69 shock suggestions please

[Greg L.]

I need some suggestions for shocks for my 69.

As many of you know I plan on having the car judged when finished so original appearance is important. I know that the current GM ones don't look much like the originals so I'm not considering them. There must however be some aftermarket ones that once painted the proper blue/grey color would look very close to the originals or is this just wishfull thinking?

As always, any suggestions are appreciated.

Greg Linton
#45455

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 shock suggestions please

Greg-----

There are no aftermarket shocks that I am aware of that will appear any closer to the originals than the current Delco shocks. In some cases, the aftermarket and current Delco shocks will be just about the same configuration-wise. In other cases, the aftermarket shocks will deviate substantially from the current Delco and even more substantially from the originals.

[Alan Drake]

Re: 69 shock suggestions please

I recently purchased the current AC Delco shocks. The fronts look very close to originals that are in my car now. Do not have shock out of my car to compare on a 1:1 basis, however the top where the shaft exits is configured slightly different (its rounder and hence a little fat), but very difficult to see. The bottom ring that holds the rubber has two short recessed lines 180 degress apart - these can be put back into the new AC's with a tool. Assume you still have yours, but if you need a picture send me an email at akdselectman@hotmail.com (have not been able to make my email public, troulbe on this end)

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 shock suggestions please

Alan------

The primary differences between the original Delco shocks and the current issue are as follows:

1) The upper cap of the front shock tube is different, as you described;

2) The upper section of the front shock TUBE is swaged down and of smaller diameter than the rest of the tube. Original shocks had the same tube OD top-to-bottom. However, both (1) and (2) are very difficult to discern with the shocks installed in the car;

3) The crimp/cap on the bottom of the shock tubes are considerably different both front and rear from the originals. This is probably the most obvious difference in the current replacements from originals or older Delco SERVICE shocks. Older generation Delco SERVICE shocks are configured virtually identical to the originals (except, of course, for "numbers" and "dates");

4) Current Delco shocks do not have the "Delco Products" embossment on the bottom section of the tube. They also do not have a "GM-like" part number embossed at this location. Instead, they have a "non-GM-like" number embossed on the side of the tube;

5) The shock lower mounting eyes, front and rear, do not have the lateral "indention" that you described. Most, if not all, original and older generation Delco SERVICE shocks have this nuance.

[Greg L.]

Re: 69 shock suggestions please

Thanks for the education! When I said that the current GM ones were way of I was refering to the tube of the front shocks. My original fronts are the same diameter all the way but the GM ones that I have seen increase in diameter in the middle area and are obviously wrong. I looked around on the net today and see that some now have the same tube diameter from top to bottom and "look" orignal to me. However I now can see the difference in the crimped/cap area which I missed before this posting. I'm glad I was made aware of that because I probably would have ordered a set!

For driving I think current GM ones will be fine but for judging what would you suggest? The odds of finding original ones are remote at best and if I did, the cost wouldn't be worth it for a few points...maybe for an L88 but not a L36...at least not yet anyways.

Maybe I should look for some older service replacement ones??

About how far back and year range would I have to go to get the right configuration?

Any suggestions are appreciated!

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 shock suggestions please

Greg-----

Any manufactured before ABOUT 5 years ago will have the correct configuration. The "clincher" is that they'll have "Delco Products" embossed on the lower end. If they have that, they'll have the other correct configurational features.

[Greg L.]

Thanks Joe *NM*