My experience with the shock absorber replacement job on a first-gen Camaro, which looks straightforward and produces more surprises than expected.

The front shocks on a first-gen Camaro are in the conventional position — upper mount to the shock tower, lower mount to the lower control arm. The job is accessible and the hardware is standard. The surprise: the shock tower condition. After fifty years, the welds that attach the shock tower to the inner fender are often cracked. Replacing the shock without addressing the tower is replacing a known-good part against a compromised mount.

The rear shocks require compressing the spring to remove the lower mount bolt. On a car that hasn't been disassembled in years, the fasteners are often seized. Plan for penetrating oil, heat, and patience.