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Old Pontiac Shock Absorbers

 
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Larry
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 1:18 pm    Post subject: Old Pontiac Shock Absorbers Reply with quote

If you have an early Pontiac with tube shocks in the back, or a later model with them in the front too, there is hope for locating those hard to find items.

I was trying to locate new tube shocks for the back of my 1940 Pontiac and was going nutz. It isn't like it used to be back in about 1978 when I waltzed into a Sears Auto Center at the local mall and compared an old one to a wall full of samples on display- and matched one up.

Today I couldn't even locate new bushings for those old Sears shocks that seemed to still be OK (after sitting for 30+ years!).

So, after hunting some super expensive "antique" parts places who claim they have the shocks, I got a bright idea. I did a Google search for "shock absorbers by dimension." WOW! Both Gabriel and Monroe had long downloadable pdf tables of zillions of shock dimensions. I was on the right track.

However, after about an hour of trying to hunt the critical dimensions out of all the listings, I gave up and the next morning I called Gabriel (615-221-7433) and asked for Technical Support. There a young fellow said "Sure I can help. We have a computer program that I can plug the dimensions in and find a shock that fits." WOWIE! ZOWIE! Suddenly I love computers!

Truth be told, it took a little hunting around for the right ends that would work, but once those were plugged in with the dimensions (retracted and extended lengths), we found the shocks needed for a 74 year old Pontiac! Gas charged no less!

I then contacted my son-in-law who works at an auto parts store and within a couple hours he showed up with two brand new shocks that were under $20.00 each (with his discount). I bet I would have paid 5 times that through an "antique" parts house- and they would have probably done the same thing as I did.

I only had to use a razor blade to trim the top eyelet bushings about 1/16" on each side to fit up in the frame channel. I used the old bolt bushing on the top too as the new ones were a hair too long (as the bushing was thick).

I have since discovered that these same shocks fit 249(!!!!!) different newer cars and trucks. Everything from Dodges, to Isuzus, to Jeeps, to Mitsubishis, to 65 different Toyotas.

So, there is hope for us older Pontiac owners, but sometimes we have to be very resourceful.

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myklash



Joined: 29 May 2017
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 9:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

what shocks did you get ?
I need a set for my 2511
thanks
Mike
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Larry
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 14, 2017 8:52 am    Post subject: '40 Pontiac Rear Shocks Reply with quote

They were the Gabriel Guardian #81318 shocks. Pretty red color too!
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 14, 2017 9:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

thanks
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Larry
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 10, 2017 9:37 am    Post subject: Rear Shocks Reply with quote

I just added coil over springs to my shocks. Even though I had the rear springs "reworked" it still seemed to keep "dipping" down in the back on bumps (even with overload springs already added to the leaf spring). These made it sit up a bit higher, and it rides MUCH better now.

These add-on coil overs are getting harder to find... we used to use them all the time in the "old days." However, O'Reillys auto parts has them. They have 750 lb. and 1250 lb. ones. I used the 1250 ones. They are only about $35.00, and worth the cost. Only takes a few minutes per side to install.

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