1951 Plymouth Shocks

[hep2jive]

I'm looking for shocks for my 1951 Plymouth Belvedere. Can I get these just a Napa or are they something special. I'm assuming they're just shocks?  Where do you recommend I get mine? Thank you as always 

[plymouthcranbrook]

I replaced the shocks on my 52 Plymouth about 20 years ago and I believe I bought them on E Bay before it went to bleep.  Today I would use any name brand shock since as far as I know they are all made in China, probably in the same factory. The front shocks due to the design really don’t do very much unless you go to the effort of changing the front shock mount as has been described in several posts. 

[Plymouthy Adams]

if you have the part number shop about for better prices on name brands if that is important to you.  If you do not have the part numbers, search here will get them, else any OTC online will net these also.....just be a bit proactive, none of this is really hidden knowledge.  

[Sniper]

Last time I looked You couldn't get front shocks. So I ended up finding a set of gas charged shots that could be modified and made to work in the stock application if you search around on this site you'll find my post on that. For the rears I got a set of b-body rear shocks they have enough travel and collapsed and extended length to work and the selections a whole lot better

[JBNeal]

additional information - shock absorber replacements

[Sniper]

12 hours ago, JBNeal said:

additional information - shock absorber replacements

 

Unfortunately, that doesn't cover the 51 shocks, which are different,

 

I found the post I made on the front shocks

 

On 5/27/2022 at 9:04 PM, Sniper said:

I found a set of much stiffer gas charged shocks that fit in place of the original shock's envelope.

 

It's for my 51, which is a different shock that yours calls for.  What I did was measure out the center to center height if my stock shock collapsed and extended, then I used Speedway Motors drop downs to find a shock that met the specs I measured out.

 

Ended up with these

 

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/CPP-DT-4809G-1955-72-Chevy-Truck-Front-Gas-Shock-Lowered,440140.html

 

Had to drill out the bushings to 5/8" (I believe) to get them to mount over the stock studs.  the replacement shocks have a shorter collapsed and longer extended length than my stockers, so no worries about bottoming out or overextending them.

[hep2jive]

i was looking at these would these work? 

 

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/PNSSH81469

[Sniper]

1 hour ago, hep2jive said:

i was looking at these would these work? 

 

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/PNSSH81469

 

Those are for the rears, I would pull my old ones, measure the compressed and extended lengths to verify.

 

As for the fronts, my link above is what I found

 

 

[hep2jive]

I am looking for rear shocks 

I only have coil springs in the front

[Young Ed]

Just now, hep2jive said:

I am looking for rear shocks 

I only have coil springs in the front

You should be looking for fronts then too. 

[hep2jive]

I had no idea they came with front shocks. Maybe I'm thinking about another car that has no front shocks 

[Plymouthy Adams]

On 10/10/2024 at 12:21 PM, hep2jive said:

I'm looking for shocks for my 1951 Plymouth Belvedere. Can I get these just a Napa or are they something special. I'm assuming they're just shocks?  Where do you recommend I get mine? Thank you as always 

while they are as you said "just shocks"  they also have to be correct size and attachment configuration......also you could be a bit more proactive in your search....

 

Monroe 5752 for sale | eBay

[Sniper]

1 hour ago, Plymouthy Adams said:

while they are as you said "just shocks"  they also have to be correct size and attachment configuration......also you could be a bit more proactive in your search....

 

Monroe 5752 for sale | eBay

 

Yes, excellent advice.  But he has a 51 Plymouth, those shocks are a little off.  Will they work?  I dunno, compression height, which is most critical, is .125" shorter than the spec for a 51 shock.  They may not bottom out, but if they do, well bad things can happen.

 

 Now one might wonder if it makes a difference, but the factory thought so even if the 50 and earlier specs are close to the 51 specs, they aren't the same. 

[Plymouthy Adams]

that is basically the recommended shock through 54...(was at one time the go to per rockauto)...worked on mine till I did the relocation to the frame.  

[Los_Control]

2 hours ago, hep2jive said:

I had no idea they came with front shocks. Maybe I'm thinking about another car that has no front shocks 

No shocks would be a carnival ride.

The springs are there to carry the weight and allow movement for a softer ride ..... Fond memories come back from my old hardtail chopper motorcycle.

The shocks are there to dampen the bounce from the coil springs.

 

With no shocks and hit a bump, the springs will start bouncing and continue to bounce .... they will stop ... you probably hit another bump though before they do.

A carnival ride.

 

The shocks will prevent the springs from bouncing out of control.

The shocks on my daily driver truck are worn out and need replaced ... When I head into a corner at 75mph the truck wants to lean into the corner because the shocks are not holding the body level .... need to slow down to drive safely.

 

If I install stiff performance shocks I could roll through those corners in complete control but have a stiffer ride when hitting bumps.

A softer shock will allow some bounce and sway and ride like a Cadillac.

 

Shocks are a very important part of the suspension .... if you have a car with no shocks, there is something wrong there.

[Plymouthy Adams]

1 minute ago, Los_Control said:

 

 

Shocks are a very important part of the suspension .... if you have a car with no shocks, there is something wrong there.

 

 

maybe we all are overlooking the fact he may have a pedal car, would explain a lot....😁

[hep2jive]

19 hours ago, Plymouthy Adams said:

 

 

maybe we all are overlooking the fact he may have a pedal car, would explain a lot....😁

Hey I am just trying to do the right thing for my car. I'm one of the younger (or youngest) people on here making sure if I don't know, I ask. It's important to me, and though just a Plymouth, important automotive history to keep her going. "Good Service Keeps Them Great."

 

@Los_Control and @Sniper Thank you a lot for your help. I appreciate it. I purchased new shocks and they seem to work great! Happy motoring to you both.

[Plymouthy Adams]

I think a look under your car now and then and or to look through the pages of your work manual would prevent a lot of running about with the fear the sky is falling....it is not rocket science or leading edge development of any sort, as you state, it is just an old Plymouth that has been around for decades and is not in any manner self-evolving its mechanicals.

[JBNeal]

2 hours ago, hep2jive said:

...I purchased new shocks and they seem to work great!...

It might be helpful to future searches for 1951 Plymouth Belvedere replacement shock absorbers if ya shared exactly what you installed...this helps add to the local database

[hep2jive]

1 hour ago, JBNeal said:

It might be helpful to future searches for 1951 Plymouth Belvedere replacement shock absorbers if ya shared exactly what you installed...this helps add to the local database

Thanks also JBNeal for your help. Will do!