What is the 'stock' mounting of a front shock? 67 442

I had some bolts on one side, and J-nuts on the other side, with the shock mount bracket on 'bottom' of control arm.

While bolts would be strongest, I don't see how you can easily hold the head of the bolt from inside of spring, while trying to tighten the nut, which leads me to J-nut on the control arm, but not sure on that one either.

Please advise.

Thanks,

d

 

Bottom 2 bolts are just that,... bolts. On top the shock will have a flattened area at the very top. This is where you can use an adjustable wrench etc to hold the stem from turning when tighting the top nut. Problem is when things rust the top nut is very difficult to get off. some just cut the shock from in between the coil springs to remove and some snap off the stem from the top. It is a chore.

 

Thanks for responding.

I've got the top mount covered.

Just interested in the bottom.

Are you saying you just bolt/nut the shock into the two holes in bottom?

Stick a socket down in the spring to hold top of bolt to tighten from bottom? other?

thanks,

 

I dont know about the 67 but you can buy 68 and up J nuts. They are not 100% to the original J nuts but probably good enough for most.

 

one catalog indicates the 67 had what I call a 'body bolt' (hex head bolt with a conical end and heavy washer) that just screwed up into the control arm.

is THIS what the 67 req'd?

Thanks

 

Working from memory and its been a long while but yes, as far as I remember the bottom attchment to control arm is just 2 regular hex bolts inserted from the bottom and there are either threads in the control arm or some sort of clip nut or the like that has the threads for the bolt and cannot spin while tightening.

 

The bottom bolts on the front shocks go into J-nuts (aka, clip nuts) on the lower control arm. The factory clip nuts are two piece, with a square nut and a spring steel clip. It doesn't take much rust to cause the nut part to spin in the clip, resulting in cussing and the eventual use of a torch for removal. Many times, folks will simply use a regular nut on the bolt to replace the clip nut. When the parts are new, you can jam a screwdriver down between the coils and hold the nut well enough to tighten the bolt. You well never get it unbolted, however. I simply replace the clip nuts every time I change shocks. Most auto parts stores carry these. I use the one-piece clip nuts where the threaded part is actually formed as part of the clip. This eliminates the problems with the nut spinning on the two-piece clip nuts.