Shocks for the 73

[bubblerboy64]

I am more confused today then yesterday. The shop that did my
suspension work cross referenced the Delco shocks that are on my Bird
to monroes. Trouble is when the monroes landed they were not even
close. A call to the brains at monroe was not helpful. Essentially
they haven't a clue if the numbers don't work they have no other
resources at hand to be of assistance. Called BB, they have no
information before 1978 ain't that interesting? They had numbers for
shocks for the 1978 coach and in fact had shocks on hand. Problem:
My coach has the same shocks and springs in the back as it does in
the front. BB shows different shock numbers for the front and back of
the bus now remember this is for a 1978 and mine is a 1973. The 1978
might even be an air suspended BB? Can anyone out there who has an
stock 1973 tell me anything at all about the shocks and springs on
their coach. Mine has been modified to the point that I am pretty
well lost. It also has the 3208 cat in it which has to be factored
in as well. If I can't get more information I am going to put two of
the rear shocks in the front because that appears to be what was none
in the past and seems to be Ok. I'd like to know what the bus came
with originally if possible. Hay the good news is that the work done
made a nice improvement. I am going to try to replace the shocks and
I believe let the springs as is for at least the short term.

John Heckman
central Pa 1973 FC

[bubblerboy64]

I've answered some of this. I found an original manual which clearly
shows the shocks on the 1973 FC are the same all four of them. They
are Delco #3187991 says so in the manual and also on the shock itself
so I have the right Delco number. My problem is that Monroe shows a
replacement and the shop ordered them and they are not even close.
Monroe can't help because they can only look in their book and what
it calls for right or wrong is all they know. Called Koni
Technical. They said only thing they can do is have me take
measurements of the shock and they will sell me the closest thing
they have with no refunds if it does work. That's a lot of help. So
I guess I am going to measure the shock and see what I can come up
with. And then go from there.

John Heckman
central Pa
1973 FC
>
> I am more confused today then yesterday. The shop that did my
> suspension work cross referenced the Delco shocks that are on my
Bird
> to monroes. Trouble is when the monroes landed they were not even
> close. A call to the brains at monroe was not helpful. Essentially
> they haven't a clue if the numbers don't work they have no other
> resources at hand to be of assistance. Called BB, they have no
> information before 1978 ain't that interesting? They had numbers
for
> shocks for the 1978 coach and in fact had shocks on hand. Problem:
> My coach has the same shocks and springs in the back as it does in
> the front. BB shows different shock numbers for the front and back
of
> the bus now remember this is for a 1978 and mine is a 1973. The
1978
> might even be an air suspended BB? Can anyone out there who has
an
> stock 1973 tell me anything at all about the shocks and springs on
> their coach. Mine has been modified to the point that I am pretty
> well lost. It also has the 3208 cat in it which has to be factored
> in as well. If I can't get more information I am going to put two
of
> the rear shocks in the front because that appears to be what was
none
> in the past and seems to be Ok. I'd like to know what the bus came
> with originally if possible. Hay the good news is that the work
done
> made a nice improvement. I am going to try to replace the shocks
and
> I believe let the springs as is for at least the short term.
>
> John Heckman
> central Pa 1973 FC
>

[bubblerboy64]

I crawled under and took one of those puppies off measured everything
and put it back on. I don't think they are doing anything other then
going along for the ride at this point. There is some hope. The
local Napa store has ordered a shock which might work. Its
application is for a BB school bus so at least I shouldn't be getting
a shock for light duty application. If I get squared away on this
I'll post the numbers for you other old bird owners. I guess I
should have said owners of old birds. In my case both apply.
John Heckman
central Pa
1973 FC
>
> I've answered some of this. I found an original manual which
clearly
> shows the shocks on the 1973 FC are the same all four of them.
They
> are Delco #3187991 says so in the manual and also on the shock
itself
> so I have the right Delco number. My problem is that Monroe shows
a
> replacement and the shop ordered them and they are not even close.
> Monroe can't help because they can only look in their book and what
> it calls for right or wrong is all they know. Called Koni
> Technical. They said only thing they can do is have me take
> measurements of the shock and they will sell me the closest thing
> they have with no refunds if it does work. That's a lot of help.
So
> I guess I am going to measure the shock and see what I can come up
> with. And then go from there.
>
> John Heckman
> central Pa
> 1973 FC
> >
> > I am more confused today then yesterday. The shop that did my
> > suspension work cross referenced the Delco shocks that are on my
> Bird
> > to monroes. Trouble is when the monroes landed they were not
even
> > close. A call to the brains at monroe was not helpful.
Essentially
> > they haven't a clue if the numbers don't work they have no other
> > resources at hand to be of assistance. Called BB, they have no
> > information before 1978 ain't that interesting? They had numbers
> for
> > shocks for the 1978 coach and in fact had shocks on hand.
Problem:
> > My coach has the same shocks and springs in the back as it does
in
> > the front. BB shows different shock numbers for the front and
back
> of
> > the bus now remember this is for a 1978 and mine is a 1973. The
> 1978
> > might even be an air suspended BB? Can anyone out there who
has
> an
> > stock 1973 tell me anything at all about the shocks and springs
on
> > their coach. Mine has been modified to the point that I am
pretty
> > well lost. It also has the 3208 cat in it which has to be
factored
> > in as well. If I can't get more information I am going to put
two
> of
> > the rear shocks in the front because that appears to be what was
> none
> > in the past and seems to be Ok. I'd like to know what the bus
came
> > with originally if possible. Hay the good news is that the work
> done
> > made a nice improvement. I am going to try to replace the shocks
> and
> > I believe let the springs as is for at least the short term.
> >
> > John Heckman
> > central Pa 1973 FC
> >
>