A buddy of mine is looking in to some aftermarket shocks for my SF, and I told him that I *THOUGHT* that anything from 65-73 would work as a replacement. I also mentioned that I would verify here if that were the case, so... is it? I'm aware that the Imperials might be special/strange stuff, so I'm just talking about Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler here. Anything I'm missing?
Joined: Sat Dec 10 2005, 04:28PM
Location: United States
Posts: 4954
Nope! Your right on the money. Imperial used the same shock too. BUT! what ever you use, use a heavy duty shock. Over the counter, you can easily get Monroe Gas Magnums. Or on line, get KYB's Just remember, you may have to drop the lower control arm with these gas shocks. . . If they aren't fully collapsed, you'll never get them up there.
Thanks! That's what I was thinking, but needed to be a tad more sure before I had someone look the stuff up. FWIW, these are SPAX shocks from England, and are adjustable in either 14 or 28 increments. They're a SUPER shock if you can get them (think Koni, but with much more adjustment), and the price isn't bad. Not sure of the exact number yet, but hope to find out something in the next few days.
I haven't ordered, I'm just having my friend check on availability right now. The A-body shocks that are on a group buy (now closed) are something like $80-90/ea, shipped from the UK. Now before anyone freaks out, that's a GREAT price for a quality ADJUSTABLE shock. These ain't no KYB Gas-"Adjust", these have a little knob on them that you turn to increase or decrease the damping until you get the ride you want. That's a NICE feature if you really want to fine tune your ride.
The only other adjustable shock even CLOSE to this price is the HAL QA1 Stocker Star series, and they're $140/ea available through Summit/Jegs. I have them on my Valiant and I LOVE THEM. Unfortunately, there isn't a direct C-body application in the QA1's, either, so you'd probably have to play with their catalog to find front shocks that fit.
The SPAX price is also just a few $ more than the Edelbrock AIS shocks, which are also good, but not adjustable, and not made for C's. I'm going to experiment with a GM shock to see if it will work on the front of my Fury, if the SPAX deal doesn't work out. I've already got the EB's, so I'll have to sell them if that happens. I hate to take a loss, but I'd rather have a shock that fits RIGHT if I can get one.
Clair, LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU FIND!!! (Yes, that is a shout) I have had the KYB's on for a year, noticable improvement over a Gabriel or Monroe, but still not where I want to be. The QA1 and the Eddy AIS were the 2 I was considering, but the SPAX sounds interesting as well.
I dont know what length the KYB and new Munroes are, but i can tell ya,when i was racing my Duster, a common trick was to replace the "A" shocks with Imperial shocks as they were 4-5 inches longer,(extended)and the Imperial shocks wouldnt come to the end of the travel when the back end lifted on launch and unload the tires.Of course this was low budget back in them days,but total travel varies from one manufactuer to the other.I have KYBs on mine and am Very satisfied.Just remember,when you need warranty on any part thats comming from oversea's,it aint gonna happen overnight.But they sure sound like a good deal,nonetheless.Glen
Still no feedback on the price yet, but there might be a decent price break if we did a similar group buy to the A-body guys. Mind you, the C-shocks might be a normal stock part, where the A-shocks weren't even going to be produded until X number of them were ordered. Won't know for sure until I hear back.
This begs the question... how many folks would be in on a group buy for this shock?
RE: shock length, you're right the rears are long, and that was the regular trick for the drag crowd. It's the front shocks that are so freakishly short for such a large car. They kind of have to be, if there's any hope of installing them without pulling the upper control arm for the job. Not a killer, but it forces an alignment to be done. Maybe not a bad deal, as often as most folks replace their shocks...
Joined: Fri Oct 07 2005, 12:03PM
Location: Central Ky.
Posts: 1575
The easier way to change them would be to unload the T-bars & unbolt the lower balljoint from the arm & let it drop. You don't take the chance of messingup the lower grease boot & don't have alignment to worry about. Just take a front height measurement before you start from some reference point & put the height right back after you're done.
I might be up for a pair of fronts, especially for a nice adjustable. I've got a pair of Koni's stashed for the rear to go with em'.
I just wish we had a good T-bar source, I can only go one step higher I think from where I am with the best factory ones for the Fury. Why I have'nt bothered yet.
Butch-H wrote ... The easier way to change them would be to unload the T-bars & unbolt the lower balljoint from the arm & let it drop. You don't take the chance of messingup the lower grease boot & don't have alignment to worry about. Just take a front height measurement before you start from some reference point & put the height right back after you're done.
I might be up for a pair of fronts, especially for a nice adjustable. I've got a pair of Koni's stashed for the rear to go with em'.
I just wish we had a good T-bar source, I can only go one step higher I think from where I am with the best factory ones for the Fury. Why I have'nt bothered yet.
That's a good idea, Butch. I need to look at that reality when I get a chance. The only way to unbolt the LBJ on an A-body is to pull the brake rotor off, and you're talking about a LOT of work then. OTOH, the A-body shocks just slip up in place...
RE: T-bars, I've been involved in a super secret stealth t-bar project for a long time now. It was this >< close to coming to fruition, and our machine shop backed out on our relatively small order. If I can get a handle on how many folks might be interested in new T-bars in a PLETHORA of rates and sizes, for X dollars, I may be able to spill some beans on the project. I'll start a poll later to gage the interest.
