Recommendation on '67 SB shocks

[James B.]

I am two years into three year (hope) restoration on my '67 L79 Coupe (std suspension). I intend to have the car flight judged and want modern shocks the appearance of which is as close to the original pliacels as possible. Does anyone have a recommendation?
thanks, Jim Baker

[John H.]

Re: Recommendation on '67 SB shocks

I am two years into three year (hope) restoration on my '67 L79 Coupe (std suspension). I intend to have the car flight judged and want modern shocks the appearance of which is as close to the original pliacels as possible. Does anyone have a recommendation?
thanks, Jim Baker

Jim -

AC-Delco or parts store replacements are all made by outfits like Monroe, Gabriel, etc.; remove the decals, scuff them, paint them shock absorber gray, apply the broadcast stickers and install them. Rear shocks only carry 5 originality points, and deductions are minor.

[James B.]

Re: Recommendation on '67 SB shocks

Thank-you John, that's what I've done in the past. Just thought there might be something new/better.

[Larry M.]

Re: Recommendation on '67 SB shocks

Thank-you John, that's what I've done in the past. Just thought there might be something new/better.

As JohnZ states, there are no modern reproductions of this shock or modern shocks that look close to originals. However, one of our NCRS members sells rebuilt originals or will rebuild your original cores. Not inexpensive, but worth it to some. His ad appears in the Driveline.

Larry

[Edward J.]

Re: Recommendation on '67 SB shocks

Jim, keep a look out on Ebay once in a while you'll find some NOS ones that are reasonable. I Pick up a set of 4 for 120.00 dated from 72 and the good thing is they were not the gas charged ones, I find the old school ones tend to ride a little softer and read some articles about the non gas ones are what some recommend. unless your planning on auto crossing. I myself just like to cruise.

[Keith B.]

Re: Recommendation on '67 SB shocks

Jim, keep a look out on Ebay once in a while you'll find some NOS ones that are reasonable. I Pick up a set of 4 for 120.00 dated from 72 and the good thing is they were not the gas charged ones, I find the old school ones tend to ride a little softer and read some articles about the non gas ones are what some recommend. unless your planning on auto crossing. I myself just like to cruise.

that may be the fact that the new Delco shocks are F-41. And those old ones might be for standard suspension

[Joe L.]

Re: Recommendation on '67 SB shocks

that may be the fact that the new Delco shocks are F-41. And those old ones might be for standard suspension

Keith------


Original F-41 shock absorbers were not gas charged. They were entirely conventional.

For years, the shocks available through the GM parts system for both standard and F-41 suspension were conventional. Gas charged shocks became available at some point through the Delco parts system, though.

Finally, when GM ceased the manufacture of shock absorbers and GM shocks were "outsourced", gas charged shocks became supersessive to the conventional shocks in the GM parts system as well as Delco. For the fronts, the same part number replaced both the F-41 and standard suspension shocks. For the rear, the new part number replaced only the standard suspension shocks. The rear F-41 shocks were discontinued without supersession.

The current part numbers are as follows for 1963-77

front-------GM #88947653------AC-Delco # 530-315

rear--------GM #88945172------AC-Delco #530-4

I believe the above shocks are manufactured by Monroe (Federal Mogul) or Gabriel (Arvin-Meritor).

By the way, the above shocks are configured similar to the original shocks. There are some differences, especially for the front shocks, but they are pretty close.

The following shocks are actually a little closer in configuration. Still not the same as the originals but a bit closer than the current GM/Delco shocks:

front-------Monroe 5906

rear--------Monroe 5850

[James B.]

Re: Recommendation on '67 SB shocks

Joe, thanks for the response and information, very helpful. I will go with the Monroe

Jim Baker

[Joe L.]

Re: Recommendation on '67 SB shocks

Joe, thanks for the response and information, very helpful. I will go with the Monroe

Jim Baker

Jim------


...and you don't need to be concerned about losing judging credit for non-Delco shocks. The only thing that identifies the current Delco shocks as Delco is the large adhesive labels. Leave those on and I expect more points will be lost. If you remove the labels, all you need to do is paint them shock absorber gray and they'll be reasonably similar to the originals.