If I bounce the right front side of my car I hear prounounced clunking noise.
It can also be heard during starting and stopping. Once at steady moving speed, it gets quiet. I'm suspecting shocks. What else should I consider ?
How hard is it to replace shocks ? Is it better to take the car to specialist ?

I just fixed this problem on my son's 81. Maybe you have the same cause. It had a heavy clunking noise from the LF corner which happened over every bump - however small - and could be duplicated by bouncing that corner up and down.

The solution was a zero $$ fix! The strut gland nut had come undone, meaning the strut insert (aka: cartridge...shock) was no longer connected to the strut tube and just banging around in there with no damping action. Fortunately the threads were not damaged, and I tightened it up with Loctite. Noise completely gone and the properly controlled ride is back.

Check this before you spend $$ or get into serious disassembly.
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Bob (son's 81-244GL B21F/M46, dtr's 83-244DL B23F/M46, my 94-944 B230FD and 89 745 (LT-1 V8); hobbycar 77 MGB, and a few old motorcycles)

Best to have a bit of experience before tackling struts. There are many posts about the job. If you tackle it, be careful and don't rush.

Here’s an IPD Tech Tip for front end clunks. Maybe this will help.

Check the following first:

Front crossmember bolts (2 on each side) accessed from each side of the engine compartment. 17 mm socket, loosen one-half turn, torque to 55 ft pounds.

A-Arm front bushing bolts (2 total) accessed from under the car behind the steering rack bellows. With weighted suspension, 19 mm socket, loosen a bit, torque to 54 ft. lbs.

A-Arm rear bushing mounts, three bolts each side, 14 mm socket, loosen a bit, torque to 29 ft lbs.

Rear A-Arm nut is hard to reach, torque to 40 lbs.

My son's car clunked like crazy. It had very loose A-Arm rear bushing mount bolts. Torqued them and the clunk disappeared. Free and easy.
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Thanks for all the help. DougC 1981 242, Turbo bars and wheels, M46............1993 245, B230 NA L-Block, M46, Turbo bars.

The clunking noise can be any number of things including front struts (shocks), upper strut mount, ball joints, tie rods, or one of the rubber bushings that hold the control arms in place. Replacing the struts yourself is not for the beginner or novice mechanic. You will need a few specialized tools to do it. If you have a trusted mechanic, I would take it to him/her first and find the exact cause of the problem before throwing money and parts at the car. Good Luck and post back with your results.

its hard to tell the front shocks need replaced on these cars. if its making noise plan on replacing the shocks. I did it but was a major pain. also change out the brakes while your at it. the sway bar bushings wouldn't be a bad idea either. aftewards you will notice a huge difference. the main difference is when you come to a stop your frontend won't dip down.