Rear end suspension mysteries

[Snook]

The shop dropped the rear end, leaf springs and shock plates out of my 66 Coronet post car yesterday. These shock plates are obviously hand made - they almost look like an early attempt at traction bars, see pics.

snook

 

[WP29440SE]

I wonder if the "beams" were longer at some point and then shortened.
interesting

 

[493 Mike]

I welded bar stock on a couple of Fords years ago. They seemed to work at stopping wheel hop. That is what this looks like.
Mike

 

[Snook]

Thanks, that makes sense. They will probably end up as crab trap anchors now.

snook

 

[33 IMP]

I aagree with WP and Mike..i had some homemade traction bars on a 55 chevy with a big block (done by the previous owner) that looked exactly like that, but the 3/8x2"bar extended to the front spring eye, and had an adjustable contact bolt. It just looks like yours have been cut off, rust on the end pointing to the front of the car. If your car has a shift kit in it, somebody probably just got tired of the slapper bars whacking the springs everytime it shifted.