KONI Classic on 65 GT350

[chris NOS]

Hi gentlemen ,it's time to replace the 10 years old AVON on 241, no more available in 2024,i'm going for the Michelin XWX 205/70/15 , and i m going to replace the old 1980's front KONI for a new set of Koni Classic edition with the correct stickers.
my question here is on those koni coming out of the box ,what ride stiffness i can expect , should i tune them few half turns from the standard out of the box set up ?
i like the car the way it is now , and don't want to get a soft ride ,i m thinking to count the turns on the ones that are on the car now until minimum and put the same numbers on the new ones i guess it should be close ? Any feed back from your experience ?
Thank you.

[chris NOS]

update , i installed the 4 koni right out off the box , not touching them , and it was the good choice the car is riding like i expected , the Michelin are nice , a little smaller in diameter than i expected , but fine.
the koni are the special edition for the GT350 i bought with Virginia classic mustang , unfortunatly no more available.
I put a picture of the new one and the original correct dated April 65  that i have but i m not putting on the car .









few pictures off the Michelin on left and Avon on right .

[chris NOS]

The koni are still available with Shelby parts and restorations ...
https://shelbypartsstore.com/product/limited-run-1965-66-koni-gt350-reissued-shocks/

they can even get them even more correct with some modifications .

[Bob Gaines]

It looks like the base is decidedly different with extra welding at the base . that would be hard to fix. That makes it a better shock for racing although I have never seen or heard of that being a weak point. That lower part is seen when looking at a spring perch area. Don't get me wrong it is a great part and I would rather see this then a later generic Koni just disappointed that it is not as exact as it easily could have been. They are probably cheaper and a better choice then having originals restored by Koni from what ones that I have seen and heard about after they came back from the Koni restoration shop. They will pass in all but the toughest concours classes. Of course so will most all of the later version Koni's too.  Thank you for posting a comparison . I know what to look out for now.

[chris NOS]

Bob,i understand your disappointment and i m sharing it with you,Koni could go all the way to replicate the period correct Koni in every aspect...but at least it looks like they did the internal in respect off the originals ones,to be honest i don't see any difference with the one i had on it until now from the 80's...
I never drove the car with the 65's version so i don't really know how it was riding originally...
I like the Michelin , expensive but quality tires,i know not so many cars got driven but i would recommande them , i know Brant has some on his car too .

[Bob Gaines]

Bob,i understand your disappointment and i m sharing it with you,Koni could go all the way to replicate the period correct Koni in every aspect...but at least it looks like they did the internal in respect off the originals ones,to be honest i don't see any difference with the one i had on it until now from the 80's...
I never drove the car with the 65's version so i don't really know how it was riding originally...
I like the Michelin , expensive but quality tires,i know not so many cars got driven but i would recommande them , i know Brant has some on his car too .

The old shocks should be no difference feel wise. Good to know about the tires thanks for the insight.

[chris NOS]

Hi ,i have put few miles on 5S241 since the upgrade ,the Michelins are cool not as sticky as the AVON , so it's spinning a bit more and it's more fun! Good enough for the French country roads!
(the Castle is not mine ... )

[paul]

Beautiful car, beautiful location, and a very nice guy. Thanks for the pictures, Paul.

[spiller]

Late to the party here. I recently fitted new Koni to my '66 tribute and went half way on the front and 1/4 from soft on the rear. Very happy with the performance. Are they no longer making the Avon CR6ZZ or just supply issues?

[5F09K]

I bought in 2023 a new set of Koni Classics (front 82-1388)(rear 82-1389) and fit it on my fb kcode 10 months ago.
Currently, front shocks top bushings are cracked.
Pretty disappointed.

[Bob Gaines]

I bought in 2023 a new set of Koni Classics (front 82-1388)(rear 82-1389) and fit it on my fb kcode 10 months ago.
Currently, front shocks top bushings are cracked.
Pretty disappointed.

This may not be the reason why yours cracked but it is the reason why many do. Don't ever jack your car up and let the front suspension hang because that will put excessive tension on the upper shock bushings and strut rod bushings and many times cause them to crack.There is a handy tool that can be made to support the suspension while servicing to not let it hang down all the way . It is in all the Ford shop manuals 65-70 in the front suspension section. The manual gives dimensions and directions on how to make. They are something that every Mustang/Shelby owner who works on their car should have .Who knows (doubtful) if repair shops use them  when they service your car. I keep two in my tool box and have them painted fluorescent green so that they stand out and I don't forget to take them out. Once you set the car down they will eventually drop out no harm no foul but you might lose one if someone drives away.  I think Marcus Angel
https://anghelrestorations.com/  made them up at one time to sell but not on his website now so you will have to ask.

[5F09K]

My Kar spent a lot of time in my elevator and I didn't know anything about shocks...
My mistake.
Thanks for the tip

[TA Coupe]

The instructions that came with the Koni's I bought in the 70's (which I didn't read until years later) said to not adjust them until putting some miles on them. Knowing me I probably set them on full stiff and never had a problem with them. Still have them out in the garage in my shock collection. Running Double Adjustables now.

     Roy

[chris NOS]

Beautiful car, beautiful location, and a very nice guy. Thanks for the pictures, Paul.

Thank you Paul!