[DeTomaso] koni shocks

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

Boyd, if you have older Konis, the mfg date is part of the number stamped 
on the shock body, as- '82T-1701'= a 1982-vintage rear assembly. No wonder if 
28-yr-old assemblies start dripping! They can be rebuilt to stock or 
'other' specs by Koni-America or by Pat Mical in MA. Front shocks have different 
damping and bump-rubbers than rear shocks, reflected in the part numbers.
Modern Konis are gas-charged to 300 psi and are both better shocks and are 
physically smaller and 6nearly 7 lbs lighter per shock, using 2-1/2" dia 
springs. P/n is 30-5436.   Buy them from D Quella; late Konis use 
spherical-ball end mounts that are a different bolt size than stock Pantera so for a set, 
you'll need 16 separate shim-bushings to fit them to your car and Dennis 
includes bushings. Koni gas shocks can also be rebuilt, but only by the 
factory due to the high gas pressures- which add about 25 lbs extra spring force 
by themselves.
Lightweight Koni gas shocks can be mounted upside-down, aiding handling 
even more. Contrary to other reports, on our car they do NOT transmit more road 
noise than rubber bushings- which collapse over time as Asa Jay found 
recently. See article August 2007 in the POCA Newsletter on shocks. Good luck- J 
DeRyke