I finally got around to installing new shocks on my '81 last
weekend. I had never changed shocks before and it turned out to be
much easier than I thought. While it still doesn't exactly ride
like a Cadillac, there is a noticeable improvement. Well, OK, it
rides a little less like a go-cart and I couldn't get the front end
to bounce off the road on the way to work this morning. Just part
of the ambience….I guess. Anyway, the Monroe shock #94037 from NAPA
is a perfect fit. If you use these shocks, you will need to modify
the lower shock mount bushing slightly.
There is a metal sleeve in the center of this lower bushing you will
need to remove because the diameter is too small for the car shock
mounting. I tried beating it out, didn't work, the glue holding it
is impressive. I ended up taking a ?" drill bit to it. When you
start drilling the sleeve, it heats up and it will spin right out on
your bit. After you get the sleeve out, you will still need to ream
out the hole with the same drill bit before it can be forced on the
car mounting bolt. It probably would have been nice to have a shock
with a sleeve that fits, but the original shocks didn't have them
either and there weren't any wear problems, so I guess it's OK.
Getting rid of twenty-five year old shocks is probably a good thing
to put on the "to do" list. At $22 each, it was worth it.
Neil