72 shock base 350

[John H.]

I am original owner 1972 base 350 4sp. I am redoing the front and rear suspension.
My question is: What vendor sells the closest NCRS accepted shocks?
I will be replacing both front and rear. Do they have to be repainted?
If they are not repainted how big a point deduction is it?
Which vendor sells the complete suspension kit that is closest, both front
and rear. Are there any susprises to look out for?
I know these are a lot of questions however I like to be through as possible.
Thanks Big John

[Chuck S.]

Re: 72 shock base 350

John, the closest you are going to get to the originals is to repaint service replacement shocks available (I presume they are still available) from Delco. Painting the shocks before installation will be little trouble or expense...I wouldn't even consider installing RED shocks on a car offered for judging.

Quanta Products has a shock paint that is close to the correct blue-grey color, but will impart too much gloss if you put on two nice wet coats. The shocks were not glossy, but were closer to semi-flat...you can either use one thin dry coat, or use 0000 steel wool to knock the gloss down. You can also get repro paper broadcast labels from most vendors; Paragon is a good source. See the 70-72 TIM&JG for correct code depending on engine and other options.

[Chuck S.]

Re: 72 shock base 350

John, the closest you are going to get to the originals is to repaint service replacement shocks available (I presume they are still available) from Delco. Painting the shocks before installation will be little trouble or expense...I wouldn't even consider installing RED shocks on a car offered for judging.

Quanta Products has a shock paint that is close to the correct blue-grey color, but will impart too much gloss if you put on two nice wet coats. The shocks were not glossy, but were closer to semi-flat...you can either use one thin dry coat, or use 0000 steel wool to knock the gloss down. You can also get repro paper broadcast labels from most vendors; Paragon is a good source. See the 70-72 TIM&JG for correct code depending on engine and other options.

[Harmon C.]

Re: 72 shock base 350

Big John I use Koni shocks and install originals for judging. On the front end kit get the bushings for the upper control arm like the original ones most vendors sell thease now for extra money. Use no poly bushings if you are having the car judged. Rivet the ball joints or send them out to be done as many Driveline vendors offer this service. One option is to send trailing arms,a-arms out to Bairs or others who do this work. This can be cheaper if you only do one car and buy tools to do the job. Lyle

[Harmon C.]

Re: 72 shock base 350

Big John I use Koni shocks and install originals for judging. On the front end kit get the bushings for the upper control arm like the original ones most vendors sell thease now for extra money. Use no poly bushings if you are having the car judged. Rivet the ball joints or send them out to be done as many Driveline vendors offer this service. One option is to send trailing arms,a-arms out to Bairs or others who do this work. This can be cheaper if you only do one car and buy tools to do the job. Lyle

[John H.]

Re: 72 shock base 350

Thanks fellows for your comments. I'm still not clear on the Delco shock as to
who sells Delco shocks? I still am not sure on painting them or not!
I'm still checking this all out. BIG JOHN

[John H.]

Re: 72 shock base 350

Thanks fellows for your comments. I'm still not clear on the Delco shock as to
who sells Delco shocks? I still am not sure on painting them or not!
I'm still checking this all out. BIG JOHN

[Chuck S.]

Re: 72 shock base 350

John, I don't know all the places they may be available, but most general Corvette vendors such as Ecklers, MidAmerica, etc. should have them. Just make sure you're getting the Delco brand, and not some generic Chinese Vette shocks. Doc Rebuild's online catalog (1999?) shows the genuine article for $22.50 each. Research the market, pick the low bidder...the Delco product will be the same.

Painting them is up to you, John. Out of the box Delco replacement shocks are red...you WILL lose judging points for red shocks (I would whack you good! Might give you a few originality points for them being Delco instead of Midas. ). Judges aren't going to check the date codes, but if the shocks are RED, it's a dead giveaway they're not original, and you've made NO ATTEMPT to make them look original. But, don't mind me...I don't want to overload you with too many choices.

[Chuck S.]

Re: 72 shock base 350

John, I don't know all the places they may be available, but most general Corvette vendors such as Ecklers, MidAmerica, etc. should have them. Just make sure you're getting the Delco brand, and not some generic Chinese Vette shocks. Doc Rebuild's online catalog (1999?) shows the genuine article for $22.50 each. Research the market, pick the low bidder...the Delco product will be the same.

Painting them is up to you, John. Out of the box Delco replacement shocks are red...you WILL lose judging points for red shocks (I would whack you good! Might give you a few originality points for them being Delco instead of Midas. ). Judges aren't going to check the date codes, but if the shocks are RED, it's a dead giveaway they're not original, and you've made NO ATTEMPT to make them look original. But, don't mind me...I don't want to overload you with too many choices.

[Joe L.]

Re: 72 shock base 350

John-----

The only shocks currently available from Delco for your application are as follows:

front------Delco #530-315 aka GM #88947653
rear-------Delco #530-4 aka GM #88945172

front------Delco #530-50 aka GM #88945218
rear-------Delco #530-51 aka GM #88945219

Of the above, the second set of part numbers is propbably the best from a performance perspective. The first set of numbers are more of a "standard" valving. As far as I know, these shocks are configured the same externally. However, the external configuration of these shocks is NOT the same as originals. They are of the same GENERAL configuration (any shock that would fit the car would have to be of the same general configuration), but there are differences. For the front shocks, the difference is mostly at the top portion of the shock which can't really be seen when installed on the car.

The rear shocks are closer to the original configuration, overall, than the fronts. However, there are differences here, too. Primarily, it relates to the configuration of the very bottom of the shock and the way that the shock tube is sealed. This same difference is also present on the front shocks, but it's a little less noticable and more difficult to see once installed.

All original Delco shocks used on Corvettes and, until recently, Delco replacement shocks were manufactured by Delco Products Division of GM (later, a divison of DELPHI) in Dayton, OH. Since they were made on remarkably similar tooling over the years, later SERVICE shocks were virtually identical to the original PRODUCTION shocks (except for "numbers" and "dates", of course). However, current Delco Corvette SERVICE shocks, including all of the above-referenced shocks, are no longer manufactured in Dayton. Instead, I believe that they are manufactured by Gabriel (Arvin-Meritor)or Monroe (Federal-Mogul). The tooling used is different and the internal/external design of the shocks is different, too. So, while these shocks are 100% functional and probably as good or better than the original shocks, they don't look exactly like the original shocks. You can get them from any GM or Delco dealer under the above numbers, though.

These shocks are painted BLACK. I believe that the 1972 model year continued to use the blue-gray shock color as used for 65-71. So, if you want the original color, then you need to repaint the shocks. I like the Quanta shock paint. I think it's close to original. To repaint, remove the Delco labels from the shocks. Then, surface-sand the black paint with about 200 grit sandpaper. Finally, apply a medium coat of the Quanta paint, just enough to cover the black.

[Joe L.]

Re: 72 shock base 350

John-----

The only shocks currently available from Delco for your application are as follows:

front------Delco #530-315 aka GM #88947653
rear-------Delco #530-4 aka GM #88945172

front------Delco #530-50 aka GM #88945218
rear-------Delco #530-51 aka GM #88945219

Of the above, the second set of part numbers is propbably the best from a performance perspective. The first set of numbers are more of a "standard" valving. As far as I know, these shocks are configured the same externally. However, the external configuration of these shocks is NOT the same as originals. They are of the same GENERAL configuration (any shock that would fit the car would have to be of the same general configuration), but there are differences. For the front shocks, the difference is mostly at the top portion of the shock which can't really be seen when installed on the car.

The rear shocks are closer to the original configuration, overall, than the fronts. However, there are differences here, too. Primarily, it relates to the configuration of the very bottom of the shock and the way that the shock tube is sealed. This same difference is also present on the front shocks, but it's a little less noticable and more difficult to see once installed.

All original Delco shocks used on Corvettes and, until recently, Delco replacement shocks were manufactured by Delco Products Division of GM (later, a divison of DELPHI) in Dayton, OH. Since they were made on remarkably similar tooling over the years, later SERVICE shocks were virtually identical to the original PRODUCTION shocks (except for "numbers" and "dates", of course). However, current Delco Corvette SERVICE shocks, including all of the above-referenced shocks, are no longer manufactured in Dayton. Instead, I believe that they are manufactured by Gabriel (Arvin-Meritor)or Monroe (Federal-Mogul). The tooling used is different and the internal/external design of the shocks is different, too. So, while these shocks are 100% functional and probably as good or better than the original shocks, they don't look exactly like the original shocks. You can get them from any GM or Delco dealer under the above numbers, though.

These shocks are painted BLACK. I believe that the 1972 model year continued to use the blue-gray shock color as used for 65-71. So, if you want the original color, then you need to repaint the shocks. I like the Quanta shock paint. I think it's close to original. To repaint, remove the Delco labels from the shocks. Then, surface-sand the black paint with about 200 grit sandpaper. Finally, apply a medium coat of the Quanta paint, just enough to cover the black.

[Chuck S.]

Re: 72 shock base 350

Joe, I had a hunch that Delco was out of the shock manufacturing business, but was unaware that Gabriel now was the source. Several years ago, the Delco shocks I bought were the "later replacement" shocks with the knurled welds virtually identical to the originals.

If John wants something that looks nearest the originals, he should consult with the Good Doctor Rebuild to find out if the cataloged shocks are, in fact, NOS of the Delco replacement shocks and not the newer Gabriel manufactured variety. If they are, those are what he wants for judging purposes, and not the present Gabriel supplied part numbers.

Incidently, I have a friend that worked for Delco in Dayton. He told me that all their replacement shocks were valved to provide a satisfactory ride with worn suspension components, and were consequently different from the production shocks they replaced.

[Chuck S.]

Re: 72 shock base 350

Joe, I had a hunch that Delco was out of the shock manufacturing business, but was unaware that Gabriel now was the source. Several years ago, the Delco shocks I bought were the "later replacement" shocks with the knurled welds virtually identical to the originals.

If John wants something that looks nearest the originals, he should consult with the Good Doctor Rebuild to find out if the cataloged shocks are, in fact, NOS of the Delco replacement shocks and not the newer Gabriel manufactured variety. If they are, those are what he wants for judging purposes, and not the present Gabriel supplied part numbers.

Incidently, I have a friend that worked for Delco in Dayton. He told me that all their replacement shocks were valved to provide a satisfactory ride with worn suspension components, and were consequently different from the production shocks they replaced.

[Joe L.]

Re: 72 shock base 350

Chuck-----

I don't know that Delco Chassis Products Division of DELPHI is out of the shock manufacturing business. I think that they still make shocks but no longer for Corvettes that were last manufactured 22 years ago. In general, I think that they are getting out of the aftermarket replacement business making many old SERVICE shocks for GM. GM's AC-Delco organization thus has to seek out other sources for the items if they are to continue them in their line, at all.

I do know that the Dayton operations are one of the "thorns in DELPHI's side". I believe they are among the operations that they plan to "fix, sell, or close". I think that they may now be beyond the "fix" alternative. Unless they can achieve some rather major "work rule" changes from the UAW, I think that the "sell or close" options dominate, at this point.

The "knurled ends" that you describe were characteristic of the Dayton-manufactured Delco shocks. At least as far as Corvette shocks go, these shocks are no longer available from GM or Delco. The last of the old style Delco shocks were the 560 series Reactec shocks. There were also OEM replacement shocks available through GM, but with external configuration identical to the Reactecs. All of these have been replaced by the shocks I mentioned in my first post.

One of the things conspicuously absent from all of these shocks is any reference to "Delco Products, Dayton Ohio". There is a cellophane or Mylar label saying "AC-Delco" but, as I mentioned previously, AC-Delco is NOT a parts manufacturing organization----it is a parts MARKETING organization ONLY. The parts are made by other "entities"----be they former GM operations now part of DELPHI or other GM spin-offs OR completely non-GM entities. In fact, in today's "world of automotive parts manufacturing", some of the parts in AC-Delco boxes could well be manufactured by Visteon, the spin-off parts manufacturing operations of the FORD MOTOR COMPANY. In fact, Visteon is one of the suppliers for components of the C6.

[Joe L.]

Re: 72 shock base 350

Chuck-----

I don't know that Delco Chassis Products Division of DELPHI is out of the shock manufacturing business. I think that they still make shocks but no longer for Corvettes that were last manufactured 22 years ago. In general, I think that they are getting out of the aftermarket replacement business making many old SERVICE shocks for GM. GM's AC-Delco organization thus has to seek out other sources for the items if they are to continue them in their line, at all.

I do know that the Dayton operations are one of the "thorns in DELPHI's side". I believe they are among the operations that they plan to "fix, sell, or close". I think that they may now be beyond the "fix" alternative. Unless they can achieve some rather major "work rule" changes from the UAW, I think that the "sell or close" options dominate, at this point.

The "knurled ends" that you describe were characteristic of the Dayton-manufactured Delco shocks. At least as far as Corvette shocks go, these shocks are no longer available from GM or Delco. The last of the old style Delco shocks were the 560 series Reactec shocks. There were also OEM replacement shocks available through GM, but with external configuration identical to the Reactecs. All of these have been replaced by the shocks I mentioned in my first post.

One of the things conspicuously absent from all of these shocks is any reference to "Delco Products, Dayton Ohio". There is a cellophane or Mylar label saying "AC-Delco" but, as I mentioned previously, AC-Delco is NOT a parts manufacturing organization----it is a parts MARKETING organization ONLY. The parts are made by other "entities"----be they former GM operations now part of DELPHI or other GM spin-offs OR completely non-GM entities. In fact, in today's "world of automotive parts manufacturing", some of the parts in AC-Delco boxes could well be manufactured by Visteon, the spin-off parts manufacturing operations of the FORD MOTOR COMPANY. In fact, Visteon is one of the suppliers for components of the C6.