Can someone tell me the best way to raise the rearend of my 69? All I need is about an inch to keep the tires from rubbing when I hit a dip. The inside lip of the fender is bareley touching the tire on the sidewall of the tire where the tread starts and I really don't want to try rolling the edge of the fender. I was thinking some air shocks or a shackle kit but would like some good advice from the forum tech's if possible.
Thanks for any help you can provide.

I would be looking at :
Do the rims have the right off set?
Do the springs have the right arch and compression specs

I would be looking at :
Do the rims have the right off set?
Do the springs have the right arch and compression specs x 2:hurray:

And also do the tires look right? You know, are the wheel wells completely full? There is no better look than maxed-out meats. Seriously, there are few simpler, more reliable ways to solve a problem that you describe than stepping up to the plate with a baseball bat. I used a hacksaw and a portapower. Whew. That was work. Remember, back in the '70's people were radius-ing their wheel wells. Except for 69 Camaro owners. Then they invented mini tubs. Go with the bat.
http://epitomesrebuild.com/images/249.JPG

i had my rear multileafs re-arched looks and works fine first tried a set of air shocks but made the ride verrry stiff and i was afraid of breaking the shock mounts.

Air shocks would be OK as long as you keep them at 35-40 psi maximum, anything higher and your belly will be bouncing to the beat of the bumps in the road!....Also, a pair of load leveler shocks, with a 750 lb. load capacity, would be OK!

There are a lot of ways:

-re-arch existing springs
-get new springs
-Cal Trac allow for adding pre-load that raises the rear a bit
-Different offset wheels
-Smaller tires

I would stay away from air shocks if you can but they will work for sure.

Back in the early n80s the orginal springs where a little flat and lost tension after over 100,000 miles and towing a med sized boat by the previous owner
So in the mean time I put in a set of air shocks...no pun intended but they where a pain in the butt
Got the springs re shaped and re torqued to top of factory spec. no more rubbing when going over a big bump with ppl in the back...the air shocks where then replaced....far better ride ...and I tow...biggest load was tare (weigh bridge) 1985 kg of gravel...no rubbing.

If you have 4 leaf rear springs you could just add a leaf, it will raise the car up some as the other 4 leafs wont flatten as much, we used to do that at a shop I worked at in the late 80,s. If you have 5 leaf springs you can subsitute 1 leaf for a thicker and longer leaf, or 1 with more arc. Sometimes it takes a little trial and error.
Check your phone book and talk to a spring and suspension company. It is a lot easier to add 1 leaf than change the whole springs. IMO.

I am a firm believer in adjustable coil-over shock helper springs b/c you can adjust them to wherever you want them AND they are CHEAP!!

It take's some time to pre-load them but once set, great by me!!

pdq67

Thanks for the input ya'll, I think I am going to get new springs or have the originals reworked. What is the hardest part of removing and reinstalling, are there anythings I need to be aware of before I start. In case you can't tell, I ain't never done this before (LOL) so it will be a leraning experience.

Hey Fred,
What wheel/tire combo are you running on your car, and do you have any other pics of them?

Jim

My '68 mono leaf car came with coil over shocks. I was going to take them out before I drove it. It rides surprisingly well, so I left them.

What is the hardest part of removing and reinstalling,
Doing it with the fuel tank in

There is a post a thread about the time this one was started covering indetail how to and any issues that may arise

Doing it with the fuel tank in

There is a post a thread about the time this one was started covering indetail how to and any issues that may arise

I just changed some last week and the fuel tank was not a issue. IMO.

http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=149623

The hardest part is NOT breaking the six "clip-nuts" up front!!

You twist them off and the fun begins! And use a ratcheting boxend back by the gas tank to remove the nuts!

Please read the "Clip-nut" sticky up top here to break yourself up to speed and also go back w/ at least one "U"-bolt/side and coffee-can the stock "T"-bolts b/c they can break!!

Here it is.....

http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=83635

pdq67

The hardest part is NOT breaking the six "clip-nuts" up front!!

You twist them off and the fun begins! And use a ratcheting boxend back by the gas tank to remove the nuts!

Please read the "Clip-nut" sticky up top here to break yourself up to speed and also go back w/ at least one "U"-bolt/side and coffee-can the stock "T"-bolts b/c they can break!!

Here it is.....

http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=83635

pdq67

Good Point, I just start soaking them down every day with penetrating oil for about 1 week before removal. The Z28 I did last week all came out easy, but it was a real clean low mileage car. The ratcheting box end wrench is a GREAT idea. Thanks.

Man, this ain't very encouraging. Can someone tell what I might be looking at dollar wise, if I take it to a garage and have them change them out?

Man, this ain't very encouraging. Can someone tell what I might be looking at dollar wise, if I take it to a garage and have them change them out? I will get some pic's and size this weekend when I have some daylight to look, and post them.

Just 1 word.....Air Shocks!......Buy em, install em, raise em!