ok guys,

ive looked at Davids page and taken measurements of my own and i need to know what combo of spring perch and spacer is best for my setup.

right now, i have mono perches. but they are getting replaced cause the welding job to strengthen it up (in the 70s) looks like it was done by bubba.

my cal tracs split monoleafs are 2.5" wide at center, 7/8" thick at center and a bolt that holds the two halves together is about 5/16"

so if i go with a multileaf perch (2 3/4" thick)

i *think* i want a spacer to take up the slack...

upper spacer = 5/16" to take care of bolt head
+ spring 7/8" (14/16")
+ spacer
------------
2 3/4" = (44/16)

so my spacer should be (44-5-14)/16 = 25/16 or roughly 1 9/16" thick

is that right? should i add 1/16 to make sure the lower plate really grabs the assembly?

if i were to use upper and lower pads that are 3/8", would i just subtract 3/4" from my spacer height?

if i used a monoleaf perch (1" thick) and replaced the spring bolt with a carriage bolt (no head), then id need

1" (8/8) perch
- 7/8 caltracs spring (no top bolt head)
-------------
1/8" spacer. is this correct?

now if i used the bottom poly spring pad (3/8" thick), then id be 1/4" too tall, but do you think the poly would compress a little to make the assembly nice and tight and flush?

am i correct in this? what would you guys do? multi or mono perches?

also, the caltracs springs are 2.5" wide. the mono perches are 2 9/16" wide. my pads have no "sides" to them. will the mono perch be wide enough for the caltracs springs? (is 1/16th enough for play?)

sorry this is so long...

thanks for all your help!

Jeff - anything above the leaf will lower the car. I would install them with just the pad above and get the car down on it's wheels and see how it sits. Expect a little sag after the first few weeks, shouldn't be too much though but enough to keep it in mind. After you get an idea how it's gonna sit then go back and adjust to achieve the desired stance.

All I would worry about is that when the bottom plate is bolted up the springs are not floating loose. If the plate and perch don't come together when things are tight that isn't a problem.

Ok here what I did take the urathan pad and have it slice or cut in have.Making two 1/4 or 1/8? flat surfaces use one on top and one on the bottom.The pads that come with the kits are two thick in many cases.The guy use an band saw and cut mind then I had two bottom plates made with the sock holders wielded on in a higher position so I do not have to use shock extenders.My lower plate are 1/4 thick and fit flush with my 3 spring multi's.Will post pic later still work in progress.

pics would help! smile.gif

"All I would worry about is that when the bottom plate is bolted up the springs are not floating loose. If the plate and perch don't come together when things are tight that isn't a problem."

dennis, thats what im worried about... my spring floating in the pocket... if i go with multileaf perches, im definitely gonna have "float" cause my new springs arent anywhere near 2 3/4" tall... even with both

5/16 (bolt height) + 12/16 (2 3/8 pads) + 14/16 (leaf spring thickness) = 31/16... just under 2"

still need an extra 3/4".....

with monoleaf perches, Id be too big for the 1" perch by 1/4" if i just used the lower pad and replaced the bolt with a flat top carriage bolt.

i guess if the entire spring is in the perch pocket and the only thing that is hanging out is 1/4" of a rubber spacer that has a hole drilled into it to align with the bolt... and im sure that some of that would compress. maybe 1/16th or so... then id be fine...

sounds like i should replace the mono perches with mono perches and replace the spring bolt with carriage bolt.

do you agree?

thanks!!

[ 05-21-2003, 09:41 AM: Message edited by: jks67SS396 ]

if you are replacing the perches, why not get the "Mopar" style that doesn't wrap around the spring at all? with those, you can have mono leafs and switch to multi's- or muli's to mono's, if you wanted- and not have to worry about it.
that's what i have on my Nova, and millions of Mopars and Fords and trucks of all shapes and sizes use it. another benefit is that you get to ditch the insulator pads that do nothing but cause wheelhop and add a minute amount of unsprung weight. the Mopar perches (http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=2632&prmenbr=361) are $12.99 at Jegs or your local circle track parts supplier will have them on hand for around $15 or so- or try a local Mopar dealer.

ND,

yeah thats what the rear end shop was talking about. thanks for the pic! at least now i know what they look like.. i might go with those

but for now, i used the bottom pad on the top to hide the bolt head, no pad on the bottom and things fit very nicely into the original perches.

i also got my cal tracs on (after a year or so)

they look cool. and i think they work smile.gif

for street driving, im supposed to have no preload. well, i set that up when the car was in the air and forgot to check it when it was on the ground.

what a difference the new leafs (200 lb rate) or konis or poly bushing or caltracs or something makes.

this car feels REAL solid in the back smile.gif im real happy with the goods smile.gif

girlfriend is choking on exhaust so i think i should do that next

thanks guys!!!