Piston Slap: A shocking development for 1947 Chryslers?
Al writes:
What new and readily available shock absorber would be the appropriate replacement for the original shocks on a ’47 Chrysler Town & Country Sedan?
Note that the T&C sedan is basically a Chrysler Windsor but, due to its extra weight, used some New Yorker chassis components, including New Yorker road wheels.
Sajeev answers:
What a fantastic question! As someone who has upgraded 40+ year-old cars with more modern, less floppy shocks from the likes of Bilstein and Koni, I encourage you to undertake this project. And luckily your concern of weight over a regular Windsor is unnecessary, as the springs do the job of holding up a vehicle.
Shocks (or dampers, as they are more correctly called) don’t carry any of the load; they only dampen the body motion caused by the springs. You can add air shocks if carrying capacity is an issue, but let’s assume that’s unnecessary with your current setup. So the question remains, what shocks can you find for a 1947 Chrysler?
These folks make the job easy, with a foolproof website and a promise for personalized service via phone. Prices are fair, especially considering these are custom made for you when you placde an order. But what are the odds they are the best shocks on the market for your application?
Well, odds are quite good that they are the best you can get. That said, it wouldn’t hurt to measure your current shocks, dig through the catalogs of Bilstein, Koni, Sachs, KYB, etc., and find a set that fits the bill. There’s a good chance a shock from a newer vehicle will work, but then again, finding catalogs with that level of detail on each shock might be tough. Instead, consider contacting them with your specifications, using these links here, here, here, and here.
Either way, you’re gonna get a new shock with far superior performance to what’s currently in your Town and Country. And you can’t get much better than that!
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