1938 plymouth front shocks

[38plymouth]

Im trying to find a replacement gas shock for the front of my car. I tried autozone and advance today and not only can they not look up anything in their computer, they also don't have books anymore. I brought a shock with me so we could go by the dimensions but they can't do that either. I'm going to try a napa tomorrow. Does anyone know of a part number or modern vehicle that I can have them look up? I would like to pick something up locally so I can start assembly tomorrow.

[Plymouthy Adams]

type    1938 Plymouth shock    in the search box top right of page..be sure you are at top of forum (P15-D24 Forum) and not on this page where you asked this question...only thing on this page will be your own question

Edited August 10, 2016 by Plymouthy Adams

[knuckleharley]

http://www.jcwhitney.com/pn/c11298p5261j1s45.jcwx?filterid=d1776y1938g2

 

You could always try JC Whitney.

 

If that doesn't ring your bell,do web searches for Gabriel,Monroe,etc,etc,etc.

 

Or just call your local NAPA dealer on the phone and ask them if they have a listing.

Edited August 10, 2016 by knuckleharley

[38plymouth]

type    1938 Plymouth shock    in the search box top right of page..be sure you are at top of forum (P15-D24 Forum) and not on this page where you asked this question...only thing on this page will be your own question

I already tried that.

[Plymouthy Adams]

I typed just that and the thread with the part numbers for  front and rear pops up....

 

go to top of forum...(page where all forum pages are listed) type in that search box....granted, I could easily do this for you but then you will never learn how to use the search engine built into this forum.....

 

IF you use the search box at top of this page, change from this topic to forums  again I could easily post but you would not be learning this way....if you intend to work your car and need information this search engine is an invaluable tool...I would rather walk you through the use than do your footwork..

Edited August 10, 2016 by Plymouthy Adams

[38plymouth]

I typed just that and the thread with the part numbers for  front and rear pops up....

 

go to top of forum...(page where all forum pages are listed) type in that search box....granted, I could easily do this for you but then you will never learn how to use the search engine built into this forum.....

 

IF you use the search box at top of this page, change from this topic to forums  again I could easily post but you would not be learning this way....if you intend to work your car and need information this search engine is an invaluable tool...I would rather walk you through the use than do your footwork..

I found part numbers for a 39 plymouth. They won't fit the 38.

[Plymouthy Adams]

so the info was wrong..sorry...at least you used the search engine..if you have the type that are serviceable by rebuild,,,,look to Kanter or Hagen for such service...there may be others...use the internet search for that...Kanter shows gas filled tubes....

 

I do not have a 38 to look at...and I also know there are errors all over the internet and by knowing what you have and what you need you can quickly sort out the dweebs....only early this morning I was up reading a procedure for upcoming component rebuild for my 1961 Dodge and caught an error in the factory manual.  It happens...even Allpar is so full of mistakes one has to be careful of what is written over there...seems skeptical...cross check another source or two,...

Edited August 10, 2016 by Plymouthy Adams

[Plymouthy Adams]

as another source for information you could try the POC website and there is always a bit of activity on the 30's Mopar, more so than the later years at the AACA forum...

[1952B3b23]

Since you have an old shock you can bring it with you to napa. they have a service where they can call up and give the dimensions of your shock and the service will give them a part number. I've done this for my 39 Plymouth. So I know it's possible.

-Chris

[Plymouthy Adams]

Monroe online site allows you to choose your shocks in the very same manner, actual build specifications.,....makes it easy to go tot he parts house with say one or two numbers and just pull one for physical comparison.  I know long back I posted the link to the Monroe site,,,but should be easy enough to find with a internet search.

 

 

bulletin.....took less than a minute to do a forum search....here it is...one of our members pasted the link I provided at the time to his site for future reference

  

BE PROACTIVE..........ENJOY

 

 

http://oldmopar.com/oldmopar/MountingLengthMonroe.pdf

Edited August 11, 2016 by Plymouthy Adams

[atlbluz]

I never could fine a replacement for mine, I just purchased a set from Bernbaum.

 

greg

[Plymouthy Adams]

I admit this morning I have burnt a bit of time looking online for shock information for the 38.  I am one that daily picks a topic and read what I can find just for my own brain challenge.   From what I have found the 37/38 uses the same shock all four corners.  Is this right....my book does not show much on this.  The shocks of the 30's were changing and getting better quick..the tube shock was almost perfected as these are by reading they are the last of the re-buildable tube shocks as the 39 debuted with the disposable as we have today.  I have seen information that states the rear shocks are one for one exchangeable on the 39 back to the 37/38...if this is so and the other information states all corners are the same...you have the option of the 39 to bolt on.  Now mind you this is a compilation of data from about 7-8 sites.  Couple said sites state they have these shocks in the gas filled for the 37/38  The pictured ad shows only a partial part number...as 1 and 1 is two and using two of the leading makers of shock it was easy to track down the source company...I filled in the last two numbers and came up with almost the identical picture of the shock..but we all know that can be deceiving.  The few folks that have come here for assistance in number has not in my searching posted specification of their shocks so it would be impossible to say this number over that of another.   This is where being proactive and using the link I posted above comes into the hobby.  You need to match the end of the shock top and bottom. the compressed length and the extended length application, I would think with an original in hand this could not be that difficult. 

[atlbluz]

No the fronts are shorter than the rears.  I spent hours looking for part numbers from Monroe, Gabriel, and Napa.  I think I found a cross reference from Napa in the vintage parts catalog and they wanted 225.00 a pair for the shocks.  I decided that Andy would be the best at 165.00 for a set of 4.  After a while you have to stop cutting bait and bite the bullet.  Yes it costs more but sometimes the parts actually are correct.  They are definitely better than the 30 year old units that were on there.  Greg

[Plymouthy Adams]

as an input to the all four corners the same...I appreciate your feed back they are not.   Again as I stated, you have to read all things with a grain of salt and do cross checks always.  This is where sharing original specs and data to the forum can be of help as we actually have a few members that work parts counters and could in spare time cross a part if the specs were known.  Finding this data in places other than a forum is just about nil.....if a company has a replacement, they going to protect their turf and sales by keeping mums on the part number....that only makes sense in a business aspect.  Do any of you have the specs from your old shocks to list here....could be the what it takes to get the ball rolling as they say.  Sharing it could do no harm that is for certain.

[atlbluz]

The Monroe's that I took off did not have numbers on them I looked.  So we just need to find an old Parts catalog that would have the exchange part numbers.  Maybe an old Chilton's book from the 50's or 60's.

[Plymouthy Adams]

can you measure the closed and open lengths...I am ASSUMING the shocks at all corners are top and bottom loop ends and if so what size loop...

[TodFitch]

FWIW, NapaOnline lists shocks for 1938 Plymouths. The are listed as from the "Rare Parts Chassis" product line and are not cheap.

 

Also, FWIW, the new NapaOnline does not seem to have my favorite old feature: The ability to look up things by Chrysler part number.

 

Finally, my '36-48 parts book shows different shock numbers for front versus rear. Also different numbers if you have different size wheels. I assume the ones listed by Napa are for the more common 16" wheels.

[38plymouth]

It took napa under 5 minutes to find me shocks but they had to order them. I'll pick them up in the morning and try them. The dimensions were off a little but I think they will work, I think they were from a 1986 ram charger. If they work I'll post up the numbers tomorrow. I think the rears are longer than the front.

[38plymouth]

Well, now I'm a little bummed. My shocks are 12.5 by 20.75 measured center hole to center hole. The shock napa ordered for me is number 94050 and they measure 14.125 by 23.375, im not sure how they measure them. The length looks fine but the compressed length will bottom out well before the bumpstops. I guess we shall see in the morning but im not real confidemt that these will fit.

[Robert Horne]

Here is a photo of the present front shocks, on my 38 Coupe.

 

Have to find my notes what vehicle they were for.

 

The bolt to bolt length is 17.5 sitting.   

 

Not sure how short and long they are.

 

My rears shocks were from a 86 full size Dodge, I believe.

 

 

[38plymouth]

My car is lowered a bit and im at 15 inches mount to mount. If you can find a part number i would be very grateful.

[Plymouthy Adams]

did your lowering affect the mount to mount distance for the shock.....if so by how much and later your base number to correlate with the difference..

 

as you also posted the compressed and extended length, you forgot to post the LOOP properties of your shock..without this it is impossible to do a dimensional cross reference....you will see the basic loop dimension on the website who's link I posted,,,,,it will be L1, L2, L3 or L4 and could be L1 top and L3 bottom...that is why one needs to know the loop dimensions...

Edited August 11, 2016 by Plymouthy Adams

[38plymouth]

did your lowering affect the mount to mount distance for the shock.....if so by how much and later your base number to correlate with the difference..

The distance changed an inch or two but the original shocks still worked. They are just worn out and arent gas shocks. If they arent original they are very old. Im now more curious about the rears, they look very close but i dont have time to pull one tonight and i cant see a number. They are a gas shock that I found about 10 years ago and they fit perfect.

[Plymouthy Adams]

as you folks have these original shocks..only you can measure and post the dimension....there most likely are shocks out there for you.....post the dimension of the loops upper/lower.......once measured,  identify them by the industry style letter/number and lets get searching....you shooting yourself in the foot going to a counter and not at minimum NOT taking your old one with you for a side by side...the engineers have already done all the work by creating the database and making it available online for you to surf..make use of it..

Edited August 11, 2016 by Plymouthy Adams

[38plymouth]

as you folks have these original shocks..only you can measure and post the dimension....there most likely are shocks out there for you.....post the dimension of the loops upper/lower.......once measured,  identify them by the industry style letter/number and lets get searching....you shooting yourself in the foot going to a counter and not at minimum NOT taking your old one with you for a side by side...the engineers have already done all the work by creating the database and making it available online for you to surf..make use of it..

I'll try to post more dimensions later tonight. I brought my shock to napa but I think he measured it from end to end or he figured that it was close enough. I will find out tomorrow morning.