Hello fellow buggy chappies and chapettes..... 

Can anyone tell me if Coil Over shocks, come in different lengths..
I have recently acquired some and the only way I can get them to bolt up, is to place the trolley jack under them and squash them sufficiently to be able to get the bottom bolt through onto the mounting.... (obviously, I have fixed them in place on the top mounting  ) This action makes me think they will already be compressed to a certain degree and may not allow them to work properly when I am chucking the buggy down the road.....
As a matter of reference, I have already set them to the softest setting on the lower collar.

So over to you, what do you know.. and are willing to share with me ...

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I stress this is IMHO - and am very happy to be corrected.....

But if you are only using the buggy for street use and not going crazy like GBH Jon etc, Why have Coil overs? OK I know you said you acquired them but my understanding is that because the buggy is so light generally you just want standard beetle shock and even then there is an argument that worn ones aren't a totally bad idea either. 

Thanks Andy, I fully appreciate your point.

It is more the look on the back end, that I am going for, but if the back end "bounces" (when it gets back on the road) I might have to re-think the look vs the ride and drivability.

Hiya mate, how you doing?. The Kombat buggy I bought for my daughter had these fitted and it stood as high as you could get it even when you sat in it!. they were the first things to come off it lol. I did put them on my Rat as I had got the heavier type 4 engine in it, to lift it up a bit.

Yes, I had to use a jack to squash them a bit to get the bolt in. I wouldn't recommend them on a road going buggy. They are a quick fix to lift the rear end but they are hard for a road going buggy. If you want the look, it is best adjusted on the torsion bars but that takes a bit longer to do.

Rob

if you intend to play off road and get the thing airbourne you may find the suspension rips the bottom out of the shock as that is what is giving max travel stop not the suspension casting.
It will be fine for road use as you never get full travel.
I assume these are empi specials with the 3 step collar adjusters if you just want the look and no springing just cut the stops off and tack weld a stop on lower down so the spring is on for looks but no doing much but be warned they will go rusty on a damp morning.

and not going crazy like GBH Jon etc, Why have Coil overs?

You'd have to be crazy to use them, full stop..............I use standard ones off road, no probs

thanks guys, I appreciate all the input on this one.

I have already raise the back a bit on the torsion splines.
This is more the actual look of coil overs on the back end, I think they look the mutts nuts, but appreciate they are not ideal for the buggy, as they are so light.
The units I have do have the 3 stage collar, so cutting that stop point off and re making one further down the casting, is an interesting option, keeping the coil look, but just using the damper section   

Its such a tricky one to call for me now. I love the actual units and the look it will give the back end, but want a nice drive all the same...... some pondering is further required, me thinks.

Thanks again guys...... 

I had them on a lwb buggy I built last year just because they were given to and to be honest, the springs are so weak on them I didn't notice any difference, the ride was fine and they barely raised the rear of the car at all, maybe 1/2" max. The chrome on the springs isn't brilliant though so a weekly spray with WD40 will be in order.

Mine were Bugpack ones but I'm pretty sure EMPI ones and others come from the same makers.

You can just see them here...

Anyone got a link or know what size of c spanner I'd need to adjust these?

Pipe wrench.

Anyone got a link or know what size of c spanner I'd need to adjust these?

the C spanner supplied is nothing more than a cut out piece of sheet steel. To adjust them raise the wheel off the ground to reduce the tension you can move them by hand with gloves on, a punch and hammer or pipe pliers/stilsons.