superstock springs don't fit

[harleydodgeman]

well the title says it all.. I have old superstock springs that i am trying to put in a 64 fury. I relocated the springs in. when i go to install them i have to put a jack underneath the spring to get it to flatten out enough to install the shackle but it is TIGHT. Once installed, the shackle is completely against the frame with the rear end hanging freely.. (car on lift). when i lower it, the shackles go down to straight, but i have to push them down. does this sound normal for a typical leaf spring installation? shouldn't they just bolt in up front and on the shackle fairly easily? Also what is the shackle angle supposed to be at when the rear end is hanging freely. this is really pissing me off. thanks

 

[Histoy]

I believe that a longer front spring mount is required in order to get them to work on your '64. You might want to contact Mancini Racing for more info.

 

[harleydodgeman]

so when the front eye of the spring is located correctly, the rear eye should just swing into place and bolt up to the shackle without much force on the bottom of the spring, correct? How do stock springs mount up? it has been forever since i tore this thing apart and i can't rememeber!

 

[67 B-body]

You need the correct front mounts for ss springs. Then its still not perfectly set!

 

[bt756]

All super stock leaf springs with the exception of the A-body have a 2" shorter front segment. If you are using the b-body specific springs which I am guessing would be 456,457's(?) then the front hole, assuming you have the springs mounted in the rails, will be drilled further back. The rear spring hanger needs to be angled rearward when loaded. The lower hole of the shackle needs to be behind the upper hole for the leaf spring to "work". Just keep in mind that the wheelbase is 116". I have messed with this scenario a few times and can tell you the newer springs are not what they used to be...

 

[64BEL]

Another thing I'd like to mention is that in my case, the 2" extended front hangers were just a bit too much. I actually needed only 1 and 1/4", so I had to drill new holes in the hangers 3/4" forward of the holes that they came with. This eliminarted driveshaft vibration I had at the 2" extended length.

 

[Don Higginbottom]

Front Mount for SS springs

Here is a pic of the front brkt I used for my SS springs .I used a reinforcement plate behind the brkt . and there is a pic of the shackle position wheels hanging on jack stand . Hope this may help .

 

[Bbodee]

X2 on the longer brackets. '62s for sure and (I think) '63s have a 2 inch shorter front spring segment so the SS springs will bolt right in. Any other year B body needs the extended front mount that makes up for the 2" shorter spring.

 

[wedgie]

Another thing I'd like to mention is that in my case, the 2" extended front hangers were just a bit too much. I actually needed only 1 and 1/4", so I had to drill new holes in the hangers 3/4" forward of the holes that they came with. This eliminarted driveshaft vibration I had at the 2" extended length.

I had exactly the same 3/4" issue, but because I wanted the rear tires located in the center of the wheel well, I had a longer shaft made. Made my larger diameter Mickey Thompson tires fit like a glove without coming too close to the front edge of the rear wheel well opening.

 

[67 B-body]

I had exactly the same 3/4" issue, but because I wanted the rear tires located in the center of the wheel well, I had a longer shaft made. Made my larger diameter Mickey Thompson tires fit like a glove without coming too close to the front edge of the rear wheel well opening.

Exactly the same as my 67!!!!!! The tires fit better, but you can easily see that the drive shaft isn't engaged to the trans as far as it was before the swap to SS springs...
I read somewhere that guys are taking the springs apart and moving stuff around to remedey this known error.

 

[harleydodgeman]

All super stock leaf springs with the exception of the A-body have a 2" shorter front segment. If you are using the b-body specific springs which I am guessing would be 456,457's(?) then the front hole, assuming you have the springs mounted in the rails, will be drilled further back. The rear spring hanger needs to be angled rearward when loaded. The lower hole of the shackle needs to be behind the upper hole for the leaf spring to "work". Just keep in mind that the wheelbase is 116". I have messed with this scenario a few times and can tell you the newer springs are not what they used to be...

I looked at the number stamped on the bottom leaf of the springs. I am a little confused on what the spring actually is. These springs are probably 30 years old. The have a very good arch to them and are pretty stiff, 6 leaves each. the number on the bottom is 2403536. Maybe these are not super stock springs like a think they are? I just assumed they are. the front segment measures 21". I compared them to the stock spring and they have way more arch to them so I have to wonder what they are?

At any rate i guess i need to check the wheelbase to see if i can drill the hole back further to get the proper shackle angle. Right now when i get them in and the rear end is hanging, the shackle is forward against the sub frame.

 

[harleydodgeman]

Here is a pic of the front brkt I used for my SS springs .I used a reinforcement plate behind the brkt . and there is a pic of the shackle position wheels hanging on jack stand . Hope this may help .

Thanks for the pics Don

My shackle angle with rear end hanging like yours is all the way forward against the frame and with weight on the car it is vertical. I am pretty sure that I have something screwed up or mismatched. My springs are actually moved in so my rear shackles go through the subframe, don't know if that makes a difference or not.

 

[splicer]

...installed both new SS springs and new mopar front brackets on my 64 and had to re-drill the front brackets 1 inch closer to the front of the car to maintain the same rear end centerline. They work well and the car hooks up really well.....

Splicer

 

[harleydodgeman]

All super stock leaf springs with the exception of the A-body have a 2" shorter front segment. If you are using the b-body specific springs which I am guessing would be 456,457's(?) then the front hole, assuming you have the springs mounted in the rails, will be drilled further back. The rear spring hanger needs to be angled rearward when loaded. The lower hole of the shackle needs to be behind the upper hole for the leaf spring to "work". Just keep in mind that the wheelbase is 116". I have messed with this scenario a few times and can tell you the newer springs are not what they used to be...

I just checked my wheelbase and it is at around 114". Makes sense because the axle looks too far forward, the front bolt holes are in the stock location, the drive shaft i had out of a 63 dodge 330 was 2 in too long, and that should take care of the shackle angle.