Rear shock question

[powerwagontim]

Hi Guys,
I am working steadily at dressing my frame, almost ready to slip the front axle back under, so the shocks are coming up on the near to-do list. I have a set of NOS fronts, and several sets of used rears. I like the beefy look of the original ones, seems like most of the new ones I see look like pencils.
Now, on the Power Wagons, which I am much better versed in than M37s, although I am picking it up quickly, the rear shocks were a factory option. The rear shock mounts are quite rare, and quite pricey when you find them. Guys like to put them on their trucks mostly for bragging rights, as they make absolutely no difference to the ride. That said, Power Wagons are a 1 ton vehicle, and sprung a lot heavier, so not apples to apples here.
So, my question is, how much difference do the rear shocks make on an M37? Anyone here ever replace their rears and been struck by a big difference in the ride?
Thanks,
tim

[SOTVEN]

HELLO FRIEND. I DO NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT PW, BUT ON MY M37, THE SHOCKS MUST HAVE BEEN WIPED OUT AFTER A LITTLE TIME THAT I HAD IT IN MY OWNERSHIP. NOT FAMILIAR BACK THEN WITH THE RIDE OF THE M, I FIGURED "OH WELL THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A BUMPY RIDE TRUCK" SOON ENOUGH, MY FRONT DRIVER SIDE SPRING GOT ALL MELLOW AND MY TRUCK WAS NOW SITING IN AN ANGLE. I HAD THE SPRING REDONE, AND REMOVED ALL MY SHOCKS. BESIDES ONE REAR THAT SORT OF HAD SOME RESISTANCE, ALL THE OTHERS WERE WIPED OUT. EVEN MY 8 YEAR OLD NEPHIEW COULD CLOSE AND OPEN THEM WITHOUT ANY STRENGTH NEEDED. I COULD NOT FIND ANY SUCH SHOCKS IN THE GREEK MARKET, AND ALTHOUGH VENDORS IN THE STATES HAD THEM (AND IN VERY ATTRACTIVE PRICES) TRANSATLANTIC SHIPPING COSTS WOULD KILL ME. I FOUND A VENDOR IN GREECE WHO HAD A STASH OF NOS SHOCKS THAT HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT THEY WERE. DARK RED COLOR, SAME SIZE AS THE M37 SHOCKS CLOSED, SAME OPEN, YET A BIT THINER (LIKE AN 8TH OF AN INCH), AND THE RUBBER EYE ON THE ENDS WAS THE SAME SIZE. I FORGET THE MANUFACTURER'S NAME BUT THEY HAD AN OLD STICKY TAG ON THEM "1966 FORD, MADE IN USA". I GOT 8 OF THEM FOR THE PRICE OF 2 NEW ONES. AFTER INSTALLATION, I THOUGHT I HAD CHANGED VEHICLES. STREET BUMPS WERE NOT FELT ANYMORE, CORNERING BECAME FUN, I STOPPED IN STRAIGHT LINE, AND WHEN CLIMBING OVER A SIDE WALK, THE M WOULD NOT ROCK A BIT!!!! I SUGGEST YOU REPLACE THE SHOCKS AS OPPOSED TO DITCH THEM. GOOD LUCK

[powerwagontim]

Hi Sotven,
Sounds good, I will get some new ones for the rear.
Thanks,
Tim