[Pershing]

I am looking for recommendations for shocks for my '67 GTO. The ones on the car are about 12 years old and are getting tired. The car is used only in good weather for cruising and to local shows. Not a daily driver and not a race car. Improving the ride and handling would be a nice benefit. Thanks.

[Goatracer1]

Just buy stock replacement shocks. Unless you do autocross or something you won't notice the difference between stock and hipo.

[Pershing]

Thanks. that's easy.

[lust4speed]

That might be an over simplification though. Cheap shocks might not be much better than what you are taking off the car. Our 67's are always going to handle like locomotives and if we can decrease some of the worse quirks the car is going to be better off for it. Might be the difference of a safe emergency maneuver and ending up in a ditch.

I went to Bilstein's and feel they were worth the additional money - and I only go fast in a straight line. I tried KYB's on another car and they were gone within the year and their quality now sucks. The Bilstein's have been on the GTO for 3 years and perform like the day I installed them.

[GT182]

How about a set of airshocks for the rear? Helps a lot if you put any weight in the trunk. Or if you use wider than stock rear tires. The lip and the chrome trim are so wide that the tires will rub. Especially with extra weight in the trunk, or people in the back seat. They can improve the just the ride too with no added weight. Up front use the best shocks you can. Cheapies are a waste of good money.

[Kenth]

I have since 25+ years Delco gas shocks on both my GTO´s (Delco Superlift on my 66 since they were a factory option on my car) and they are still fine.

I don´t know about Delco quality today, but i have found their Superlift shocks they sell today are the same as Gabriel.

FWIW

[Jeff Hamlin]

I agree, seems every time a New Flavor is released everything prior is labeled as junk

[chrisp]

Set of Gabriel gas shocks will be good for a nice ride & many years to follow.

[dataway]

Are all the OEM looking "reproduction" shocks basically garbage dressed up to look like OEM?
That's what I put on my 68 when I thought it was going to matter to me, but now I'm leaning more toward what will actually work.

[Pershing]

Mick: your comments are interesting since I thought KYB and Bilstein were about the same quality level. Eaton Spring sells KYB and they are local to me so I thought they would be an easy choice. Any more thoughts? thanks again

[GT182]

Originally Posted by dataway

Are all the OEM looking "reproduction" shocks basically garbage dressed up to look like OEM?

That would be my guess. For the front of my GTO I used KYB shocks. It doesn't really matter to me if they aren't original as most of the car isn't. And it's not judged that closely, if it ever is. I chased a concours judge away years ago as I was register in the Modified class.

He wasn't much of a judge anyways. He didn't know crap about Pontiacs. He made me lift the hood and asked, "Is this a big block?". I just walked away and told him to get away from my car.

[242177P]

Originally Posted by Pershing

... thought KYB and Bilstein were about the same quality level.

KYBs (at least the ones I bought) were unnecessarily harsh. If you live in an area with *perfect* roads, they're fine, but I switched to some Monroe gas shocks and if I were faced with same situation I would do it again in a heartbeat.

And when I looked around on the internet, I saw others that felt the same way. Never seen any remorse from people that used the Bilsteins. Other than the bright color, I'm keen to try them.

I drove through muddy construction sites, over sidewalks, medians, might've even got some air time once. I'm no diva. I appreciate having to do things manually (steering, windows, transmissions). Also did the poly bushing thing, tHeY wOn'T sQuEeK. They lied.

[mzbk2l]

Originally Posted by 242177P

KYBs (at least the ones I bought) were unnecessarily harsh. If you live in an area with *perfect* roads, they're fine, but I switched to some Monroe gas shocks and if I were faced with same situation I would do it again in a heartbeat.

And when I looked around on the internet, I saw others that felt the same way. Never seen any remorse from people that used the Bilsteins. Other than the bright color, I'm keen to try them.

I drove through muddy construction sites, over sidewalks, medians, might've even got some air time once. I'm no diva. I appreciate having to do things manually (steering, windows, transmissions). Also did the poly bushing thing, tHeY wOn'T sQuEeK. They lied.

My poly bushings (installed in 1998) still aren't squeaking, but one of them split completely apart and had to be replaced (with rubber). I can't tell a difference between the side that has rubber and the side that has poly.

I completely agree with the Monroe vs. KYB comments.

[geeteeohguy]

I've had KYB gas-a-justs on the front of my '67 GTO since 1984, and they're still doing the job. Perfect fit, no mods, and great shocks with good ride quality.

[ZeGermanHam]

Originally Posted by Pershing

Mick: your comments are interesting since I thought KYB and Bilstein were about the same quality level. Eaton Spring sells KYB and they are local to me so I thought they would be an easy choice. Any more thoughts? thanks again

Bilstein shocks are among the highest quality available anywhere, and I'd argue they are a better product than KYB. If I was in the market for shocks, I'd go with Bilstein, but that's just my view on the matter as someone who as used Bilstein products for many years in a highly demanding track setting.