SS Springs

[jdhreiss]

I put a set of the mopar super stock springs (3800 lb) on my 67 Belvedere along with the mopar shocks, extended front spring hangers and mopar rear shackles. When I lift the rear of the car, taking the weight off the rear suspension, the rear shackles rotate forward with the lower spring eye 45* to the front of the car. When I set the car back down, the shackles will not reverse themselves and I have to pry the shackles over the center where they then pop back to the 45* to the rear. Is this a common thing, or did I screw up somewhere along the line????

 

[TIGwelder]

I have that setup on my 66 using the original rear shackles and an 8.75 rear and never had that problem.

I don't have the mopar long shocks on mine with the increased travel though. They may be allowing the rear to drop lower and pulling the rear eye forward.

 

[64BEL]

Did you put some kind of extended shackles on it? That could be the issue. The old DC racing book says not to extend the shackles. I did the same setup with the stock shackles, drag shocks, and 3400lb springs on my Belvedere.

 

[jdhreiss]

The springs are #P3690455 and 0454 left and right. Spring extender(s) P4120105, rear shocks MOPP4529515, and the shackles are stock length P5249716. All are Mopar Performance parts. I/m thinking the longer shocks are what's going on. I'll have to remember that if the car gets towed or I go Dukes of Hazzard!

 

[TIGwelder]

I put mine up on jack stands today. With 8 3/4 and without long shocks here's the shackle position with the rear hanging free with rims and tires on axle

edit: Using top hole in front hangers

 

[Meep-Meep]

I have the exact same springs and possibly the same front hangers installed on my 66 Bel and I had to re drill the front hanger so the axle remained in the same position. With the holes provided it was either too far forward or too far to the rear.

 

[Meep-Meep]

Here's a pic of what I had to do. The two front holes are the ones I put in.

 

[64BEL]

Meep -I had to do the same thing, but mine were only off 3/4". So I just drilled one hole 3/4" forward of the originals in the middle of them - since it was so close. Using the original holes, my driveshaft had no endplay in it and vibrated badly.

 

[TIGwelder]

I've been reading in the old Mopar chassis book. On the '64 the movement forward makes sense. The stock front segment on a '64 is 1" shorter at 21" vs. 22" for the '66 and later. So if a SS spring is 2" shorter at 20" then on a 64 you really only need 1" longer hangers.

Here's what they are showing for segment lengths:

1962-1963     front 20"  rear 35"   total 55"
1964-1965     front 21"  rear 35"   total 56"
1966-         front 22"  rear 36"   total 58"
SS Sprint     front 20"  rear 36"   total 56"

Edit: Don't know if it's correct..but it looks like you lose 2" of rear segment on "1966 - " going to a SS Spring.
Rechecked book. That's what it says

They also show 2 different long spring hangers in the old book for "B" Bodies.
Sedan is a different part number here

Old PN P3690327 ( Seems to be P4120079 listed on net for 117" wheelbase)
2" Longer rear spring front hanger for:
1966-1970 Dodge "B" Body
1966-1970 Dodge and Plymouth "B" Body Wagon

Old PN P3690328 ( Seems to be P4120105 listed on net for 116' wheelbase )
2" Longer Rear Spring Front Hanger for:
1966-1970 Plymouth "B" Body Sedan
1971-1974 "B" Body Wagons

For reference...

Old PN P3690329 ( Seems to be P4120080, also listed on net as 1964–65 Mod. B-Body )
2" Longer Rear Spring Front Hanger for:
1970-1974 "E" Body
1971-1974 "B" Body Hardtop

Old PN P4007752 ( Seems to be P4120081 )
2" Longer Rear Spring Front Hanger for
1976-1980 "F" Body
2" Longer Rear Spring Front Hanger for:

 

[64BEL]

I've been reading in the old Mopar chassis book. On the '64 the movement forward makes sense. The stock front segment on a '64 is 1" shorter at 21" vs. 22" for the '66 and later. So if a SS spring is 2" shorter at 20" then on a 64 you really only need 1" longer hangers.

Yup - just what I found in my case. The 2" hangers are too long, and the stock hangers are too short. In my case, I needed 1 1/4" (every car has it's own little variances) - which is how I ended up 3/4" off with the 2" hangers.

 

[daredevil]

my 66 does the same thing with the 457 and 456 3400 # springs

 

[TIGwelder]

I know for sure the shocks are holding it up when it's hanging, but not enough to stop it from rising during acceleration. I'll see if mine locks forward when I take off the shocks very soon.

What I never realized was you lost the 2" of rear segment length on the 66- on cars. Probably to get more rise out of the cars with the hanger closer to vertical angle on acceleration.

Something I just noticed in the photo I posted above. It looks like you can see where the rear hanger was stock with the rear hanging down when they put it on the lift and undercoated it..probably at the dealer.

Appearance wise..
-Mine are a bit below frame level and look like Meep-Meep's install. Only his appear to be longer. ( see below photos and measurement )
-On the 64" they look like they mount a lot lower than on the 66-> cars.
-Daredevil looks like he's got some original old school +2" hangers or something. They aren't flat on the bottom. I bought mine back in 89-90 and they look like Meep Meeps

I just went and measured the length of the hanger because it appears in the photos some are different lengths.

 

[Meep-Meep]

Yeah, the SS springs as I always understood it are A body length so that would explain the longer front hanger required for the B body install. I just thought it was strange why I had to drill the holes to put it right but since that was an easy fix I didn't care. I'll post a measurement of my install just for reference.

 

[jdhreiss]

SS Springs Update

First, I want to thank you guys for the response (including photos!!) for my question. I am sure it is the longer Drag Racing shocks (P4529515) as they are allowing the rear to drop more. The drag racing shocks are 25" fully extended and the Mopar high performance shocks (P4452124) are 21" fully extended. I also have the front of the springs mounted in the lower hole of the spring extensions, which would also increase the drop of the rear end about another inch.

So - Anybody need a set of unused B body drag racing shocks?..... ;-)

 

[TIGwelder]

There will be those that will laugh..but here it goes ;)

When I put put my SS springs in..around '89.. the long shocks weren't available through Mopar. We (my friend who was a Dodge parts manager) tracked down a set of Gabriels that were long enough. I never used them. They are still sitting in the bottom drawer of my rolling box.

What I ended up running was the Gabriel HiJackers. And no..I wasn't doing the 90 PSI thing with them. I put just enough air in them till I saw the car just start to rise about 1" and put a little load on the axle. Usually this was around 45 PSI.

They worked awesome for me and the car stood up even on mild acceleration with my 3800 converter. The length worked out fine and never seemed to limit the car rising.

I got a lot of years out of them and they work. And at around $69 for the set, I have new ones on order arriving tomorrow.

So if you want something cheap to try out they are
part number Gabriel 49106

---

Edit: They just arrived. Figured I'd measure them and add it to the thread
They are 22.5" fully extended

 

[kdtjb]

I know 64 & 65 dodges had a 1" longer wheel base than plymouths. They did by putting a 1" longer front spring hanger in on the dodge. But I don't know about other years. So to put a little bigger slick on a plymouth, use dodge front spring hangers & drive line of course.

 

[jdhreiss]

Thanks TIG - I didn't think they still made the Hijackers. I'll be getting a set to try out!