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New User
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| I need to replace the front shocks on my '55 Savoy. An old post on this forum suggests using KYB-4507 and grinding down the attachment eye and bushing. Is this still the best recommendation?
Thanks,
David
Edited by Mowog 2013-06-09 12:14 PM
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Expert
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Location: N.W. Fla. | That's what I use on my '60 Plym. There's a horizontal mounting tube that you grind down or cut off on either side of to match the narrowed shock mounts that used, vses the wider ones used on the later Mopars that the shock is for.
Edited by Mopar1 2013-06-09 1:03 PM
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Expert 5K+
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Location: So. Cal | No! That is the wrong one for a '55-'56. You need KG4550 from a mid 70's Corvette.
Edited by Powerflite 2013-06-10 1:47 AM
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Expert
Posts: 3033
Location: N.W. Fla. | Powerflite - 2013-06-10 12:46 AM
No! That is the wrong one for a '55-'56. You need KG4550 from a mid 70's Corvette. That would seem to match his comment of grinding down the bushing also, was wondering about that. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 792
Location: Buena Park, CA | Powerflite is absolutely correct. Based on his earlier suggestion in another thread, I have the KG4550's on my 56' Plymouth. |
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Expert
Posts: 1207
Location: Ponder, TX | Not meaning to hijack the thread, but I also need rear shocks after swapping in a '70 B-body rearend. The '70 mounting plate studs are in a slightly different location than those on the stock '56 axle, but not sure if the minor length difference will require a different rear shock. Opinions? |
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Expert
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Location: N.W. Fla. | GaryS - 2013-06-10 1:25 PM
Not meaning to hijack the thread, but I also need rear shocks after swapping in a '70 B-body rearend. The '70 mounting plate studs are in a slightly different location than those on the stock '56 axle, but not sure if the minor length difference will require a different rear shock. Opinions? How minor is minor? I'd think it wouldn't be a huge difference. |
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Expert
Posts: 1207
Location: Ponder, TX | I just went through a move half way across Texas, so I no longer have the old rear end to measure exactly, but as I recall, the angle on the new one is a few degrees less and the length about an inch longer. |
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| different meaning longer? |
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Expert
Posts: 3033
Location: N.W. Fla. | When I changed to a 9" axle the OEM plate fitted right on it, so no worries about the shocks. |
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Expert 5K+
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Location: So. Cal | GaryS - 2013-06-11 9:08 AM
I just went through a move half way across Texas, so I no longer have the old rear end to measure exactly, but as I recall, the angle on the new one is a few degrees less and the length about an inch longer.
I put a B-body axle in mine too. But I welded a shock mount to the back of the axle pad like the original had. That way, I could just reuse my original '56 plates.
But, when I looked at using the B-body shock plate, you are right that it puts it at a different angle and is further down - but it is almost the same length because it puts the mount further inward as well. It is almost like rotating the shock around its top axis keeping the length the same. Maybe slightly longer, but I wouldn't worry about length difference because it is pretty negligible and shouldn't affect the shock much. |
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New User
Posts: 4
| Thanks Powerflite and others for the good info.
David |
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New User
Posts: 4
| Thanks again for the good advice. I replaced the rear shocks with Monroe and got the KG4550 for the front. The modification is easy and can be done with a file or a die grinder. I had to use a small floor jack (bottle jack would also work) to compress the shock into place at the bottom. If you're doing this job, it's probably good to carefully inspect and replace the lower bolts if they seem tired (gr. 5, 3/8"-24tpi x 1.375").
One of my front shocks was labeled Delco and appeared to be original; the other one was unbranded with a shorter tube and a larger bushing, which had failed. Needless to say the ride is dramatically improved.
David |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 664
Location: Wales, Wisconsin | Are the rear shocks still available and if so what is the part number you have used.
Thanks, John |
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New User
Posts: 4
| Hello John,
Yes, the rear shocks are widely available. I chose Monroe #31131. They were about US$15.00 each from Rock Auto. They bolt right on with no modifications. Here are the specs:
Compressed Length: 14.125"
Extended Length : 23.375"
Travel: 9.250"
Cheers,
David
Edited by Mowog 2013-07-01 2:52 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 664
Location: Wales, Wisconsin | Thanks, John |
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Front shocks 1955 Plymouth
