ISO Shock Absorber Paint and Decals (Quanta Shock Absorber Gray Enamel)

[Patrick H.]

Re: ISO Shock Absorber Paint and Decals (Quanta Shock Absorber Gray Enamel)

Your intrepid judges just want to see the stickers. They won't have a ruler and couldn't reach to measure anyway.

Exactly.

When I sell stickers I include a photo of original shocks with them on, but my advice is to always put them where the judges can see them. That, after all, is your goal.

Patrick

[Ed S.]

Re: ISO Shock Absorber Paint and Decals (Quanta Shock Absorber Gray Enamel)

Edmund,

I have a question for you re the Delco shocks you purchased for your Corvette. Are the barrels of the rear shocks stamped with "737661 Made in Mexico Q060264 Warning Do Not Heat or Open"?

I have a '64 that was "restored" by a PO 12 years ago. He put these made in Mexico shocks on - it rides great but I am working towards Top Flight and have considered replacing them with AC Delco 530-315s (Front) and Delco 530-4s (rear) like you did - and paint them grey.

But.....if the Delco's come with the "made in Mexico" stamp I would not be gaining anything over what I have. Paragon's sells the Mexico made shock and states that they have the Mexico stamping - they also state this is a GM shock and the part # is 22011967. If you check on a GM part website this number comes up as the Delco 530-4 rear shock.

I don't want to spend the money for a set of NOS correct # shocks (that may not function after what 40 years) - I am comfortable in taking a small point deduction for an AC Delco shock that is not the correct #.

[Larry M.]

Re: ISO Shock Absorber Paint and Decals (Quanta Shock Absorber Gray Enamel)

Edmund,

I have a question for you re the Delco shocks you purchased for your Corvette. Are the barrels of the rear shocks stamped with "737661 Made in Mexico Q060264 Warning Do Not Heat or Open"?

I have a '64 that was "restored" by a PO 12 years ago. He put these made in Mexico shocks on - it rides great but I am working towards Top Flight and have considered replacing them with AC Delco 530-315s (Front) and Delco 530-4s (rear) like you did - and paint them grey.

But.....if the Delco's come with the "made in Mexico" stamp I would not be gaining anything over what I have. Paragon's sells the Mexico made shock and states that they have the Mexico stamping - they also state this is a GM shock and the part # is 22011967. If you check on a GM part website this number comes up as the Delco 530-4 rear shock.

I don't want to spend the money for a set of NOS correct # shocks (that may not function after what 40 years) - I am comfortable in taking a small point deduction for an AC Delco shock that is not the correct #.

Ed:

If the "made in Mexico" logo is the issue, then use some JB Weld or Bondo and fill it in and repaint.

Dan Patch (NCRS Vendor) advertises for restoration shocks that look and function as original with the correct logos and dates. Not cheap, but another way. Also Americas Finest Corvettes (another NCRS vendor) has recently stated that they are also reproducing shocks with the correct markings. I have not seen any of their work yet so I cannot comment further. But this is a third alternative.

Larry

[Ed S.]

Re: ISO Shock Absorber Paint and Decals (Quanta Shock Absorber Gray Enamel)

Larry,
Thanks - that (obliterating the Mexico thing) is a good idea. What I yet don't know is, do the currently available AC Delco shocks (530-4s & 315s) have any stamps into the metal, if it is "Mexico" there is no gain for me, if they reflect some other AC Delco stamp - something that would verify that they are a Delco product for judging purposes - then I would consider them. I think if I obliterate the Mexico markings and have no markings at all that might be worse. Again, asking anyone that has the 530-4s or 315s what is stamped into the metal tubes.

[Edmund C.]

Re: ISO Shock Absorber Paint and Decals (Quanta Shock Absorber Gray Enamel)

Ed: Sorry for the delayed response. Been busy in the office. Yes, the barrels of all four (4) shocks are stamped with "737661 Made in Mexico Q060264 Warning Do Not Heat or Open." I wish I'd known the NCRS Judge's were going to knock me for it. I would have stuck with the ones that I had on there and avoided the hassle of painting and decals (albeit, they do look cool). Not a big deal. Best, Ned

[Patrick H.]

Re: ISO Shock Absorber Paint and Decals (Quanta Shock Absorber Gray Enamel)

I have a '64 that was "restored" by a PO 12 years ago. He put these made in Mexico shocks on - it rides great but I am working towards Top Flight and have considered replacing them with AC Delco 530-315s (Front) and Delco 530-4s (rear) like you did - and paint them grey.

I'd still fill in the markings and paint them gray.
If they say Made in Mexico, then there is no doubt. If they don't, then sometimes the Chassis judge figures the stamping is on the side of the shock they can't see.

Just a thought.

[Don H.]

Re: ISO Shock Absorber Paint and Decals (Quanta Shock Absorber Gray Enamel)

Suggest you consider the Monroe sensa-trac 5850 rear and 5906 fronts. They are detailed nearly identical to the old Pliocel shocks including location of the markings. They are imprinted Made in USA. Nothing like made in Mexico marked on them. They do not say Monroe on them. They come painted black out of the box. Scuff them up and paint Quanta blue grey, apply your inspect stickers and they will fly all day long in most judging.

[Ed S.]

Re: ISO Shock Absorber Paint and Decals (Quanta Shock Absorber Gray Enamel)

Edmund,
Thanks for your reply. My shocks have the exact same info stamped into the metal tubes as yours. So, I do have the 530-4s and 315s after all. I am inclined to follow Larry's & Don's recommendation - fill in the incorrect stamping, spray them grey and take a partial deduction. The ones on my car are performing very well - it rides great - I see no benefit in changing to something else; genuine original OEM shocks would probably cost a fortune and might not function correctly or last long if they do (the old types were hydraulic shocks not gas).... and swapping one incorrect shock for another offers no advantage. Thanks again for your input - I know which way I am going.

[Loren L.]

Re: ISO Shock Absorber Paint and Decals (Quanta Shock Absorber Gray Enamel)

Agree with LICS and/or Paragon for the decals. They may even sell the Quanta Paint. I know at one time one of them did sell it. So you might be able to buy from a single source.

I personally think the Quanta shock paint is a bit too gray............not enough blue-gray. But that is just me. FWIW.

Larry

Larry, it is NOT just you! I include myself and the 4 "Pomona Survivor" shocks in the triple dresser downstairs. Quanta would not even score as a "leaner" in horseshoes.

[Ed S.]

Re: ISO Shock Absorber Paint and Decals (Quanta Shock Absorber Gray Enamel)

Larry, it is NOT just you! I include myself and the 4 "Pomona Survivor" shocks in the triple dresser downstairs. Quanta would not even score as a "leaner" in horseshoes.

Loren do you, or Larry, have a recommendation for paint that is closer in color to OEM shocks in lieu of Quanta? Thanks.

[Loren L.]

Re: ISO Shock Absorber Paint and Decals (Quanta Shock Absorber Gray Enamel)

Ed, not yet. But I did grab one of the rear shocks, Pliacel #3186907, Julian date 135 of 1965 and head for Home Depot's paint department. Nothing jumped off the shelf that looked correct, but Home Depot's machine analyzed (?) the color and gave me a printout calling it semi-gloss Gray with a 5 element mixing instruction that I can't interpret. I have not had this done.
But it led me back to my Auto paint store that has been in Phx for 55 years. I left the shock there and starting with a PPG # 35583 (not sure what it refers to), they are going to custom mix a pint and a couple of spray cans in the next 3 or 4 days and provide the formula. If it looks close, I may return to Home Depot and seek their product, provided that they can also provide a formula that could be mixed at other Home Depot stores. If either or both are in the ballpark, I'll pass it on.

[Ed S.]

Re: ISO Shock Absorber Paint and Decals (Quanta Shock Absorber Gray Enamel)

Loren,

I admire your persistence. Looking forward to your next post with an update. Question - do I understand correctly, does Lowes (or Home Depot) have the capability to fill & charge an empty rattle can with a custom blend?

[Loren L.]

Re: ISO Shock Absorber Paint and Decals (Quanta Shock Absorber Gray Enamel)

As stated, have not done this yet. Clearly they have the ability to blend - rattle can??? Can it be thinned for an air brush???? I'm going for the sample from the auto paint store I've used for 40 years first........

[Dan P.]

Re: ISO Shock Absorber Paint and Decals (Quanta Shock Absorber Gray Enamel)

I have tried most all of the shocks paint available . NOTHING is even close . I have to have it custom mixed .The judges can tell the Delco replacement shock even if you fill in the the wording . But it is always worth a try . As for as the quality of NOS Delco shocks they are by far higher quality than anything bought over the counter . I have cut hem all apart.

[Jack J.]

Re: ISO Shock Absorber Paint and Decals (Quanta Shock Absorber Gray Enamel)

Since I don't believe GM actually makes anything in house anymore, anybody really know who makes Delco shocks? Jack J.