VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Knee Action Shock Valve I.D. Help

Pursing my knee action rebuild, have removed the top and bottom shock absorber units/valves from knee action housing. They are rusted closed, as if brownies were baked into them years ago. Trying to free with PB Blaster. Anyway, the part numbers are, as shown on bottom of the housings: Top unit 1068191 55; bottom unit 1068181 35. These numbers do not match parts book for these units (I have a GA model) and there is no showing of parts substition in that section of the '29 to '50 parts manual. Not shown either in the cast parts section. Wondered if were Pontiac shock valves, but don't know how those units differ and don't have Pontiac parts book. Can anyone help me ID these units? Anyone have the right units for sale -- need four? Rare birds, indeed. Jim Leman info@newsletterbureau.com

Jim,I'm sure that the shock valves (pistons) that you have are OK and original.The part number will not match the casting number and at least they are matching numbers (from side to side).The numbers are close to the part number which leads me to believe that they are correct.Looking back the '34 pistons were replaced by the '35-'36s so I don't believe that they are that critical.Pontiac knees were slightly different and would not fit a Chevrolet.The part with a number on that you can identify is the small valves.They are in group 7.346 in the parts book and are the guys that controll compression and rebound.Chevrolet used many variations.They are stamped with 2-be----1-bx et..If you don't have the pistons out you haven't found them yet..The '34s were considered too soft so they kept firming them up with valve revisions thru the years.I do have some old pistons here but not sure as to what year they are from.If yours are too bad to use let me know and I'll check mine out.Keep the faith-remember we do this for fun :confused:

Gene -- The passenger side units came off the knee action housing OK and the piston, spring, and valve came out of the housing OK. The two from the driver side...well, they're soaking in Blaster, but they look very corroded. I guess I could use two for that unit if saving them seems beyond hope. The corrosion looks that have fused the piston to the cylinder. I tried some heat propane torch, but no avail (ran out of acetylene for my oxy-acet torch). I could use a walk through how the valves to together -- the came apart (the little piston out of the spring housing, so not sure whether it rides above or below the tabbed spring housing). Anyway, have the '38 knee action service bullet I mentioned. If you send me your mailng address I'll drop a copy to you in the mail. I'm at home tonight and don't have your phone number otherwise I'd give you a call about all of this. Jim

Jim, I don't remember just how the valves went in-will need to do a little research.I had Emailed you my phone number last week-did you recieve it?

Yes, I have the number but it is at my office. I will attempt to go by there today to retrieve it. I'll give you a call this evening, Sunday. Jim

Jim. Sunday is fine or around 9:00 AM on Monday is good or Mon. Eve.