Read the below which I got from an Imperial Owners website. You'll see part numbers for KYB and Gabriel. The Gabriel are what I put on my 60 Dodge. The info below was for Imperial but it seems that the same shocks fit a whole lot of different FLs. Using the KYB and Gabriel part numbers you should be able ask anyone else to cross reference them to a different brand. Also attached is a screen shot I saved showing how the dimensions between the Gabriel and KYB compare. A lot of companies don't show these FL applications because the dimensions are not an exact match to the original shocks and they don't want people complaining. Also you sometimes have to grind something slightly to make it fit or get it installed.

Notice the difference in lengths.  The compressed length of the KYB is longer so if you hit a really hard bump you concievealby could mash the KYB whereas the gabrial might not get mashed.  If someone has a set of original factory shocks they could measure it would be interesting to see what their dimensions actually were for length, full extension and full compression.

================ Shock Absorbers - These are now available from Gabriel and KYB for the 1964-66 Imperial. Personal experience with Gabriels on 3 cars have shown that they give out quickly and thus must be frequently replaced. I recently discovered that KYB makes shocks that fits these cars (57-66). KYB’s are twice as expensive, but are 10 times better shock absorbers. They absolutely transform the ride and handling. I strongly recommend them. Front - # KG4507 (trim lower sleeve to 1.25" long) Rear - # KG5511 Update, April 2000. It has been my experience that 82072 Gabriel shock turns to mush pretty quickly. I took them off my Imperial after about 5K miles and one was so limp there was ZERO resistance left in it! I put KYB's on and they transformed the car. The 300 club recently gave the following info. (Note: 1957-61 300's shared the all the same front suspension components.) "Use KYB model KG 4507's in the front. KG5511 in the rear. Front shock, lower mounting tube will have to be trimmed a little to fit in its intended holder on the lower control arm. Remove one of the old shocks, measure the lower tube thru which the mounting bolt goes through, and, using a grinder, trim the KYB's tube to match. Make sure to have a bucket of water next to you, and dip the portion of the shock being ground off repeatedly in the water during grinding, to avoid damage from heat to the rubber bushing around the tube. The KYB's are 200% better than other normal, gas-charged shocks. Well worth the little extra effort in obtaining them and modifying the fronts to install." KYB has a website that can refer you to a local distributor. http://www.kyb.com The KYB shocks I mentioned also fit 1957-66 Imperials. It is possible they fit earlier and later Imperials, but one should verify with KYB first. Note: because of the modification necessary for installing the front shocks, the Imperial application is not listed in any of the KYB catalogs. Thus, be sure you have the part numbers when you go to your KYB dealer. Installation tip, from Jay Mc Kee: I just stepped in from finishing up putting four new KYB Gas-A-Just shock absorbers on our '62 Crown. Here's a tip for installing the front shocks that the gentleman at the parts counter taught me. Some Imperials owners have struggled to compress the gas-charged shock and race to get it into the shock tower before the gas charge fully extends them. Full extension happens within seconds, giving you little time to get the shock into position for mounting before it is too long to fit. It could and often does) take several attempts before you win this race with the shock. Save yourself the frustration by getting the shock into the proper position *before* you begin to extend it. "What?!?" you say. "How can you get the shock into position before extending it?" It's really simple. So simple, I would have never thought of it unless someone else told me about it! Most gas-charged shocks are shipped in their boxes in the "compressed" state. A nylon "strap" holds the shock closed. You will notice that the strap does not go through the shock's bottom mounting hole, it actually goes around it. DO NOT CUT THIS STRAP! You can use it as an installation tool! Compress the shock a little bit further and carefully remove the strap. Install the bottom hardware (dish-shaped washer and rubber doughnut) on the shock's upper mounting pin. Now compress the shock fully and reinstall the strap. The shock now stays compressed, ready for installation! Get the shock into position in the shock tower. Fasten the shock's bottom mount to the control arm. Leave the nut a little loose so the shock will pivot a little bit (this will make pin alignment in the top of the tower easier). Now get a pair or scissors, hobby knife, wire cutters or whatever you like to cut things with. You will need two hands to perform this next amazing trick. The idea is to cut the strap, and at the same time remove it before it get pinched between the mounting hardware and the top of the shock tower. Give it a try... The shock quickly and smoothly extends itself. If the top mounting pin pops through the mounting hole in the top of the tower, you are lucky. If the end of the pin is stopped inside the top of the tower, you are not as lucky, but still in real good shape! nonetheless! If the pin does not pop through the hole, you will need a screwdriver to reach in there to move the pin a little. Eventually it will find its way through the hole in the top of the tower. You're almost home... Install your top mounting hardware, then tighten the lower mounting nut to factory specs. You are done! Piece of cake, huh? =========================

(kyb v gabriel shock dimensions.jpg)

kyb v gabriel shock dimensions.jpg (174KB - 267 downloads)