Shocks

51Hudson
51Hudson Senior Contributor
edited January 2012 in HUDSON
Hi everyone, I am looking for some new shocks for my 51 Hudson Super Six. According to the previous owners records he gave me, the last time the shocks where changed out was December 5 1975. So 36 years later, I think it is time for new ones. So my questions are, what are the part numbers to the front and rear shocks and where can I find them(like Auto Zone or Napa)? Thanks again for any help. I'm trying to get a few more things done to her this winter to get her ready for the spring. Last winter is when I rescued her, put new brakes on her, a new clutch, four layers of wax(needs a few more) and a few other things.

Comments

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Monroe # 3008 front
    Monroe # 3035 rear
    according to my old swaps book
    Roger
  • 51Hudson
    51Hudson Senior Contributor
    Tallent R wrote:
    Monroe # 3008 front
    Monroe # 3035 rear
    according to my old swaps book
    Roger

    Well I took these numbers up to Napa. He looked in his computer before I gave him those numbers. He has a listing for the rears but no front. So I gave him the Monroe front number and it would not come up with anything even if he crossed referenced it. So he said if I bring the old one up he can try to match it up to one in his book. Well I went to the garage to get the shock and it hit me, the previous owner left me a whole bunch of papers and one of them was the old swap book. Looking in the book I see those numbers you gave me and a few more. So I went back up to Napa with those numbers. They still did no good. Now here comes the good part, below those numbers it said you can use the shocks out of a 49-54 Chevy or a 52-56 Ford. He looks up a front shock for the Chevy and the Ford and they both where the same shock and that shock looked identical to the Hudson's. So he ordered me two of them and they should be in tomorrow. I also noticed today that Advance Auto Parts sells the front but it is something like 78 dollars for one and Napa's ones are 35 dollars for one. I will let you guys now how the shock works out.
  • brumac
    brumac Expert Adviser
    I am using Monroe 5751 on the front and 94080 at the rear. Both sets are gas and no problems.

    Bruce
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Yes , I'm sorry I guess I should have given more of the options. You are right the book gives you several directions to try,
    Roger
  • 51Hudson
    51Hudson Senior Contributor
    Tallent R wrote:
    Yes , I'm sorry I guess I should have given more of the options. You are right the book gives you several directions to try,
    Roger

    Thanks again for all of your help.
  • dwardo99
    dwardo99 Expert Adviser
    When you get them, make sure they collapse and extend far enough. Especially collapse. When I got my Hornet it rode like a truck and banged over bumps and I finally figured out that the rear shocks were reaching the limit of their travel well before the spring hit the bump stop.
  • 51Hudson
    51Hudson Senior Contributor
    dwardo99 wrote:
    When you get them, make sure they collapse and extend far enough. Especially collapse. When I got my Hornet it rode like a truck and banged over bumps and I finally figured out that the rear shocks were reaching the limit of their travel well before the spring hit the bump stop.

    Thanks, I picked them up today and they look a lot better than the old ones. I did not put them on yet but so far it seems the new front ones collapse more than the old one's did so hopefully there will be no problem. But I will not know for sure until the spring time comes around and I can take it for a drive.
  • 51Hudson
    51Hudson Senior Contributor
    Well I got everything changed out today. Overall it was an easy job. The old shocks where definitely worn out. It should make the ride a lot better and now I can't wait till the spring to test out the ride. Thanks again to everyone that helped.
  • StillOutThere
    StillOutThere Expert Adviser
    In a perfect collector car hobby world, once original specification shock absorbers became obsolete and replacements had to be sourced, we would be able to find a new, current shock that had both a bit less compressed length and a bit more extended length. Were that possible, then whether an individual model and its driver's habit were more likely to bottom out the car or to get it airborne, the shock would travel the full original distance with reserve. Even with the multiplicity of shock companies out there and the cars to be fitted, there isn't that luxury of availability for every application.

    Seldom, unless you are a competitive road racer, do we max out the extended length by getting collector cars airborne. How many Ivan Zaremba Hornets are out there? For that matter, has anyone asked him what shocks he used during ownership of that vintage race competition car?

    Far more of a problem is that coil and leaf springs in a collector car are aged and the car is much more likely to bottom out. Additionally, very high durometer rubber bumpers the factory fitted to take the near-bottom out have significantly deteriorated due to age, heat, grease and have become marshmallows or broken off. Thus, finding a shorter compressed length shock is ALWAYS critical. Okay not always; the rare restorer purchases new springs and returns the car to original ride height.

    Since I only have a '34 Terraplane, with still functional factory shocks (!!!), I haven't had to find Stepdown shocks of this nature, but if I were looking, I would be in KYB's online dimensional catalog pages. Their Gas-Adjust line provides a superior handling and functioning ride without harshness.
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