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Many years ago I removed four metal cylinders from each inner fender on my 400 vert. They did not have any attachments (electrical or hydraulic) to indicate their function. They are heavy as he**. What are they for? Yes, I saved them... I took them out to reduce weight as I street raced it in the early days...
Shirl Dickey
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Joined: Jul 2016
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They are harmonic dampeners to help limit vibration induced by the convertible design. They are filled with automatic transmission fluid. Commonly known as salt shakers. They can be very expensive to replace since thy are not reproduced that I know of.
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Joined: Dec 2007
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Cocktail shakers.
Very hard to find. Expensive to replace/ship.
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold  1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,158 Likes: 51
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The dampener has a steel ball between springs and filled with an ATF fluid. Wish I had saved the dampener "cut open" picture I saw many years ago. 1st Gen Camaros and Firebird converts used them but the Corvair converts had them in the mid-sixties.
Jim
'68 400HO Conv.
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I had the car in an all Pontiac show 20 years ago and a Pontiac expert (friend Mike Brammer) asked me where they were. I said I was not sure, I think I threw them away. He said 'I hope you didn't they're worth $1000' (in 1996). I went looking for them when I got home and found them in an old milk crate. Then I remembered I threw them in the trash and then went back and dug them out and and saved them in the milk crate...Lucky or perceptive? Not perceptive enough, I didn't save the exhaust manifolds and PMD spoked hub caps... I'm betting they are also hard to find.
Shirl Dickey
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They seem important, but I removed mine and had no ride issues in my 68.
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Joined: Apr 2009
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I have ridden in cars with and without, mine still has them, and can't really say I have noticed any difference .
I do notice that a lot of fgf owners always seem to be interested if they are there or not.
] ![[Linked Image from i601.photobucket.com]](http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt95/920-680-1902/firebird/Photo_2006_1_29_22_27_15_edited_edi.jpg) Hank K. Green Bay Wis.
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Joined: Jul 2003
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I think they are designed to control dynamics from rough roads. Mine were long gone. I thought it would be cool to have empty repro ones just for show
Last edited by Bob S.; 06/24/17 07:46 PM.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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I drove mine with and without them, cowl shake is more noticeable w/o them, and this included have a new tight suspension and all 6 body mounts replaced.
GM usually did things for a reason back in the day...not so much anymore.
-Jeff
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Joined: Jan 2009
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The dampener has a steel ball between springs and filled with an ATF fluid. Wish I had saved the dampener "cut open" picture I saw many years ago. 1st Gen Camaros and Firebird converts used them but the Corvair converts had them in the mid-sixties. I found the article with pictures I captured years ago.
-Jeff
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,158 Likes: 51
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THANKS Jeff!! Glad you found it. I have looked everywhere in my files and searched the Camaro forum and didn't find it. There was reference in the Camaro forum but the link to the images was gone and the member posting it has not posted for years.
It makes more sense for securing the springs with that big multi-diameter center cast weight than a ball I mistakenly recalled.
Jim
'68 400HO Conv.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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No problem Jim, if you want the PDF version of the doc, send me your email address.
-Jeff
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