Hello. I need some guidance on shocks for my 47 3100. I have it stripped down to the frame right now. I want to put everything back mostly original but don't care if the shocks are or not. The front has what appears to be the original shocks that came on the truck so I am sure they need to be replaces. Someone had replaced the rear end and the rear shocks were missing when I bought the truck. I will not be driving it across country or anything just local. What would be the easiest and most cost effective was to proceed.
I have a '47 1/2 ton which I plan to switch over to modern style tube shocks. Many on the site have done this and have found that the ride improves. The knee action lever shocks can be rebuilt or bought new ($220 to $245 per shock. These are single action) Sometimes just adding new oil in the knee action lever shocks is needed to make them work. Jim Carter's site states that the originals will outlast the tube shocks 4 to 1. Search vendors' sites and do a search here. There is a lot of information and opinions available.
Last edited by Rusty Shackleford; 01/20/20206:01 PM.
It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it.
The best way is to get the brackets off a 50 or newer truck & change to tube shocks, I believe they have conversion kits available. I have put oil in the old lever shocks & they work pretty good. George
They say money can't buy happiness. It can buy old Chevy trucks though. Same thing. 1972 Chevy c10 Cheyenne Super In the Gallery Forum
If you can rebuild the knee action shocks, they will work just as well as the later tube shocks. This is due to the fact that the tube shocks used on these leaf spring trucks don't do much to improve the ride anyway. I suppose they may help a little bit. I had the lower tube shock bolt fall out on one side in the rear, leaving it hanging freely, but did not notice any difference in ride quality before or after replacing the lost bolt.
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
The article recommends using "Shock insulating fluid." I found several forum threads including the AACA recommended using hydraulic jack fluid. Unless you can find this:
