Technical SHOCKING EXPERINCE !! HOTROD SHOCKS!!!!

Here's another OLD GUY rant.... trying to buy shocks, and the back in the day rant...
back in the day we had real auto parts, and real speed shops,... hell even pep boys sold parts, and custom/ speed equipment.... and when you were building a hotrod and needed shocks, they catalogs with all the shock specs... didn't matter what year the shocks were intended for... you could go by the specs.. you could just look at extended and collapsed size.... then the mounts on the ends...

now it's some kid that doesn't know the difference from a spark plug and a freeze plug...

I tried the on line deal... maybe 1 out of a thousand will tell you extended and collapsed length... then they all wanna sell high pressure gas charged shockss....might as well just weld the rear end in solid....

sooo... light weight model a type roadster ride height requires a 12'' shock .....needs to be a range of about 9 to 14'' sounds pretty easy... chevy HHR is close .... all the speedways are way to stiff.... car rides better with no shocks so I know it's not the spring....... what did I miss with the evo of auto parts!!!!

 

Might call these people if you need a little more info.

 

Hopefully this works. I uploaded the Monroe Shock PDF for you.
If it doesnt work, go to
https://www.monroe.com/technical-resources/shocks-101.html
Scroll to the bottom and click "Mounting and Length Chart PDF" and download it.
It gives you every size shock, Comp and Ext Length and Mounting style that they make. Then you can take that part number to any parts store and they can cross it over to most brands you may prefer, if you dont like Monroe.
Takes some time and patience to go through and find what you are looking for.
Remember "ctrl" F is your friend when searching a PDF.
Hope this helps

 

Yes ,Getting Bad,, before you go to big box store , Its best to look up your own parts , so you can just give them the part #s,,,
I have also go to order a part & get that Vender out of stock , Just few days ago I went to one of big box store to place a order on Autometer , was told Vender out of stock , I said thats not true I will prove it , so while talking to the manager I called Autometer talked to Customer Service and they had over 150 of the item I was trying to purchase on the shelf at Autometer,
The reason I was at the big box store is because I have a few accounts with & others also

 

Empi volkswagen shocks, best part ? They aren't gas charged!!

...m

 

It's real thicket trying to find shocks by size/ends....

Dimensions - KYB Americas

KYB seems to have the most sizes/types but all will be gas charged. But it may allow you to find the application then cross to a different brand. These numbers have roughly the length/stroke you want, you'll have to determine what ends you need (or need to install)... 344047, 343023, 343218. This was just a quick look, there may be others.

 

You also need to know what the mounts are.

 

Those guys are trained by the system of make and model.
Even if they knew what part “might” work, they can’t recommend it because it’s on them. This is especially so for a suspension part. They don’t operate that way anymore.

It’s your car.
It’s up to you to know what part you need.
That’s just how it is now.

 

We've got all the chain parts stores with the kids at the counter who don't have a clue. We've got a big NAPA store where they'll look up the parts accurately but don't have a clue on non standard fitment. Then we've got Ed's - an old time independent full service auto parts store. While Ed has passed away he trained his kids well. Most of the time you can just toss a part on the counter and they'll run in the back and grab the replacement. If you go in with a "I'm looking for" question they'll put 3-4 options on the counter for you to pick what you need. If it's not in stock they'll run to the warehouse and have it that day.

 

63-67 Vette 9.5-14 #5850 Monroe 63-86 C10 10.25 to14.4 #33033=Monroe

from my notes doing 40's

 

Empi 9650, oil filled, 9-3/4" closed, 14-5/8" extended.

Oh and double eyed
...

 

the monroe 5752 is a vw shock.... 8.6 compressed... 12.6 extended... I'm at 12 inch sitting,... that gives only 3/4''up travel... probley not enough.... 8.6 to 13.6 would be better... I have so-cal's on there now...but way too stifff..

 

that gives me only 2'' down travel, but thanks for responding...

 

the RPU is just too light in the rear for gas shocks... was looking at harley shocks for like a sportster or some thing...

 

Wow ! here we go blame the kids that don't know anything. I will just quit at that.

 

Rock Auto has 50 Plymouth front shocks. I have used these for years. Extended length 12.68, collapsed length 8.54, stroke 4.14, eyelet, eyelet. And the best part they are $13.10 each.

 

threw in the white towel....
ordered these vw's Amazon.com: PM Auto Pair of 2 Rear Shock Absorber For 1952-1977 Volkswagen Beetle : Automotive

andalso ordered the monroes,5752's but after ordering I seen they are gas charged
Amazon.com: Monroe OESpectrum 5752 Suspension Shock Absorber : Automotive

 

I don't blame you, with as lite as some of these cars are there is no reason to put a stiff gas charged shock on them and make them ride rough.

Changed quite a few gas charged shocks out for oil filled ones on customers lighter hot rods and just about every person was much happier with the ride quality.

...

 

Our cars are not exactly the hot item in parts stores any more. The parts store employees are not handling these items often enough to know squat about them so it's on us to do the research. Things change and either you change with them or you get passed up and left in the dust. At least the internet gives us a variety of ways to find what we are looking for. It just takes a little work on our part. I like a good gripe as much as the next old guy but complaining about this is a waste of time and makes us look like the a-hole.

Regarding the unskilled/uninformed/uninspired person behind the parts counter, that's what you get for minimum wage today. Don't get mad at the employee, get mad at the businesses who think that hiring them was a good idea. Good pay inspires good work or someone else gets that good pay. Bottom of the barrel gets you the bottom of the barrel.

 

Cool.... ordered those also... one of the things thats a problem is the 8:90 rear tires...

 

but hav'n the same problem with the bangher RPU with the skinny wires

 

agreed

 

I never get mad at employees, waist of time... I respect the fact that they are try'n , and show up to work... what bothers me is the ones that check their I phone to make sure the gov. made a deposit to their acc, so they never have to work, or get an education .... like I've been say'n for years.... we need to make welfare horrible again...

 

anyway.... I wanna thank every one for the help

 

I thought we were talking about shocks..........
Try these.... https://www.jegs.com/i/Speedmaster/746/PCE530.1003/10002/-1

 

Find an old shock absorber catalog from Monroe or one of the other common brands - I see them all the time at swap meets or on eBay. Then you can look up dimensions, travel, end styles, etc. and cross reference to other brands.

 

remember when they used to have them on chains hanging on the shock row???? you could just look up what you wanted....

 

No need to find one. Its all online now. I posted the PDF version on post #3 above. Just click on the attachment title and it will open up.

 

I understand the problem of finding parts. Some is the training, some is the manufacturer not giving them the specs in their parts book. I use to try to remember what engine I used in the car that I was working on, so I could tell them what I wanted by the original engine/car.

 

I usually try to build shock mounts with some adjustability incorporated. I get a shock thats close to the length I think I need and make the ride height work with the mount adjustment.