time I would think you could space out or use a longer higher grade bolt for mounting  the top of the shock to get the proper set back or spacing, if your worried about mounting. The shocks only dampen the ride they don't suspend the wieght "unless they are coil overs", then I would say they should be on the same side at the rear of the axle & at equal distances because they do suspend the wieght of the car. Can you post photos or the instructions or both for referance. Good luck.    3836bbl/Budnicks  
Buy the book "how to build a _______" or "how to tune a ______" you fill in the blanks.  3836bbl/Budnicks

It is normal to have the shocks on different sides of the axle but they should be mounted at the same angle so that they apply the same rate of damping on both sides.  I would add another mounting place if necessary so that they are both mounted at the same angle both front to rear and side to side.

Eric
www.kitcarchassis.com  

chassisbuilder 1st off welcome to the KCM forum. I think it will be nice to have a professional chassis builder here for some help, afterall this is your demographics for your business.  
Buy the book "how to build a _______" or "how to tune a ______" you fill in the blanks.  3836bbl/Budnicks