best rear shocks for a 68 riv...

Discussion in 'The whoa and the sway.' started by disastro, Apr 26, 2005.

  1. disastro

    disastro quick like the bunny

    the time has come to replace the shocks in the rear of my 68. wondering who's been there before, and what they learned?

    any advice appreciated!

    thanks, f.
     
  2. CJay

    CJay Supercar owner Staff Member

    Your choices are pretty limited with the 66-70 Rivieras. Gabriel makes the Classic series shocks. Thay list front and rear. Monroe lists fronts but no rears. Once in a while you'll find a set of NOS rear shocks on Ebay. other than that you can try www.kanter.com. I would recommend changing all 4. The difference will be night and day. You really dont notice the decrease in ride with a set of old shocks until you put the new ones in.
     
  3. disastro

    disastro quick like the bunny

    thanks. i've already got a new set of monroes on the front and its made a bog difference already.

    i remember someone telling me that the shocks from a GMC/chevy 1500 pickup would work with a slight mod - anyone know about this?
     
  4. CJay

    CJay Supercar owner Staff Member

    If you go to the Gabriel website you can download the 2005 applications file (its 9 meg). In the back of the catalog are the specs. You can look up extended length, collapsed length and upper/lower mounting configurations. Compare the GMC shock to the part number they list for the Riv. I believe the Riviera rear shocks are monsters. Something like 24" long. If the GMC shock is similar you can then cross the number over to Monroe.
     
  5. nailheadina67

    nailheadina67 Official Nailheader

    The last I heard is that Gabriel "red riders" are the only brand left that makes rear shocks for this car. I used wildcat/electra shocks in mine, I was lucky to find a pair of rear sensa-tracks before they stopped making them. The extended length was about 2" shorter, so I had to make some spacers for the top mounts with longer bolts in order for them to fit. I've had them in there for a few years so far without any problem. I made 4- 2" long spacers out of 1" solid stock and drilled them out 5/16" in my lathe. You could prolly just use a stack of washers, as long as you make the bolts tight enough to squeeze them together real well. :bglasses:
     

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