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,
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>
> 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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