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Shock upgrade recommendations #3071793
08/27/22 11:24 AM
08/27/22 11:24 AM
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,314
Ohio
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jlatessa Offline OP
pro stock
jlatessa  Offline OP
pro stock
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,314
Ohio
Took a long drive Thursday and realized I was not happy with the ride control from OE type shocks.
These are now 10 year old NAPAs that seemed OK then.

This on a 70 RT slightly hopped up with 465 HP, tied frame, torque boxes

But I know there are better shocks out there. I just don't want to spend $600 on a set.
My bars are one size up and rear springs seem to have sufficient arc.

Sooo, If you have any suggestions for a street only application, I'm all ears.

Thanks, Joe

Re: Shock upgrade recommendations [Re: jlatessa] #3071976
08/28/22 02:55 AM
08/28/22 02:55 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,444
So Cal
autoxcuda Offline
Too Many Posts
autoxcuda  Offline
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Posts: 27,444
So Cal
Originally Posted by jlatessa
Took a long drive Thursday and realized I was not happy with the ride control from OE type shocks.
These are now 10 year old NAPAs that seemed OK then.

This on a 70 RT slightly hopped up with 465 HP, tied frame, torque boxes

But I know there are better shocks out there. I just don't want to spend $600 on a set.
My bars are one size up and rear springs seem to have sufficient arc.

Sooo, If you have any suggestions for a street only application, I'm all ears.

Thanks, Joe


What exactly is the size of your Torsion bars?

One size up torsion bars from a stock 383 .90” would be .92” 440/Hemi size.

But to some that might mean the 1.00” common found upgrade bars that PST and other general suspension places sell.

Talked about this in another forum and I think Bilstein RCD shocks are now $550+.

Less than $400/set I think nowadays leaves you with:
KYB
Monroe Matic
Gabriel Classic

All those about $25 +/-

Last edited by autoxcuda; 08/28/22 03:00 AM.
Re: Shock upgrade recommendations [Re: autoxcuda] #3072049
08/28/22 12:13 PM
08/28/22 12:13 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,463
Answering the call of the wild
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ThermoQuad Offline
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ThermoQuad  Offline
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Posts: 2,463
Answering the call of the wild
You should be looking for NOS HD shocks if you don't want to pay for the good shocks. Adjustable shocks are amazing............

There are more than several flavors of oem mopar nos hd shocks that will work for you but i am not doing the homework [research] for you. Rear is easy, front=depends on application

We used to use chevy shevelle [sic] shocks for the 73 up B body front shocks platform - the shocks fit the tight confines and all that needed to be done was change the lower mount interface over to mopar from the chevy = press out the chevy part and press n the mopar part.

Re: Shock upgrade recommendations [Re: ThermoQuad] #3121107
02/13/23 11:31 AM
02/13/23 11:31 AM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,001
Canada
Ghoste Offline
super stock
Ghoste  Offline
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Posts: 1,001
Canada
Tailgating onto this thread as it's basically the same question but what are shock recommendations fir a primarily street driven four speed car? RT Charger, 69, stock springs and torsion bars.


I see a light at the end of the tunnel, and it's... ELECTROLUMINESCENT!
Re: Shock upgrade recommendations [Re: Ghoste] #3121439
02/14/23 01:39 PM
02/14/23 01:39 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,675
South San Francisco, Ca
70sixpkrt Offline
master
70sixpkrt  Offline
master

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,675
South San Francisco, Ca
Bilstein Shocks from FirmFeel.


[img]http://www.imgur.com/hxlGUJt.gif[/img]
4-speed
3:54 Dana
13.01 @107.93 with street tires (not hooking up)
Re: Shock upgrade recommendations [Re: Ghoste] #3121757
02/15/23 02:42 PM
02/15/23 02:42 PM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 265
Anchorage, Alaska
metallicareload Offline
enthusiast
metallicareload  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 265
Anchorage, Alaska
Originally Posted by 70sixpkrt
Bilstein Shocks from FirmFeel.

iagree I typed up a long winded message, but if sticking with nonadujstable, Bilstein is hard to beat. But I also thought parts store stock replacements were fine. I guess I’m not a skilled enough driver to appreciate the difference shruggy


440, 4-Speed, 3.54
1968, when Dinosaurs ruled the Earth
Re: Shock upgrade recommendations [Re: metallicareload] #3121767
02/15/23 03:35 PM
02/15/23 03:35 PM
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 6,174
nowhere
S
Sniper Offline
master
Sniper  Offline
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S

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Posts: 6,174
nowhere
Originally Posted by metallicareload

iagree I typed up a long winded message, but if sticking with nonadujstable, Bilstein is hard to beat. But I also thought parts store stock replacements were fine. I guess I’m not a skilled enough driver to appreciate the difference shruggy


For a street cruiser Bilsteins are overkill. For the OP's budget considerations Bilsteins are a bad recommendation and exactly what the OP asked not to get.

Re: Shock upgrade recommendations [Re: Sniper] #3121775
02/15/23 03:58 PM
02/15/23 03:58 PM
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,440
NW Chicago suburban area
Mopar Mitch Offline
pro stock
Mopar Mitch  Offline
pro stock

Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,440
NW Chicago suburban area
With shocks... you pay for what you get.


Mopar Mitch "Road racers and autocrossers go in deeper and come out harder!"... and rain never stops us from having fun with our cars... in fact, it makes us better drivers! Check out MOPAR ACTION MAGAZINE, August 2006 issue for feature article and specs on my autocross T/A!
Re: Shock upgrade recommendations [Re: Mopar Mitch] #3121795
02/15/23 05:07 PM
02/15/23 05:07 PM
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 6,174
nowhere
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Sniper Offline
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Sniper  Offline
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Posts: 6,174
nowhere
Originally Posted by Mopar Mitch
With shocks... you pay for what you get.


With Moparts you get the answer no one asked for.

Go back and read what the OP was asking for.

Re: Shock upgrade recommendations [Re: Sniper] #3121811
02/15/23 06:10 PM
02/15/23 06:10 PM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 21,808
Kirkland, Washington
Pacnorthcuda Offline
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Posts: 21,808
Kirkland, Washington
If you hate stiff shocks, go with Monroe. If you like stiff shocks, KYB. If you want a quality shock at a better price than Bilsteins, look at Koni.

Re: Shock upgrade recommendations [Re: Ghoste] #3121839
02/15/23 07:50 PM
02/15/23 07:50 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,385
Pikes Peak Country
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TC@HP2 Offline
master
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Pikes Peak Country
For a stock suspended, street cruiser that has no race plans, Monroe or Gabriel gas shock are a decent step up over stock oil shocks to provide a noticeably improved ride without being harsh or costing a chunk of money. These are still good for one step up from stock rates, but they must be gas charged. Once you get up to 1.0" t-bars, they won't have enough control to provide the best results and you need to prepare to fork over some money.

With that said, I will point out that the shocks are the heart of a suspension system and they define its control range and performance. Like a camshaft controls the performance range of an engine, so do shocks make a suspension great or lousy if they are not all set up to compliment each other.

Re: Shock upgrade recommendations [Re: jlatessa] #3122454
02/17/23 10:46 PM
02/17/23 10:46 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 30,947
Oregon
A
AndyF Offline
I Win
AndyF  Offline
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Posts: 30,947
Oregon
Originally Posted by jlatessa
Took a long drive Thursday and realized I was not happy with the ride control from OE type shocks.
These are now 10 year old NAPAs that seemed OK then.

This on a 70 RT slightly hopped up with 465 HP, tied frame, torque boxes

But I know there are better shocks out there. I just don't want to spend $600 on a set.
My bars are one size up and rear springs seem to have sufficient arc.

Sooo, If you have any suggestions for a street only application, I'm all ears.

Thanks, Joe


My recommendation is to buy a set of Koni shocks for the front. I know they are more expensive than you want to pay but once you drive the car with the Koni front shocks you'll be convinced. And they'll basically last forever on a street driver, especially if you keep the car in a garage.

Re: Shock upgrade recommendations [Re: AndyF] #3122507
02/18/23 11:54 AM
02/18/23 11:54 AM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,936
GA
roadrunninMark Offline
master
roadrunninMark  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,936
GA
How about the Hotchkis street performance shocks? Not much more than the Konis.

Which model Konis are the ones being mentioned?

Last edited by roadrunninMark; 02/18/23 12:06 PM.
Re: Shock upgrade recommendations [Re: roadrunninMark] #3122577
02/18/23 04:17 PM
02/18/23 04:17 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,196
ILLINOIS
V
volaredon Online content
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volaredon  Online Content
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,196
ILLINOIS
If you can still find them I have had the best luck over the years with Gabriel shocks.

Re: Shock upgrade recommendations [Re: roadrunninMark] #3122647
02/18/23 08:57 PM
02/18/23 08:57 PM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,713
Central Florida
larrymopar360 Offline
Stud Muffin
larrymopar360  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,713
Central Florida
Originally Posted by roadrunninMark
How about the Hotchkis street performance shocks? Not much more than the Konis.

Which model Konis are the ones being mentioned?
I don't think he'll find more than one model Koni for '70


Facts are stubborn things.
Re: Shock upgrade recommendations [Re: jlatessa] #3125060
02/27/23 04:18 PM
02/27/23 04:18 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,007
Bend,OR USA
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Cab_Burge Offline
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Cab_Burge  Offline
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Posts: 43,007
Bend,OR USA
What do you want the car to do with the shock change, soft ride, better cornering, acceleration or ?


Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: Shock upgrade recommendations [Re: Cab_Burge] #3125127
02/27/23 09:27 PM
02/27/23 09:27 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,196
ILLINOIS
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volaredon Online content
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volaredon  Online Content
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Posts: 2,196
ILLINOIS
I've always had the beat ride out of the top of the line Gabriel's.
monroe shocks universally suck.







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