VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 47 front/rear shock absorbers

Im restoring my 1947 chevy Fleetmaster which was in a fire im working on the front suspension and I don't know much about the absorbers I heard there is a core. Do I have to rebuild it or what am I supposed to do? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

The common proceedure would be to send yours in to be rebuilt.

Damn that's gonna be expensive. But what part of this ...right? Thank you Chev Nut. Can anyone do it or does it have to bail a specialty shop?

Chevs of the 40s will sell you a rebuilt pair of front shocks for about $450.00. They want your old pair for rebuilding for the next guy or else there is a $400 core charge! No rear shocks for sale. I didn't see any shocks available for the 39-48 cars in The Filling Station's catalog. It looks like Apple Hydraulics also sells them. They want about $430 for a front pair and $330 for a rear pair and they also want your old units for rebuilding for the next guy. Not sure what their core charge is. See their website at applehydraulics.com

No way around it..... Its an expensive job to have done..

All cars have their problem areas. With a 47 Chev it's the front shock absorbers and the oil draining down from the transmission to the differential. The shocks weren't really meant to be rebuilt, just supposed to buy new ones but the stock ran out so you pay the money. My Dad used to say "If you can't afford a new car, you certainly can't afford an old one". The prices quoted seem fine.

Thank you guys. I started this project when I was 17 im now 21 and it's been a struggle I might finish it when im 40 but I can't give up.

Welcome Dusty, I started this old car hobby when I was 15 and I'm now 69.5 and still having fun with it. Don't give up, just keep having fun with it!
Best wishes and enjoy!
Ed

Dusty:

I'm with Uncle Ed. I got into the hobby when I was 14 - fixing up a $150 1937 Dodge Coupe in my parent's side yard. I'm 67 now, and, working on a 48 Chevy Fleetmaster I acquired 3 years ago. At least, now, I have a garage to work in.

Regards:
Oldengineer

I have it in my parents garage its small and cramped for space but its something you fall in love with

Can one rebuild them ourselves?

Too many specialty tools required and springs that can kill you!!! TRUST ME SEND THEM OUT TO BE REBUILT !!!!

Or fit external tube shocks........http://www.cbforum.net/forum/index.php?topic=5274.0

Dusty47,

You could ignore the problem of leaky shocks until you have the money. Just keep them filled with hydraulic jack oil or a thicker mixture like a multi-weight transmission fluid. Try not to over fill them. They do need room for the fluid to expand as the shock is activated by a bump in the road. I think about 1/4 to 1/2 an inch of space in the top reservoir should be left not filled for the expansion process.

Please share with us what your plans are for restoring the car. Are you going through mechanical repairs first? Is the car drivable? Do you have any pictures to post? How are you covering the expenses of the restoration? What have you done so far?

I think we all are intrigued by how you have become interested in this restoration at such a young age?

Best wishes, Mike

P.S. Try to keep a photo diary of your work to help you with reassembly and to document your progress. I use an inexpensive used video camera and have taped most of the repairs I have done to my car over the last 10 years. I now have over 30 one hour tapes.

Hey Mike Buller thanks for the advice. Im doing a frame off restoration of tthat the 47"
is in my parents garage completely disassemble. Its been sandblasted and primered
the car is in rough shape its gonna need new rockers doorpost rotted so much that they
No longer connect abd I don't know where I can get other ones. The car is originally from Arizona, it had been in a fire and everything is needed, although I haven't noticed
warping so that's good. The frame is what I'm working on now. The other person that had it was setting it up for a 350 engine so they cut a bigger hole for clearance
From the firewall to the tranny tunnel. That's why it needs a floor.As far as expenses well im paying for it all so it's definitely a slow process but im determined.I've always been into old things even at 5 years old I remember seeing a 57' Bel Air and loving it. I have been taking pictures of the process abd I might throw some up if people want.

Good morning Dan,

What is your goal? Is it to Hot Rod the car or to return it to it's original condition, including the original drive train? What frame parts have been damaged by the previous owners attempts to modify the frame? Are you interested in replacing those frame members?

Where did you get the car? Does it have any sentimental value? Is it a 2 door or 4 door?

I am including a link to a post I made a couple of weeks ago on Chevy Chat. The post will also give you complete access to my Photobucket account so you can see projects I have assisted with as a member of Chevy Chat, including work I have done on my car this winter. This winter I switched frames and did body work to the driver's side cowl and rocker panel.

Parting out 41 body

The Photobucket pictures show a body that I recently purchased for $400. It came with two complete chassis including engines which I will all part out. The body has been sand blasted and primed, except for the interior floor. In my assessment the body is not repairable and I am hoping that is not the case with yours. When the bottoms of all the door posts have been rusted off (like mine in the picture) Most of the structural integrity of the body has been lost. In 99% of the time it would take too much money and time to rebuild the body.

Most likely, the only place you will find door posts is off of another body. To replace them would be a job for a real meticulous, and experienced body person. To get them perfectly fabricated back on the body a lot of body parts must be aligned to the posts correctly for a good fit. An 1/8th or 1/4 of an inch off could mean a door wouldn't close properly?

It took me 4 months to replace my rocker panels, cowl, and part of the front floor on my passenger side 4 years ago. I averaged about 4 hours a day in work. The parts cost me $1000, the man to do the welding $200. I would add atleast another $300 for miscellaneous supplies. The only work I didn't do myself was the welding.

My concern is that your project could be not worth your time and effort and the money needed could be well over $20,000 doing most of the work yourself. Might you be better off spending around $3,000 to $4,000 on a drivable fixer upper that would require restoration, but could be driven while you do most of it yourself? Imagine being able to restore the car one mechanical system at a time and driving it between your restoration projects?

I buy a lot of my car parts from ebay or craigslist. This will be the first summer I have not been able to drive my car because of the work I am doing on it. I have had the car 10 years so have got a lot of pleasure already out of it. The body needs to be painted, but I think I am the coolest guy in town driving my car around without a fancy paint job!!! I have fallen in love with my car, but it didn't happen over night. Have you too soon fallen in love with yours?

Best Wishes, Mike

Hey Mike I saw the pictures of the 41. Man that's really far gone, mine stays pretty much in the rockers and it's only one side where the door post no longer connects hopefully its not a lost causecause, if it can't be fixed I'd have to get another body

47Aero

This link seams to be open only to forum members
Is there a way to be able to read it??

Jianis

I believe you have to log into the chat forum I think they are separate

Send me your VCCA #, and place it in your profile.

Then it would be possible that one of the little Elves would come along and do good things for you.

You could also send me an email with your name and VCCA #.

Dusty

Only members can log in and read the posts.

Ray

Thank you for the offer but so far I am only a chat user in VCCA (# 8379 ).
I had a better look And there is the possibility for everyone to apply for the CB forum and so I did. Now I am waiting for their reaction.

Jianis

Oh well it seams that their moderator doesn't like my email address ( the only information they ask ) So far I did not get a positive or negative answer from the CB forum.

Jianis