shock choice

For what you are wanting, a good off the shelf gas charged shock will be fine. Saying one brand is "junk" over another is probably kinda innaccurate, since there probably ain't no more than 4 or 5 plants in the world that actually MAKE a shock absorber. I used to use the Gabriel line, because our auto instructor in high school liked them and he was really old school. I don't even know if they're still around or not. I would use anything on a street car from any of the big name parts house. I mean, they all carry warrantys. Lifetime in some instances. You run into one you don't like, take it back. For what you're doin though, spendin money on a fancy KYB or blah blah blah makes no sense. It's your money, though.