Original Front Shock Mount

[geunther]

My shocks are date coded for December of 1971, which is consistent wth my January 72 build date. All indications are that the original shocks are sill on the truck.

The top mount of the front shocks do not have a nut. It appears as though there is just a stud bolted to the frame and the shock just sort of hangs on the stud. Both sides are the same. The stud does is not threaded (except for where it bolts to the frame) and it does not appear broken.

Can someone with original shocks confirm that there should not be a nut holding the top of the front shocks?

[Grumpy old man]

There should be a nut and washer , it appears that someone sheared off the threaded section of the shock mount .

[GASoline71]

I've seen upper front shock mounts wallow out the mounting hole in the frame, but never seen both threaded areas of the mount sheared off.

Gary

[geunther]

It doesn't make sense to me that someone sheered off both sides, yet did not replace the shocks. I am able to get the studs off, they are not rusted on or anything. The studs do not appear to be sheered off, threaded or broken. I have driven the truck quite a bit and never had a problem with the shocks falling off.

[GASoline71]

When you buy new front shocks for these trucks, the shock comes with a new upper shock mount that will have the threads and the nut and washer for the stud.

Gary

[Tx Firefighter]

Grumpy Old Man is wrong. The original shocks had captured upper studs in them. When you replace them you need to install a new threaded stud. That's why they include the new studs like Gasoline mentioned.

Here is a picture I took years ago of a low mile 68 chassis that I had. Notice the upper shock mounts.

[leftybass209]

Originally Posted by geunther

It doesn't make sense to me that someone sheered off both sides, yet did not replace the shocks. I am able to get the studs off, they are not rusted on or anything. The studs do not appear to be sheered off, threaded or broken. I have driven the truck quite a bit and never had a problem with the shocks falling off.

Lots of things previous owners did or neglected to do will never make sense. There's never a rhyme or reason for the stupid stuff they do.

[demian5]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Grumpy Old Man is wrong. The original shocks had captured upper studs in them. When you replace them you need to install a new threaded stud. That's why they include the new studs like Gasoline mentioned.

Here is a picture I took years ago of a low mile 68 chassis that I had. Notice the upper shock mounts.

Thats the answer to the question right there.

[harpo231]

Originally Posted by leftybass209

Lots of things previous owners did or neglected to do will never make sense. There's never a rhyme or reason for the stupid stuff they do.

I wouldnt say stupid.. these trucks were workers .. on the farm poppop would just do what he had to do to get her back to work.

[Grumpy old man]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Grumpy Old Man is wrong. The original shocks had captured upper studs in them. When you replace them you need to install a new threaded stud. That's why they include the new studs like Gasoline mentioned.

Here is a picture I took years ago of a low mile 68 chassis that I had. Notice the upper shock mounts.

Hahaha , Sorry the "capture washer" is sheared off , Point being they don't just hang freely on the shaft. Thanks for pointing that out .

[1968aj]

so how do you remove the factory shocks if there are no threads? I looked at mine and could not figure out how to remove it.

[geunther]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Here is a picture I took years ago of a low mile 68 chassis that I had. Notice the upper shock mounts.

I did some more research and agree with you. There was a little washer pressed onto the stud which must have worked loose. The studs was sort of pressed in the center to flare it out, which held on the retaining washer.

[geunther]

Originally Posted by 1968aj

so how do you remove the factory shocks if there are no threads? I looked at mine and could not figure out how to remove it.

The stud is threaded through the frame with a nut on the inside of the frame rail. Some shocks come with the stud already attached at the top mount. The pic shows the bottom mount but it would be the same as the top mount of my original mount.

[Tx Firefighter]

It always amazes me the level some guys will geek over shocks. When I had that chassis years ago and posted pictures of it, the PMs started rolling in from guys wanting to buy those original shocks from me. I was floored. Who would want a set of crappy 35 year old shocks ? Yet, guys did want them, and I surprisingly sold them quickly on the board. Who knows how many sets of them I threw away over the years. Back in the 80s I was a rookie at a shop learning my chops. I changed a pile of those old shocks out and threw them in the scrap pile.

[leftybass209]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

It always amazes me the level some guys will geek over shocks. When I had that chassis years ago and posted pictures of it, the PMs started rolling in from guys wanting to buy those original shocks from me. I was floored. Who would want a set of crappy 35 year old shocks ? Yet, guys did want them, and I surprisingly sold them quickly on the board. Who knows how many sets of them I threw away over the years. Back in the 80s I was a rookie at a shop learning my chops. I changed a pile of those old shocks out and threw them in the scrap pile.

I guess it would make sense if everything else on these trucks were date coded and documented with some verifiable source, but alas, there is no such thing. There's a vintage charm in having the old shocks rebuilt (or any OEM parts)I suppose. Unfortunately there's no way to accurately perform a concours restoration with these trucks. Maybe the shocks are date code usable on other more well documented GM vehicles?

[geunther]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

It always amazes me the level some guys will geek over shocks.

It's all about that date code. Without it, no one would care.

[leftybass209]

Originally Posted by harpo231

I wouldnt say stupid.. these trucks were workers .. on the farm poppop would just do what he had to do to get her back to work.

I'll stick with stupid. Not many farm trucks around here and yet there's still plenty of wildly unsafe backyard mechanic fixes and neglected trucks that drive the cities and highways.

[dfosh]

I just removed shocks from 68 GMC that were just hanging on the stud .

[beautimus]

you have a lot of good info on here already but let me add that my new shocks came with a threaded stud with a nut and washer for it on the outside.
maybe thats a good way to tell aftermarket shocks from factory ones.
i cant say for sure that my original shocks had the pressed on washer at the end or not, as mine looked to have been replaced at least once before i got it. and it had the threads and nut on the end also. i cant help but wonder if all the factory shocks had that captured washer originally. i could be wrong
Tony

[TCLARK]

Originally Posted by geunther

My shocks are date coded for December of 1971, which is consistent wth my January 72 build date. All indications are that the original shocks are sill on the truck.

The top mount of the front shocks do not have a nut. It appears as though there is just a stud bolted to the frame and the shock just sort of hangs on the stud. Both sides are the same. The stud does is not threaded (except for where it bolts to the frame) and it does not appear broken.

Can someone with original shocks confirm that there should not be a nut holding the top of the front shocks?

Looks like your sleeve is still on the bolt, came off the rubber bushing.