Re: [Chrysler300] Need shocks for 1957 300C

[Michael Moore <mmoore8425@xxxxxxx>]

John,
I can add this to your comments:
I did a 100% restoration to a 1963 S1 E Type Jaguar a few years ago. Every single part was either rebuilt or replaced with new . I sent the Koni shocks in for rebuild to Kentucky, but they sent me back brand new ones as replacements . I was crazy about the handling.

My son drove it, and asked me to build one for him. Mine was absolutely stock, but he wanted all the boy racer stuff on his,i.e., headers, ported, big cam, big valves, big tires, upgraded suspension etc. His shocks were very expensive "billet aluminum" (you KNOW that's gotta be better)adjustable  shocks.
 I have driven older Ford F-100's which handled and rode better. It was awful. I worked with the shock mfgr, adjusting spring perch heights, swapping out springs etc, and it was still awful. Finally, I gave up and returned them and exchanged them for a set of Koni's and stock springs. Amazing difference. 
Changing just the shocks for Koni's transformed the car.(One big difference is the E Type had 4 coil-overs on the rear as stock)
Mike Moore
300H
 
On Mar 15, 2013, at 10:41 AM, John Lazenby <french_fryguy@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I guess I should get into this.  I've sold Koni, Bilstein for 40 years and KYB and Tokico for the past 20.  Before I go any further I'm no longer offering any of these so you need to find your own source.
 
Koni and Bilsteins are the far superior of the four brands.  My opinion from personal use is Koni is the best choice for street and road driving.  The adjustment factor that Gil mentioned is actually for wear and if memory serves me there are about six settings.  The way this is accomplished is compress the shock and turn it 180o and then extend it to stiffen to the next level.  Koni shocks are rebuild-able and I think would last several lifetimes on our cars for the amount of driving they actually see.
 
Bilstein is a gas shock and is self adjusting.  You can actually contact Bilstein in the San Diego area and if you can get to an engineer you can have them valve shocks to your needs.  I've never done this but know some who have.
 
My experience with them has been in the off road market where they seem to do their best.  Highway application compared to Koni is a bit more harsh and because the valving is predetermined you live with it.
 
Tokico is a good product that I would personally rate a step down from Bilstein but that is a big step.  They are gas shocks and work on the same principle as the Bilstein.  A few years ago Chrysler was using this brand from the factory but I don't know if that continues today.
 
KYB offers gas shocks and would be yet another step down.  They tend to offer somewhat of a harsh ride especially in lighter cars.  Both KYB and Tokico come from Japan, Bilstein is German and Koni from Holland.
 
Some of my Chryslers use KYB because of cost and the limited amount of use they get.  They are an improvement over the originals but if I was willing to step up to the Bilstein or Koni I'm sure the difference would be noticeable.
 
Both of my VW sedans run Koni.  My pretty much stock '63 offers a firm and controlled ride.  The '60 Hot Rod (200HP) also runs Koni but the fronts have been modified for the front end being lowered and less rebound for weight transfer on those hard launches.
 
It all comes down to how much do you want to spend and what results you are after.  Hope this will be of some assistance in deciding what is best for your need.
 
John Lazenby


________________________________
From: "lettercars@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@aol.com>
To: rfmelton@xxxxxxx; chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
Sent: Friday, March 15, 2013 9:22 AM
Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] Need shocks for 1957 300C

  

All:
Way back in the day ('60s) I put a set on Konis on my 300C. They were 
adjustable and I set them at about 1/3 stiffness. I was very happy with them. 
Haven't driven the car in about 40 years, so can't say how they would 
have held up.
However, I have been pleased with the KYBs on my F and H. I think, 
however, I am now detecting a little "loosening" of control in the 300F after 
10,000 or so miles.
300ly, Gil Cunningham
Tallahassee, FL

In a message dated 3/14/2013 11:19:14 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, 
mailto:rfmelton%40msn.com writes:

Hello Group -

I am restoring my late father's 1957 Chrysler 300C, and am currently 
working
on the suspension. Although the shocks on the car seem to work OK, I know
they are not original (fronts are blue Monroes, rear are no-name black
ones), so while the front end is apart and shocks are easily accessible, I
would like to replace them with modern gas-charged shocks that are
appropriately valved for the stiffer suspension on the 300C, rather than 
for
the supposedly softer spring rates on the New Yorker, for example. Andy
Bernbaum has gas-charged shocks, but admits that they are not really
anything different for the 300C; they are merely applicable all across the
line.

I recall (but can't find) previous correspondence on this subject, talking
about gas-charged KYB shocks. Can anyone please refer me to a current
source (and applicable FT/RR part numbers, if available) for the Heavy-Duty
shocks (any brand) for my car?

Thanks,

Ray Melton

Las Cruces, NM

1957 Chrysler 300C convertible white/Gauguin S/N 3N572517

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