The original spiral tube shocks served well in the Gp over 43 years, the Russians thought they were still ok, but it was time to install the Bilsteins I bought over the winter.
An absolute 100% improvement in the way the car rides, handles and stops. More firm, but not harsh in any way. Total attitude change. Worth every penny.
The car now sits just a little higher, it's hilarious when you try to push down and bounce a corner now compared to before.
Now if I can just get that rear stabilizer bar from Carl....
Original Grey Delco spiral tube shocks. 58000 miles and the rears showed no shaft leakage when extended out. Made in Canada no less!
427carl said
Mar 18, 2010
I just looked it up the sway bar will not work on Russian car Its for a Pontiac... I was thinking of mailing it to you 3 pieces should work?
4SPEED427 said
Mar 18, 2010
I hope you save those shocks.
Store them in a right side up manner.
2qwik2c said
Mar 18, 2010
What are the part #'s on the shocks??
cdnpont said
Mar 18, 2010
You guys are telling me someone might actually want these old shocks?
Delco Canada
Front,
3186990 7 F 8
Rear,
319245(3)? 7 F 8
Unfortunately, one of the front shocks has had the shaft thread cut. The nut was totaly frozen so I zip cut it. I suppose a new thread could be welded back on.
2qwik2c said
Mar 18, 2010
cdnpont wrote:
You guys are telling me someone might actually want these old shocks?
Delco Canada
Front,
3186990 7 F 8
Rear,
319245(3)? 7 F 8
Unfortunately, one of the front shocks has had the shaft thread cut. The nut was totaly frozen so I zip cut it. I suppose a new thread could be welded back on.
I would if they were for H.D. suspension.
4SPEED427 said
Mar 18, 2010
cdnpont wrote:
You guys are telling me someone might actually want these old shocks?
Delco Canada
Front,
3186990 7 F 8
Rear,
319245(3)? 7 F 8
Unfortunately, one of the front shocks has had the shaft thread cut. The nut was totaly frozen so I zip cut it. I suppose a new thread could be welded back on.
Mark, I would advise you to preserve any part you remove from this car that you know to be original, if at all possible.
Canadian Poncho said
Mar 18, 2010
Some of those spiral shocks are worth big bucks.
My Laurentian still has spirals. I'll have to upgrade this year.
cdnpont said
Mar 18, 2010
Carl Stevenson wrote:
cdnpont wrote:
You guys are telling me someone might actually want these old shocks?
Delco Canada
Front,
3186990 7 F 8
Rear,
319245(3)? 7 F 8
Unfortunately, one of the front shocks has had the shaft thread cut. The nut was totaly frozen so I zip cut it. I suppose a new thread could be welded back on.
Mark, I would advise you to preserve any part you remove from this car that you know to be original, if at all possible.
You're right Carl. I will save anything removed.
And I should have probably taken a little more time and effort to remove that stubborn nut.
On the talk of originality... from underneath, I noticed that the rear springs still have their tags intact. Orange colour with perfectly ledgible numbers. Kind of neat to see.
4SPEED427 said
Mar 18, 2010
I would take good pictures of any stuff like those tags Mark.
cdnpont said
Mar 18, 2010
I had the car out for a nice long drive this evening.
Up Cedar springs road...behind a BMW. Surprised him just a hair, and scared myself...take it easy boy, this thing needs more work, but the wide rubber really digs in. Did a little jaunt at the end coming back on the QEW between Oakville and Burlington. Hooked into the fast lane and took command of it! 80 mph in traffic. The sideglances were priceless, and cars do get out of the way, unlike driving a minivan. These shocks have totaly woke the car right up! I cant say enough about the difference. Just two days ago she did some highway...in the slow lane, bobbing, darting and weaving when encountering uneven pavement. Not a confidence builder in the least.
So Todd, these are the shocks you need, and will even more so with the BB.
Next we'll change the front upper control arm, and strut rod, and stabilizer bushings. Get a Tiny's old school alignment. Add a rear bar.
Duals from budget exhaust in Burlington with Magnaflows coming in a few weeks. Stainless 650, Aluminized 450...do I bother with SS?
The Russians would certainly approve.
pontorquer said
Mar 18, 2010
Mark, What about a dual exhaust system on your car, what size engine is in it ?
cdnpont said
Mar 18, 2010
pontorquer wrote:
Mark, What about a dual exhaust system on your car, what size engine is in it ?
It's 327/275HP Pascal.
It's somthing the car really needs. The single system is really rather sad. No sound really, just a hiss more or less, and it looks like total crap from the back. I'll go with factory looking tips, just peeking out on an angle from the corners of the bumper.
pontorquer said
Mar 18, 2010
She'll be a happy engine as well ie breath better ...
StriperSS said
Mar 18, 2010
You'll never regret those Bilsteins. I've put them in quite a few of my cars, and have them in my wagon now.
Canadian Poncho said
Mar 19, 2010
What's the part number for the Bilsteins Mark?
cdnpont said
Mar 19, 2010
Todd,
Front F4-B46-1104-H0
Rear F4-B46-0929-H0
67SD396 said
Mar 23, 2010
Hey Mark,
Dual exhaust will be a huge improvement for sure. My only question to you would be, have you heard the Magnaflow mufflers? They have a very unique sound and I wouldn't call it "old school". I have Magnaflows on my G8 and Flowmasters on my daily driver 96 Caprice and Dynomax on the 95 Impala SS. All have a different sound. I would say the the most classic car sound of all of them comes from the Flowmasters. They are not pretty but they do sound nice. The Magnaflows are beautiful when you crawl underneath for a peak but they also give off the most drone in the car at cruising speeds. The Dynomax have served me well for 9 years on the Impala SS and they sound pretty nice too. Not trying to point you away from the Magnaflows at all but I just wanted you to know they do sound quite a bit different from the other two brands I have tried.
Any other guys with thoughts on different muffler they have tried?
cdnpont said
Mar 23, 2010
67SD396 wrote:
Hey Mark, Dual exhaust will be a huge improvement for sure. My only question to you would be, have you heard the Magnaflow mufflers? They have a very unique sound and I wouldn't call it "old school". I have Magnaflows on my G8 and Flowmasters on my daily driver 96 Caprice and Dynomax on the 95 Impala SS. All have a different sound. I would say the the most classic car sound of all of them comes from the Flowmasters. They are not pretty but they do sound nice. The Magnaflows are beautiful when you crawl underneath for a peak but they also give off the most drone in the car at cruising speeds. The Dynomax have served me well for 9 years on the Impala SS and they sound pretty nice too. Not trying to point you away from the Magnaflows at all but I just wanted you to know they do sound quite a bit different from the other two brands I have tried.
Any other guys with thoughts on different muffler they have tried?
Thanks for the advice Mike. I hate droning. I've had Dynomax mufflers on cars before, and I did think they sounded nice. No experiance with flowmasters.
I'm not set on any particular brand.
Canadian Poncho said
Mar 23, 2010
Mark, have you heard my Pontiac? I really like the sound of the Waldrons mufflers.
66CatfromBuffalo said
Mar 23, 2010
Bilsteins, glasspacks or cherry bombs
-- Edited by 66CatfromBuffalo on Tuesday 23rd of March 2010 11:38:29 AM
cdnpont said
Mar 23, 2010
I have heard your car Todd, and it sounds great.
I think I'll start an exhaust post.
Cherry Bombs?
66CatfromBuffalo said
Mar 23, 2010
cdnpont wrote:
I have heard your car Todd, and it sounds great.
I think I'll start an exhaust post.
Cherry Bombs?
Loud and abnoxious glass pack type mufflers Glass Packs are like the Grateful Dead, either you lovem or hatem Exhaust post would be great
-- Edited by 66CatfromBuffalo on Tuesday 23rd of March 2010 12:21:24 PM
The original spiral tube shocks served well in the Gp over 43 years, the Russians thought they were still ok, but it was time to install the Bilsteins I bought over the winter.
An absolute 100% improvement in the way the car rides, handles and stops. More firm, but not harsh in any way. Total attitude change. Worth every penny.
The car now sits just a little higher, it's hilarious when you try to push down and bounce a corner now compared to before.
Now if I can just get that rear stabilizer bar from Carl....
Original Grey Delco spiral tube shocks. 58000 miles and the rears showed no shaft leakage when extended out. Made in Canada no less!
Delco Canada
Front,
3186990
7 F 8
Rear,
319245(3)?
7 F 8
Unfortunately, one of the front shocks has had the shaft thread cut. The nut was totaly frozen so I zip cut it. I suppose a new thread could be welded back on.
I would if they were for H.D. suspension.
And I should have probably taken a little more time and effort to remove that stubborn nut.
On the talk of originality... from underneath, I noticed that the rear springs still have their tags intact. Orange colour with perfectly ledgible numbers. Kind of neat to see.
Up Cedar springs road...behind a BMW. Surprised him just a hair, and scared myself...take it easy boy, this thing needs more work, but the wide rubber really digs in. Did a little jaunt at the end coming back on the QEW between Oakville and Burlington.
Hooked into the fast lane and took command of it! 80 mph in traffic. The sideglances were priceless, and cars do get out of the way, unlike driving a minivan. These shocks have totaly woke the car right up! I cant say enough about the difference.
Just two days ago she did some highway...in the slow lane, bobbing, darting and weaving when encountering uneven pavement. Not a confidence builder in the least.
So Todd, these are the shocks you need, and will even more so with the BB.
Next we'll change the front upper control arm, and strut rod, and stabilizer bushings.
Get a Tiny's old school alignment.
Add a rear bar.
Duals from budget exhaust in Burlington with Magnaflows coming in a few weeks.
Stainless 650, Aluminized 450...do I bother with SS?
The Russians would certainly approve.
It's somthing the car really needs. The single system is really rather sad.
No sound really, just a hiss more or less, and it looks like total crap from the back.
I'll go with factory looking tips, just peeking out on an angle from the corners of the bumper.
Front
F4-B46-1104-H0
Rear
F4-B46-0929-H0
I've had Dynomax mufflers on cars before, and I did think they sounded nice.
No experiance with flowmasters.
I'm not set on any particular brand.
-- Edited by 66CatfromBuffalo on Tuesday 23rd of March 2010 11:38:29 AM
I think I'll start an exhaust post.
Cherry Bombs?
Glass Packs are like the Grateful Dead, either you lovem or hatem
Exhaust post would be great
-- Edited by 66CatfromBuffalo on Tuesday 23rd of March 2010 12:21:24 PM