E Body Leaf Springs on a B Body?

[wsutard]

I can get a screaming deal on a set of Hotchkis Leaf springs. Unfortunately they are for a 1970 E Body and I have a 69 B Body. Has anyone made this swap work before?

Here are the springs. I already checked Hotchkis and the two springs aren’t the same SKU.

http://www.hotchkis.net/product/197...ort-leaf-springs/?mk=40&yr=1970&md=286&sm=295

 

[Darter6]

I may have it backwards,,but I think that E-body springs are longer than the B's

 

[Fran Blacker]

http://www.dippy.org/forum2/index.php?topic=209.0

Going by this site e body 1" shorter.

 

[RT K_line]

Going by Frans post I don't see 1 inch making to much difference but I could be wrong.

 

[rumblefish360]

E bodies are shorter on the rear segment by 1 inch and not for use on a B body. Go to FEBO and sell them.

 

[YY1]

IIRC MP/DC makes/made an adapter.

 

[Fran Blacker]

IIRC MP/DC makes/made an adapter.

YY1 Do you have a website address?
Another option is buy S/S front spring hangers and drill holes 1" back, not the 2" as they come. Now one problem is the driveshaft to short?

Edit: Maybe you can cheat and move them back a 1/2" from B body stock location ?

 

[rumblefish360]

IIRC MP/DC makes/made an adapter.

For S/S springs sure!
E body into B body, ummmmm, No.

 

[Cranky]

Wow....more new info for me lol but I've been doing that swap for years and didn't notice anything to make it where they wouldn't work. One thing that many do not know about the E body is that the springs splay outwards (wider in the back) and B bodies do not. Might be why they are 1" longer?

 

[wsutard]

Are the Hotchkis leafs for $300 (retail $650) worth the trouble?

 

[Cranky]

Are the Hotchkis leafs for $300 (retail $650) worth the trouble?

I do not have any experience with the Hotchkis springs but they are designed to lower the car one inch, right? That means they have less arch than stock? That's generally how you lower a car without using lowering blocks. If that's the case, I don't see why you couldn't use them in a B body. Even if they have the same arch as the springs now on the car, it's not going to change the angle of the rear hangers enough to mess with anything. IF the hangers are 40* now, what will they be after installation? 35*?

 

[Fran Blacker]

Are the Hotchkis leafs for $300 (retail $650) worth the trouble?

Interesting what Cranky said. Look under your car and see the position of the rear shackle and decide if an inch matters. I'd look with weight on and with the body jacked up some. You wouldn't what it to over center.

 

[5.7 hemi]

Just get longer spring ends and your golden!

 

[Cranky]

Just get longer spring ends and your golden!

Are you talking about longer front hangers? A 1" spacer (would need longer bolts too) could also be used but then you'd be moving the rear end back an inch too. If anything, I like moving my axles forward if possible.....

 

[5.7 hemi]

Yeah, spring hangers.

 

[5.7 hemi]

Here it is.
http://www.manciniracing.com/search-results.html?query=spring hanger