Street or road race springs

Mike_64_Valiant · Post subject: Street or road race springs (Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:02 pm)

I will be finishing up the bigger mustang (S197)brakes up front, new 1.0 Tbars and Edelbrock shocks all four corners. Front addco swaybar and the rear has a 8.8 with .5 relocation shackles. I am wanting this car to corner hard and be able to make a couple AutoX and open track days. Not to interested in straight line drag launches. What are your guys suggestions on leaf springs? I have looked at the Firmfeel road race springs but also kicked around something from espo. Any thoughts or comments?

Joshua Skinner · Post subject: (Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:27 pm)

ESPO should be less expensive as Firm Feel doesn't make their own leaf springs.

What body are you working with here? If it's pretty light I'd use 5-leaf springs, but if it's a heavier later car I'd use 6-leaf. ESPO has springs with less arch too.

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Joshua Skinner
car nut, telecom tech, tool using mammal
'72 Dart Swinger

Mike_64_Valiant · Post subject: (Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:47 pm)

The car is a 64 valiant.

Mike_64_Valiant · Post subject: (Thu Apr 19, 2012 9:36 pm)

I called ESPO and they suggested that I go with the 6 leaf for my cars combo and intended use. I want to lower the car a little and they said the 5 leafs will not hold up to lots of twisting abuse and being lowered, they will go flat quicker. I guess I will be going for the 6 leafs lowered 1inch.

Joshua Skinner · Post subject: (Fri Apr 20, 2012 9:37 am)

How low do you want the car? I would get the 6-leaf springs with as little free-arch as you can. They aren't going to make the car that low. I wish I had pictures of my '66 Barracuda with the lowest arch 6-leaf springs ESPO was able to provide.

_________________
Joshua Skinner
car nut, telecom tech, tool using mammal
'72 Dart Swinger

Mike_64_Valiant · Post subject: (Fri Apr 20, 2012 12:04 pm)

I have about 5 inchs between the rockers and the ground right now with 40 year old leafs that are completly flat and I like where the back end sits. The front sits higher but there is no drive train currentlly. From what I remember 10 years ago when it was parked the car sat pretty much level. With new t bars up front I assume the front hight will remain about the same and I was thinking stock hieght springs would put the back end up some. So I would like to keep about where it is and level. I will be running cobra R wheels with 245 45 17 on back and 235 45 17s up front.

Joshua Skinner · Post subject: (Fri Apr 20, 2012 12:39 pm)

The leaf spring should be nearly flat for best handling. I think that 1" under stock arch with 6-leaf springs on a light car will have the back end up higher than you want.

_________________
Joshua Skinner
car nut, telecom tech, tool using mammal
'72 Dart Swinger

Dart270 · Post subject: (Fri Apr 20, 2012 12:49 pm)

Should be a very light car. I would probably go with 5 leaf. I have cut leaf sections out of my '64 Dart 5 leafs springs to tune handling. Hardest part will be getting the right (minimal) arch, as Josh says.

Lou

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Return of the 64 Dart. Hang on...

Mike_64_Valiant · Post subject: (Wed Apr 25, 2012 1:22 pm)

I called espo again and they are telling me 2in under is the lowet arch they can/will do and they keep saying it is a super soft spring and will not hold up and will bottom out on the 5 leaf set up. I asked about weight and they say they don't have ratings on there springs for weight. The car should be around 2800-3000 lbs. when done. They say the 6 leaf with 2 under will be about the same as stock stiffness. So should I ignore what they are saying and go with the 5leafs 2" under or go with caution and get the 6leaf with 2" under and possibly have to pull springs out. There is a $65 diffrence in price and the budget is tight the 5leafs being cheaper.

andyf · Post subject: (Wed May 02, 2012 3:17 pm)

Did you talk to Firm Feel about using the Mopar Oval Track springs? They require a special front hanger which Firm Feel carries.

zorg · Post subject: (Fri May 04, 2012 4:14 pm)

I have the ESPO stock height 6 leaf pack on my '76 Dart, with 1" ESPO t-bars up front. While the load capacity is amazing with the 6 leafs, they are extremely stiff. The rear end jumps around when cornering hard on uneven pavement. Probably won't affect you on the track, but is very noticeable on the street.
I'm not sure how much different the early A-bodies are, but to get mine as low as I'd like it would require drop spindles and modifying the spring hangars and removing a leaf or two. Here's a pic for reference:

I have less than 3/4" clearance on trimmed bump stops up front. When I swap my 8 3/4 in the rear, I plan to modify the spring hangars so I can flip them (a roughly 1.5" drop). Car is on 225/50R16s all the way around.

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Mike_64_Valiant · Post subject: (Tue Jul 17, 2012 5:52 pm)

I finally ordered my leaf springs today. Got the ESPO 5 leaf with 5/8s bolts and 1" drop from stock. I was thinking of doing 2" but I figured I can always use the extra drop on the Dr. Diff adjustable .5" offset shackle kit I will be running with my new 8.8, if I need or want it lower. Thanks for the help and suggestions.

Dart270 · Post subject: (Thu Jul 19, 2012 1:31 pm)

Sounds like a good choice. I would probably have gone 2" drop, but you can adjust with lowering blocks or pull the bottom leaf out to tune it.

Lou

_________________
Return of the 64 Dart. Hang on...

mackwagon · Post subject: #72 ride height (Wed Jul 25, 2012 5:40 pm)

here is #72 a 1972 Scamp 24 hours of lemons race car.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=174578549329158&set=a.110123615774652.12877.100003310431716&type=3&theater

dodge van E150 or E250 springs in the rear, the short leaf is flipped over to flatten the pack. about 400 lbs.in rate. Datsun 510 front sway bar on the rear axle.

modified front torsion rods at about 410 lbs per in. Mustang sway bar on the front.

In this picture 16" lexus wheels with 205/50/16s

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Dan H
Dudes Ex Machina

Mike_64_Valiant · Post subject: (Fri Jul 27, 2012 10:19 pm)

Mackwagon there's always more than one way to skin a cat. That sounds like a good setup what shocks are you using and what rear end?

The leaf springs finally arrived. I got sent home last night due to no work so I got a chance to start assembling the rear suspension and install the 8.8. I am always used to getting new leaf packs with bushings installed so when I opened the package and found that there was no bushings in the rear eye let where the shackle bolt is I was Bummed out. This is my first time playng around with a-body suspensions. My new offset shackle kit does not have them either. My local autozone has a duralast PN:sk8987 is this the bushing I need for the rear leaf eye-lets and the shackle to frame brackets?

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