Topic: Heavy Duty Shocks

[BKnapp]

Marty I was wondering what you may have turned up at the St Augustine show?

I have found Gabriel HD and Motorcraft HD for the rear...one with fine threads the other with coarse. I am wondering which one to go with

[J_Speegle]

I have found Gabriel HD and Motorcraft HD for the rear...one with fine threads the other with coarse. I am wondering which one to go with

Neither are likely going to look like factory shocks. Of course this is without seeing a picture or seeing the two.

Do the rears look like the tube style shown earlier in this thread?

[ruppstang]

Marty I was wondering what you may have turned up at the St Augustine show?]



The unrestored 67S code did not show up in St Augustine.  So got no further information on the subject.

[BKnapp]

Neither are likely going to look like factory shocks. Of course this is without seeing a picture or seeing the two.

Do the rears look like the tube style shown earlier in this thread?

I have looked at so many pictures over so many threads, but here are some pictures. Obviously what ever is purchased will get filled and painted. It looks like thread (coarse or fine) is one of the determine factors. I don't plan on this car being a concours judged car, so not worth wasting an exactly correct Autolite set. My current front shocks do stick out like a sore thumb as they are white with the concave type bushing housing.

Thanks

[Bob Gaines]

Bill,use the fine thread then on the back and motorcraft in the picture for fronts given your last post.

[BKnapp]

Thanks Bob...probably not ideal, but that what I had in the cart. Thanks for the input.

[J_Speegle]

I have looked at so many pictures over so many threads, but here are some pictures. Obviously what ever is purchased will get filled and painted. It looks like thread (coarse or fine) is one of the determine factors. I don't plan on this car being a concours judged car, so not worth wasting an exactly correct Autolite set. My current front shocks do stick out like a sore thumb as they are white with the concave type bushing housing.

Given your application I would use for the front shock the non-Motorcraft shock (Bob's likely thinking of Shelbys rather than Mustang application) - third picture in your post of four  . What your looking for is one without the bell shaped tube for your application. Remove the sticker. Check for stampings in the body  - including the top shock bushing tube at the top and the possible "57" stamped there





For the rears - since your building a San Jose car your looking to reproduce the look of a 67 MADE IN USA shock which would have the threads as shwon below. Do the same - remove the stickers, make any stampings go away and repaint them (like the fronts) with semi-gloss black






Hope this helps

[Bob Gaines]

Given your application I would use for the front shock the non-Motorcraft shock (Bob's likely thinking of Shelbys rather than Mustang application) - third picture in your post of four  . What your looking for is one without the bell shaped tube for your application. Remove the sticker. Check for stampings in the body  - including the top shock bushing tube at the top and the possible "57" stamped there





For the rears - since your building a San Jose car your looking to reproduce the look of a 67 MADE IN USA shock which would have the threads as shwon below. Do the same - remove the stickers, make any stampings go away and repaint them (like the fronts) with semi-gloss black






Hope this helps

Jeff, is watching my back thank you very much. Fronts would look better on the bottom side as Jeff suggested.

[BKnapp]

I haven't pulled the trigger yet...one less incorrect part to throw on the shelf.👍 Thanks for chiming in Jeff. Would those rear shocks be considered fine or coarse thread?

Thanks!

[J_Speegle]

I haven't pulled the trigger yet...one less incorrect part to throw on the shelf.👍 Thanks for chiming in Jeff. Would those rear shocks be considered fine or coarse thread?

Sorry took so long but wanted to pull some and double check in person.

MADE IN USA = course threads on all the ones I have

[BKnapp]

Thanks Jeff... You always go the extra mile. I did order them and we'll see what I get. Pretty sure the rears I ordered have the fine threads😕. Any one looking for incorrect cheap rear shocks? I have a garage full of other incorrect things as well😉.

[preaction]

Bill, where are you located ?

[BKnapp]

Chaska, MN

[67gtasanjose]

Jeff, that last shock you pictured is exactly what I had on my San Jose GTA fastback, properly date coded.  Picture in post #2

I am re-reading this entire thread this morning and again, John's comment stands out to me as basically unanswered...He is saying that his "C-Code" San Jose built GT had dated correct, "fine thread" shocks on the rear. Is this an anomaly? Is it something else?

Then I read Jeff's reply to John's (above) quote and my brain then begs a question:

Is it possible the asemblyline shock absorbers (possibly front AND rear) COULD have differed depending on engine application? (are the C-code and A-codes different than the S-code cars?)

[67gta289]

Richard,

Based on Jeff's research, I can't argue that the made in USA version with normal threads was most prevalent on San Jose vehicles.  There is ample evidence of that.

However...my perfectly dated pair of fine threaded made in Canada rear shocks throws a wrench into the theory that ALL San Jose shocks were made in USA.

Since the part number lines up perfectly, I can't see why the engine type would have anything to do with it.

Finding more cars with original shocks is not easy, as you know.  If we did, we might find a narrow window where Canadian shocks were used on the line.

We did discuss in a previous post the theory that the rear shocks were replaced under warranty.  However, to end up with a pair of shocks dated 6L when the car was built in 6M would be moving from one mystery to another.

John