C-3 original vs replacement rear struts?

[Terry F.]

Can anyone update me on the differences between original and replacement rear strut for c3. It is my understanding that originals had a diffenent part number than replacement and there were some physical diffeneces also?
Thanks, Terry

[William C.]

Re: C-3 original vs replacement rear struts?

If you mean the camber links, the size of the bushing was changed I believe in '75. The ends are noticably larger to accomidate the larger bushing, so it depends on the year of your car and if you plan on having it judged as to if it matters, they will function interchangably Original P/N 3819205, replacement 348391.

[Terry F.]

Re: C-3 original vs replacement rear struts?

Bill, do you know if the part number was stamped on the strut?

Thanks, Terry

[William C.]

Re: C-3 original vs replacement rear struts?

No it is not, but the visual difference is immediately apparent

[Terry F.]

Re: C-3 original vs replacement rear struts?

I will put a rough caliper on the ends of mine and measure them. I purchased them new about 15 years ago. As I recall they looked the same as the originals that I believe were on there (my 68 corvette). My originals were bent as to be expected and the rubber was blown all the way through so that the inner steel bushing had pulled all the way through the rubber and was against the strut itself. I am surprised it handled as well as it did and drove straight.

Thanks, Terry

[Terry F.]

Re: C-3 original vs replacement rear struts?

By the way, have you ever pressed new bushings into them? If mine are not original I will either buy a set of repros or find some originals and press bushings into them. I seem to recall the bushing had a steel outer sleeve? So, I could just torch the old one's out and push the new one's in?

Regards, Terry

[William C.]

Re: C-3 original vs replacement rear struts?

Remove the old, clean the hole and press the new ones in, I've done them, just make sure you keep the bushing straight with the hole before you start to push.

[Terry F.]

Re: C-3 original vs replacement rear struts?

No problem. Thanks, Terry

[Ken A.]

Re: C-3 original vs replacement rear struts?

Terry, be sure you don't bung up the 'teeth' on the sleeve. These are necessary to hold the camber nut tight. A friend did his with a hammer and flattened the teeth and he could not keep his rear camber correct as he could not get the nut tight enough.
Ken

[Terry F.]

Re: C-3 original vs replacement rear struts?

Good point. Thanks, Terry

[Joe R.]

Re: C-3 original vs replacement rear struts?

Hi Terry:

I recently went through the bushing replacement process for my 67, and I learned a few things that may be helpful to you. In the end I wound up doing the job twice, but I'm happy with the end result.

First, I purchased the Paragon replacement bushings (part #5843) and installed them. The installation was tedious even though I used a nice arbor press. The problem was that the outer diameter of the metal sleeve on the Paragon units was too large for the mild interference fit that was intended. I had to carefully "turn down" the outside of the sleeve using a belt sander in order to get the installation force under 8000 pounds. Above 8000 pounds, the soft metal of the outer sleeve starts to crush.

After I got the bushings installed, I became concerned that the appearance of the replacement bushings differs from the originals. The original bushings (which had no outer sleeve) had a shoulder on each end of the rubber bushing that extended out around the ends of the hole in the strut rod. The Paragon replacements do not have this shoulder, and I wondered whether it would result in a deduction during Flight judging. I posted a question to this Board, and the consensus view was that I might get a deduction, but no one seemed to know of a suitable alternative.

Later, NCRS member Gary Beaupre told me about a "correct" replacent bushing that he got from Restoration Auto Parts. I don't think this company has a web site, but all my correspondence was with a guy named Larry at RestorParts@nuvox.net. The bushings from Restoration Auto Parts appear to be an exact match for the factory bushings, and they can be installed by hand. The only trick to installing them is to first remove the inner steel sleeve, then install the rubber part in the strut rod, and then finally reinstall the inner steel sleeve using some soapy water as a lubricant.

I'm very pleased with how the new bushings look, and the fact that they are actually easier to install than the Paragon units is an added bonus. I don't know how to post a photo here, but I can email you a photo of the end result if you like.

[Harmon C.]

Re: C-3 original vs replacement rear struts?

Their is a small dia. repop being made that is very good and comes with the bushings. Lyle

[Terry F.]

Re: C-3 original vs replacement rear struts?

Thanks for the info. Never heard this about them. Terry

[William C.]

Re: C-3 original vs replacement rear struts? *NM*