Jeep Rescues '63 Avanti, '59 - 62 Lark and Hawk,
The (back) Shocking Story.

Scared off by all the commentary on how we have to cut, press and do
other things to just get a shock to fit on your '32 Avanti with the
old rear shock mounts (prior to chassis 1225)?  These are the same
mounts used on the '59 to '62 Lark and Hawk.

There is a no-cut, no-press solution!

Dan "the Man" at KYB technical support , dug up the remarkable fact
that the back shock on the '99 - 04 Jeep Cherokee, Wagoneer, Grand
Cherokee, Grand Wagoneer, has the same collapsed height, same bushing
ID, and is only 2 inches shorter in the expansion length, than
Studebaker OEM. If a modern jeep does not need that extra 2 inches for
off-road, then I can breath easy on my 1963 Avanti.  The beauty of
this is the Jeep has many companies scrambling to sell you performance
stuff, high tech shocks, over springs, et.al.  (KYB has 4 grades, 2
"more performance" than the KYB Gas-Adjust I decided on. The mind
boggles as what I will see at the next national.

The bushing is shorter by 4 3/8-inch washers.  I epoxied two each
together,rough side in, and  painted with anti-rust Tractor enamel.

The KYB's full extension is a little over 2 inches shorter than the
OEM.  However, if the Jeep can go off-road without those extra 2
inches, I do not see any problems with my Avanti on paved roads.

It will be sometime around the Holidays when I get everything back
together, but based on a similarly suspended and heavy vehicle, my old
Volvo, I anticipate a ride befitting my Euro-tuned posterior.  Might
be a tad tight for some.

Full details planned for the November Avanti Magazine, including
installation photos and a fully up to date interchange chart.