Who has Koni front air shocks?

[93mkviii]

I'm just curious to see how many people have the motorcraft air shocks with koni inserts in them. The inserts can't be found and so I may have to scavenge from people who have already done the conversion. BTW if anyone has converted to koni on all four corners, was it worth it? And what do you plan on doing if the airbag gets cracks in it?

 

[Markviiiedrea]

Talk to Kstromberg or 97MarkJA, but they just have the Koni with springs.

 

[slowmkviii]

http://www.lincolnsonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=74912

 

[KStromberg]

On my 98 , I have Tokico blues up front and Koni sport fully adjustable shocks out back with S/C springs all around. It sits higher than stock ride height but rides just fine. I can't even really tell to be honest.

 

[LSCmuscle]

My 97 is still on air with adjustable konis in all 4 corners and they are definitely worth it in my opinion. I do believe we came across the last set or next to the last set though (about a yr ago).. If you can find them i would jump at it in a heart beat.

 

[98lincmk7lsc]

http://www.lincolnsonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=74912

^that^ thread is mine. I also did the same write-up on LVC and LOD too.

I have Koni's in the front and the rear of my 98 and I love it. The car is also sensor lowered and has a 1 3/8" rear sway bar along with 255 front/285 rear tires. All of those together make the car handle really well. It is quite a bit more firm (similar in feel to a new Mustang), but it's also quite smooth. On-ramps that make my stock 97 feel a little squirrelly, are well under control at much higher speeds in my 98.

The airbags I used for the front conversion were practically new. I found them on a car in the junkyard, and only paid $60 for them. I've got another set sitting here in similar condition that will replace them if the time comes.

Members DLF, and (I think) Warden are the only other forum members that I can think of that currently have Koni's at all four corners. DLF did his himself, and Warden bought the car back from Jeremi with the Koni's installed.

 

[LSCmuscle]

Yea i guess i shoulda/coulda stated I as well have bigger front and rear sway bars as well as 255/285 tire combo along with every bushing DLF makes for the rear. The ride is stiffer than stock yet still smooth (as stated above). Jeremi did the build for me but there is a complete write up on LOD under the thrrad "White Lightning Rebirth".

 

[DLF]

Yea i guess i shoulda/coulda stated I as well have bigger front and rear sway bars as well as 255/285 tire combo along with every bushing DLF makes for the rear. The ride is stiffer than stock yet still smooth (as stated above). Jeremi did the build for me but there is a complete write up on LOD under the thrrad "White Lightning Rebirth".

I'm glad you're happy with your car.

I used new front bags, and also have 1 1/4" Addco bars F&R along with my Delrin IRS bushings.

Absolutely worth it, but will likely never happen again.

 

[LSCmuscle]

I'm glad you're happy with your car.

Yea, Im definitely happy with it , but there is still way more to do (always is lol). Hopefully the chips fall right and that thread will be reopened with alot more goodies this spring/summer. Anyways, just wanted to give you a thanks (long due, I just don't post often) for the parts and advice you supplied. I know I thanked Jeremi for the incredible job but also know that you and J conversed on the project from time to time and the end result wouldn't have happened without your parts. So, THANKS.

 

[KStromberg]

I wouldn't mind if Father Doug put his blessing on my car.

 

[93mkviii]

Another question. I have two marks with original front shocks on them. One is an lsc and the other a base model. If I try pushing down on the lsc there is literally no give but maybe 1/2 and inch. The base however I can get rocking up and down about 2-3 inches. Both feel very solid on the road(I'm pushing down as hard as i can). Much more solid then the marks I have with arnott, which I can play seesaw on top of and are a joke for springs. So the question being are lsc really more stiff than base models? I know only one shock are sold now (AVS17,16) but originally did lsc and base come with different shocks? And are the shocks now sold really this firm because I see no need for konis if so. People with experience on this would be great.

 

[Markviiiedrea]

Gen II air springs have better valveing. What do they look like? Gen II's have white plastic on them and gen I's are black steel. Other then that there is no difference between LSC and a base air shocks.

I only have a pic of the Gen II's

 

[Sapperfire]

Anyone know about the Suncore shocks? I can get a used set in good condition for someone that needs bags

 

[thaywood]

Another question. I have two marks with original front shocks on them. One is an lsc and the other a base model. If I try pushing down on the lsc there is literally no give but maybe 1/2 and inch. The base however I can get rocking up and down about 2-3 inches. Both feel very solid on the road(I'm pushing down as hard as i can). Much more solid then the marks I have with arnott, which I can play seesaw on top of and are a joke for springs. So the question being are lsc really more stiff than base models? I know only one shock are sold now (AVS17,16) but originally did lsc and base come with different shocks? And are the shocks now sold really this firm because I see no need for konis if so. People with experience on this would be great.

Gen II air springs have better valveing. What do they look like? Gen II's have white plastic on them and gen I's are black steel. Other then that there is no difference between LSC and a base air shocks.

I only have a pic of the Gen II's

I've often wondered about the difference in valving of the base vs LSC shocks. I felt the same way when I got my '97 LSC. Those shocks were significantly stiffer than the shocks on my base '96 Mark. And the '97 LSC handled much better than the base '96. When the air springs finally gave up the ghost and I had to replace them, I used Arnotts because they were the only ones I could afford. And they are mushy and squishy compared to the stock LSC shocks. I wonder about the valving difference because if I'm not mistaken, the Mark VIII sales brochure (I have a '96 and '97 at home and I plan to check them next time I'm there) mention different suspension tuning on the LSC vs the base. I've also read somewhere on the interwebs (so it must be true...:lol that shock valving was stiffer on the LSC vs the base model. But I know from a seat-of-the-pants standpoint that my LSC was a heckuva lot stiffer than the base model I had.

 

[93mkviii]

Well I bought new motorcraft units and they were made near the end of 2011. Note that the numbers for the original shock and new units are the same except the last letters. The originals ended with a AA while these end with a AB. Now my base and lsc both end with AA and have the same numbers. The solenoid area(the top ring where the sticker is) of my lsc however is painted black, maybe the old owner? This all doesn't make sense at all since there are no clear answers. I'll have to see how these new units compare to my lsc. I may pull the shock cover off the lsc to see if it has original shocks. Maybe someone modified it? Also, all this valve timing would have to be from the spring itself right? Nothing computer/compressor driven? This again doesn't make sense since both shocks have the same part number on my lsc and base.