RE: [FWDLK] [Chrysler300] Shocks - Koni

[christopher beilby <thelastbestgenius@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Can I suggest that for an easier start/option, that you just look at getting orders for front shocks - if so I would take two sets if the price not much more than a $100 a shock.
 
Konis are brilliant on the front of a car that needs good control. I have maybe 3 good original 300C factory fitted shocks, they currently not on my 300Cs. I have put a pair of KYBs on my driver 300C, but they still do not feel as good as they could, nor maybe better than the original 300C front shocks that I removed.
 
My mother had new a late 50s big block Ford Ranchwagon, and we lived up bush at the time. The factory shocks lasted only around 15k miles on aussie country bush bitumen roads/tracks, this in then 70-80 mph everyday cruise speeds.
And the front felt just like 300Cs with KYBS - not out of control, but a bit sloppy over dips etc. I fitted Konis, and boy what a car it made of it - now cruised everywhere at 80-90 mph on good radials. And so I put them on the rear of another newer aussie Ford V8, a hotted up one that was good for 125+ mph, quarter mile in around 14 secs. And in the next few years, I did 180,000 fast miles in that car, over 120k of those I worked out recently at over 100mph cruise speeds. (A cop pulled me up once, said he had tailed me from about 1-2 miles behind for last 15 miles - told me he clocked my speed never below 108mph, and up to 115mph, but after bouncing car to check shocks and seeing top quality high speed radails, said it perfectly safe, just don't do it when cops were around!!) And when I removed the shocks, they were still like new re axction/reaction, despite the steel casings near shotblasted/dinted to hell/nothing, by untold 100+mph stones/grit etc, never mind they often buried in dust/mud.
 
Owners of 300s that are trailer queens do not bother with Konis - but everyone else, if Konis can make a shock to suit our 300s, especially the needy 300 front, it will put the biggest country and town smiles on our/your faces, it will make the car 30-50% more fun/safer.
I have Konis on my old early 70s Lamborghini, rear of my BM 6 series coupe, and recently I have discovered '77/78 TBirds - the ones with 400s and C6 autos - and all those combo ones lack to be a real fun driver's/punter car is better/right shocks, and if Koni make a not too dear one for them, at least 2 of the 4 of them will get them as I can afford. A good driver performance car can be made into a magic drivers/fun car with Konis - boring, more lackluster cars, will gain little from them though.
 
Get those 300 order numbers any way you/we can, you will not be disappointed. Hemi and crossram 300s were just made for Konis to make them even better fun. Go for Koni fronts first, this cheaper than all 4 at once, and if we can, then go for the rears as well later.
 
my two bobs worth - backed by owning/driving over 100 cars from many makers/countries - and my heavy right foot is still younger than my brain/commonsense.
Christopher in Australia
 



To: mmoore8425@xxxxxxx
CC: alumcantandthd@xxxxxxx; l-forwardlook@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; 63-64chryslers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
From: spiers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2011 07:01:30 -0700
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] [Chrysler300] Shocks - Koni


  



Hi Mike - 

I included you and your 300Hs in the "4-1/2" count of possible buyers for these 
Koni shocks. 

I think there is not enough interest worldwide - so far it's me, you, another 
person from the 300 Club Int'l, and possibly Rick from the Forwardlook list (who 
didn't say how many). So, I have not asked the Koni rep anything further than 
the initial availability question below - right now, there is no pricing and no 
consideration to place these back into production..

The low interest in these shocks may just be the nature of the owner of these 
cars - most drivers of these cars take them out on slow Sunday drives, and have 
had them for many years, when there were nice runners available for four weeks' 
pay. In 2011, for many folks, paying more than a modest dinner for two out on 
the town for a set of four shocks is considered excessive - and is reflected by 
the near-zero interest this is generating here.

Myself, I get out in the cut & thrust of I-95 in South Florida and have to 
out-maneuver the media-estimated 30% of drivers who have NO car insurance at 
all. The added control afforded by the $130-$140 KYBs have saved my butt on many 
occasions - but there's room for improvement. I consider the KYBs good 
insurance, and for a one-time purchase, an excellent investment. And the car is 
more pleasant and fun to drive - I can only imagine what the Konis would be 
like. I would surely never go back to the stock-type shock absorber, ever. 

I am copying this discussion over onto the Forwardlook list, and I welcome 
anyone to bring it to the 1959 Plymouth list, the Christine clubs, or any other 
related Mopar auto forum.

John

________________________________

John,
I wonder what price range they are considering. 

I paid $800 per car set for my Jaguars (6 shocks) . 
They made such a terrific difference that I would be willing to buy 2 sets if 
necessary. If they're thinking $100 each, I wonder how it would change if we 
thought in terms of $200 each. 

I would gladly pay $800 for a set of Koni shocks designed by Koni for my car.
I also wonder just where all the same shocks (as ours) were used originally, 
and hopw many of those folks we could interest.
Mike Moore 

On Jul 25, 2011, at 9:13 PM, John wrote:

> CanMan & All!
> 
> I sent the email below to see if there is any interest in Koni shocks for our 
> 1957-1964 Mopars. 
> 
> So far, not including ole CanMan, I have heard interest in the Koni shocks 
> totaling four and a half car sets. Only 45.5 sets to go!! 
> 
> The Koni US factory representative said fifty CAR SETS would be the minimum 
> amount required to have the factory in Holland make a production run. 
> 
> Konis are an adjustable, super-premium shock at a super-premium price, used on 

> many expensive high-speed European sports cars because of their superior 
>control 
>
> characteristics - a car set of four shocks for many cars often runs $600 or 
> more. I know it is nearly impossible to convince someone who is used to paying 

> $15/each for shocks that one could be worth 10x the price. Heck, even the KYBs, 
>
> which I like very much and have on a couple of my early 60s Mopars and other 
> cars, are beyond the pale for many at $30-$40 each - and they are well-worth 
>the 
>
> price in improved handling. I find it a little irritating that the KYBs are 
> made in the Far East, though, but they have proven to be a long-lasting, 
> well-made product. At least the Konis are made in Holland. 
> 
> To tell the story in more detail, I've only had Koni shocks on one car, a 1962 

> Morgan Plus/4. When I got the car in 1980, with well over 100,000 miles on it, 
>I 
>
> ordered Konis right away. Much to my surprise, when I cleaned off the surface 
> rust on the old shocks, they too were Konis, with a 1964 date of manufacture on 
>
> them! The new ones I installed hardly made a difference, and the old ones still 
>
> had one more "click" of adjustment left on them to stiffen up the rebound 
> action, even being 16 years old at the time. I was impressed, and drove that 
> car 65,000 miles in my ownership, with never a concern about shocks. 
> 
> One thing that just came to mind - There are US manufacturers that are making 
> high-performance shocks for the likes of Camaros, Mustangs, etc., - I wonder if 
>
> any of them would take a look at a set of KYBs as an example, and come up with 
>a 
>
> shock for us? Maybe there's a close fit that can be adapted - I'm messing 
> around with a '72 Pinto wagon (who knows why?!), and installed KYBs all around 
>- 
>
> I had read, and since confirmed, that 1980s Camaro rear shocks fit and work 
>very 
>
> well on the rear of the Pinto.
> 
> Cheers.
> 
> John Spiers
> 
> ________________________________

> 
> How many do you have signed up, to get a set?
> 
> How soon is this gonna happen?
> 
> Thanks,,,,,,,,,,,,,
> 
> 
----------------------------------------------------------
> 
> To continue forward with this discussion about shock absorbers at the 300 Club 

> listserver:
> 
> Koni once made front and rear shocks to fit our cars.
> 
> I recall having read a thread on the Imperial Club's website. I found it, and 
> here it is, complete with misspellings:
> 
> Tip from Philippe:
> Just a little story about shock absorbers, I think that it could help you and 
> the Imperial owners. Last year I bought a 57 wrecked Crown (no glasses, rust 
> everywhere, transmission « out »). This car was neglected since 1966 so all the 
>
> parts on it were never replaced with aftermarket parts ! Except one thing : the 
>
> shock absorbers! Maybe the original « Oriflow » weren't as strong as Chrysler 
> said! I was very surprised when I removed the shocks : they aren't « made in 
> Brazil or Mexico » as actual sold by K....R or B......M. There are KONI shocks, 
>
> a very reliable & famous make (more expensive also). But I don't know if Koni 
> make them always. Summit has Koni shocks on his catalog. I give you the 
> reference (as they are the same from 57 to 65) : Front : 80 C 1229 Rear : 82 
> 1066 Date of manufacturing : 11/64 If they are always manufactured, buy them 
>and 
>
> don't buy $80.00 for four : I bought 4 gaz charged absorbers (from kanter) : 
> after one year, one was leaking and one was jamed ! Mexico made ...
> >>Follow-up from Dietmar:
> >>>You are right- KONI is the worlds best qualitiy shock absorbers for street 
>and 
>
> >>>race cars. They will serve You a 100 000 miles without any complain. I use 
>them 
>
> >>>on my IMP 60 so this havy car dont swim nor incline in the curve, I use KONI 
>an 
>
> >>>all sports car I have.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>---
> >>>
> 
> So I sent an email to Koni North America, inquiring about the above mentioned 
> part numbers. Here is the reply:
> 
> From: "Mclaughlin, Paul - ITT Motion Technologies"
> 
> Haven't had those part#'s for years... I think u have to buy 50 cars sets each 
>
> to get run made in Holland.
> 
> Paul McLaughlin
> Koni Shock Absorbers
> ITT Corporation
> Racing Technical Sales Rep.
> 1961A International Way
> Hebron, Ky. 41048
> 800-922-2616 option 6
> 
> ---
> 
> I checked on prices of Koni shocks. They are much more than the KYBs - for 
> example, on Koni's website, a pair of front shocks for a 1970 Dodge Challenger 

> lists for $320/pair (online price, $240) and the rear pair list for $380 
>(online 
>
> price, $285). And they do go for upwards of $500/pair in some cases.
> 
> To make the minimum order, I think it would be difficult to convince a total of 
>
> 50 people worldwide, between both 300 clubs, the Imperial Club, both Christine 

> clubs, and all the members of the Forwardlook list, to drop $600 on a set of 
> Koni shocks, when there are discussions of the KYBs being far too expensive at 
>
> over $100/set . . . and I wouldn't drive another one of these cars without at 
> least KYBs on it. The difference, to you who don't know, is like AM radio 
> versus satellite radio. 
> 
> I personally would buy at least 2 sets of the Konis, after experiencing the 
> profound difference of KYBs, and knowing the Konis are another quantum leap 
> forward - I've only run them 65,000 miles on one car I've owned (a '62 Morgan 
> +4) and was very impressed. One important and interesting feature of the Konis, 
>
> is that they are adjustable for firmness/softness in their rebound action. 
> http://www.koni-na.com/comp.cfm
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> John Spiers
> 
> ________________________________
> 
> 
> There are some H.D. choices out there. Not many cheap one though.
> 
>http://www.amazon.com/Bilstein-Heavy-Duty-Shock-Absorber/dp/B001HIAMWU/ref=au_pf_pfg_s?ie=UTF8&Model=300%7C2489&n=15684181&s=automotive&Make=Chrysler%7C39&Year=1970%7C1970&newCar=1&carId=001
>1
> 
> Bill Huff
> 
> At 7/21/201111:58 AM, Michael Moore wrote:
> >I installed those on my 300H and was grateful to get them.
> >I wish they were stiffer though.
> >Its almost as though there are no shocks on the car, but insofar as 
> >I know, that's all thats available.I wish Koni made a set to fit.
> >Mike Moore
> >300H
> >
> >
> >On Jul 21, 2011, at 8:41 AM, Tony Bevacqua wrote:
> >
> > > KYB shocks. KG4507 and KG 5511 are the correct ones. I just made a
> > > purchase for my 57 (shocks are correct for 1957 to 1964, I believe).
> > > $116.32 for the 4 shocks, plus handling, etc.
> > > Tony
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
> > > Behalf Of Marshall Larson
> > > Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 8:26 AM
> > > To: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > Subject: [Chrysler300] Shocks.
> > >
> > > Any suggestions for an appropriate brand and model of shocks for a G. I
> > > don't need anything exotic, just proper ride and to deal with the radials
> > > that are on the car. All suggestions appreciated.
> > >
> > > MN Marshall
> > >

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