Vintage Koni HD Shocks

[Bob B.]

Hi all,

As I assemble items for my '57 race car restoration project, I would like to use HD shocks, but originals are pretty pricey and not needed for my application. I saw a picture of the '60 Camoradi Corvette with a guy putting Koni shocks on it and the Koni boxes lying around. I called Koni and they have no record of making shocks for Corvettes before 1963. I'm wondering what sort of vintage HD shock might be good or if there is a modern equivalent that would look the part?

Thanks,

Bob

[Loren L.]

Re: Vintage Koni HD Shocks

Well, let's just say that maybe you called "Koney" by mistake. The Camoradi car still has its rebuilt originals; I know that the late Chip Miller was able to buy a set a few years back for #3 and I know of other people who have purchased multiple sets.
I have an old # - 606-727-5028 - for Koni, North America in Florence KY. Be aware that there are old and new decals for Konis; I'm told that someone in the Ferrari club is reproing the old decals. Did your guy from "Koney" know that the shocks are also adjustable? Not bad for 52 years ago! I believe mine also carry a "Series D" designation.

[Bob B.]

Re: Vintage Koni HD Shocks

Loren, I called Koni in Hebron, KY, but he couldn't be of help. I just found some Koni red shocks that are adjustable on eBay (Item number: 330728606371), but I think it is generic and I don't know what the originals looked like. Do you have a pic or could you steer me to where to find one? If I wait, do the originals come up very often? Thanks, Bob

PS: I'm posting a pic on the 37-gallon tank thread with a question for you. It'll be there shortly.

[Bill H.]

Re: Vintage Koni HD Shocks

Loren, I called Koni in Hebron, KY, but he couldn't be of help. I just found some Koni red shocks that are adjustable on eBay (Item number: 330728606371), but I think it is generic and I don't know what the originals looked like. Do you have a pic or could you steer me to where to find one? If I wait, do the originals come up very often? Thanks, Bob

PS: I'm posting a pic on the 37-gallon tank thread with a question for you. It'll be there shortly.

Bob, the pic of those Koni's looks like Summit just reproduced a catalog pic (understandable).
I have a set of mid-1970's Koni's (coilovers) on my Formula Ford.
I can take a pic of the adjusters if you'd like to see them.
Bill

[Bob B.]

Re: Vintage Koni HD Shocks

Bill, Pic would be great, but would they have had coilovers in the mid-60s or earlier? Thanks, Bob

[Bill H.]

Re: Vintage Koni HD Shocks

Bill, Pic would be great, but would they have had coilovers in the mid-60s or earlier? Thanks, Bob

I don't know when the first coilovers were used but the first formula fords had them in 1967 (Armstrong shocks). the reason i mentioned it is to give you a compairson of "earlier' Koni's vs the Summit Classic ones. Here's the pics, the adjusters are a slot on top with a wheel inside and a knob on the bottom. These are from the mid 70's.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Vintage Koni HD Shocks

Hi all,

As I assemble items for my '57 race car restoration project, I would like to use HD shocks, but originals are pretty pricey and not needed for my application. I saw a picture of the '60 Camoradi Corvette with a guy putting Koni shocks on it and the Koni boxes lying around. I called Koni and they have no record of making shocks for Corvettes before 1963. I'm wondering what sort of vintage HD shock might be good or if there is a modern equivalent that would look the part?

Thanks,

Bob

i remember koni shocks being use on straight axle corvette race cars back in the early 60s. to adjust them you collapsed them the whole way and turned the top to engage the valving inside

[Clem Z.]

Re: Vintage Koni HD Shocks

try these people. http://www.truechoicekoniracingservi...ll_Ad_2009.pdf

[Bill H.]

Re: Vintage Koni HD Shocks

i remember koni shocks being use on straight axle corvette race cars back in the early 60s. to adjust them you collapsed them the whole way and turned the top to engage the valving inside

Yea, there's still some of those around.
The design probably changed in the mid 70's (w/o coilovers on the production cars of course).

[Bob B.]

Re: Vintage Koni HD Shocks

Thanks, Bill, I'll keep my eye out for some that look like those! - Bob

[Loren L.]

Re: Vintage Koni HD Shocks

Clem is correct, the adjusters are on the inside. I could send you a copy of the instructions that I got from Bob Wallace..
.....but they are in Italian.......

i remember koni shocks being use on straight axle corvette race cars back in the early 60s. to adjust them you collapsed them the whole way and turned the top to engage the valving inside

[Loren L.]

Re: Vintage Koni HD Shocks

Bob, ask the guy on e-bay if there is anything like "Series D" stamped into the shocks or a model #, etc. I can go climb under mine and compare.

[Bill H.]

Re: Vintage Koni HD Shocks

Bob, ask the guy on e-bay if there is anything like "Series D" stamped into the shocks or a model #, etc. I can go climb under mine and compare.

Loren, that ebay add is from Summit Racing, those are new shocks that Koni calls "Classic', probably becaues thay fit older cars.

[Loren L.]

Re: Vintage Koni HD Shocks

Bob:
In an effort to avoid throwing my old body on the ground under the Corvette, I dug out my 1995 letter to KONI;
there was a stamping square on the shock and within the square appeared "SPECIAL" and under it, "D", on both fronts & rears; fronts were also stamped "82-1169" (part #?), under that "5 . 60" and an "UP" with an arrow; under that "HEAVY" with an arrow to the right. Rears were stamped with the same "SPECIAL D", and under it "82-1196", "4 . 60", and "HEAVY" and an arrow to the LEFT.
Try KY again and shoot 82-1169 and 82-1196 at them and see what they say.

[Loren S.]

Re: Vintage Koni HD Shocks

Bob, Loren is correct on the part numbers. I've bought two complete NOS sets I've bought over the years in ebay auctions. I have two red-orange front sets, part no. 82-1169. I have one red-orange rear set, installed on my 59, part number 82-1196. I also have a red rear set, part number 82-1170.









p.s. I love your 58-60 Restoration Handbook, one of the best purchases I ever made.