Hello, My name is Kevin ... I have a 1969 Camaro SS ... I purchased the car with some god awful unsightly large rear shackles that some previous owner to I had installed ... Now it is my turn for the car ... Well ... You should all be glad to know, I am doing the best I can to return this piece of history back to its "stock" condition, which means removing the aftermarket shackles ... I do have 2 sets of the original shackles all blasted and powdered coated the original 30% gloss black and so now I am ready to lower this car back to it's original height ... My question is simple ... The car is freshly painted and so I do not want to screw this up ... The body wants to drop and the leaf springs need to go up ... Can anybody coach me through this process? ... (prefer someone who's done this before) ... I do not have the bumper on presently and that is what I began to think ... I'd need the bumper on to control the body as I may then jack the leaf springs up ... Problem ... I do not yet have an original bumper jack ... so ... ???? ... Kevin (kmg69ss)

Jack the car up and put stands under the frame, wheels off the ground but nothing touching the springs or axle.Then jack up under the pumpkin until it just touches enough to hold the weight of the axle and springs then to can change the shackles. I would do one side at a time just snug the bolts a little then tighten everything after it's back on the ground. If you don't have a floor jack now is a good time to get one.Buy a good one you'll be happy you did. Bumper jacks are only for show

Kevin, I've found that under the rockers is the best place to support the car when doing this. Put a scrap of 1x4 or so lumber on the jackstand, then a towel so it don't hurt the paint.
I recommend removing the bottom end of the shocks, they could hold the axle high enough so there is still some tension on the spring, could be dangerous.
I'd also suggest removing the gas tank, or at least keep that option in reserve. There's a ton more room under there with that tank out of the way. If you drop the tank, don't forget the ground wire screwed to the floor in front of the tank, and the sending unit wire attaches with a connector inside the trunk.
For sure do one side at a time.

Oh yea, almost forgot.
Welcome to Team Camaro, the best damned firstgen site on the net!
Come early, stay late, and the new guy buys the beer!:beers:

Well, I do have a floor jack ... So, what I understand is to put jackstands under the rear of the rocker panels near the jacking points using a block of wood and a towel for protection of the body ... Then at the differential raise the or take the weight off of the rearend slightly, and then proceed with the R and R of the shackles ... Loosen the bottom of the shocks too? ... The car has been in the dorment stage for the past 8 years and I was planning on dropping the gas tank to clean out the old gas anyways ...

Pull the bottom shock bolts out as Jim recommended,and the with tank out it will be easier

Okay ... Got the car up on jackstands ON the frame (not the rocker panel) nearby where the front of the leaf springs attach to the frame ... When is the best time to remove bottom shock bolts ... With the car on the frame and the differential raised slightly... (before or after, or?) but I am ready to tackle that part as I type this ... Thanks ... Kevin (kmg69ss)

Is the back of the car raised up by the use of the extra long shackles? If the car is sitting level, or almost level with the longer shackles be prepared to change the springs.

The extra long shackles are used as a cheap way to raise the back of the car to give it the "jacked up" look or to return the car to a level ride height as the springs wear out, or break with age. When I took my springs out (20 years ago) they all came out in two peices, except for the longest one, each one was broken in half right in the center of the axle perch. When you put the short original shackles back in the car is going to drop an inch or two depending on how long the old shackles are.

pull em now. If the tires are off the ground, put your jack under the perch.
If the tank is coming out, it can go too.

Got the bottoms of the shocks released as suggested and I am replacing one shackle side right now ... All so good so far ... I didn't drop the gas tank to this point ... It is a little tight in there but ... Oh, I also placed a block of wood in between the leaf springs and the frame to keep the leaf springs from jumping up while I was removing the old LONGER shackles ... That did release some of the pressure oiff of the shackles of which I am removing ... I'll have to knock that block of wood out to get the leaf springs to move upward to match up to the shorter (original length) shackles ... It IS my hope to lower the car to it's original height ... As mentioned ... But, no telling what the condition of the arch in the leaf springs until I should drop it back to the ground ... And yessssss ... It was sitting high with the longer shackles in ... The biggest pain so far, was that one of the rubber mounts on the top side pushed out with the insertion of the bolt ... So trying to get it to go back in within the tight area has been tough, but I got it ... I know I should have/ could have dropped the tank ... But that'll be another project soon enough ... (kmg69ss)

Well it does look as though the gas tank is becoming an issue ... There does not seem to be enough room for the length of the bolt to be inserted from the tank side on the bottom (they are staggard) the top bolt inserts from the body side of the shackle and the nut is on the tank side already ... Now the bottom goes in from the opposite direction ... Which is where the problem arrises ... No room for the bolt due to minimal gas tank clearance ... Unless I fidge with it some more and get it in ... It seems as though I will have to drop the tank ... kmg69ss

Okay ... I did get both sides except for the bottom bolts with the clearance to the gas tank an issue ... So ... The springs are up against the frame on both side (they need to be pushed away from frame to match up to the original length shackles) ... And then I can get the bolts in ... (but of course, I may have to drop the gas tank first) ... Anyways ... All is going well thus far ... And I haven't even chopped my hand off or finger for that matter as of yet ...

you slide the bottom (leaf spring) bolt in before you jack the rear back into position. Then after its in position, slide the top bolt in.

Then you dont need to remove the gas tank.

Yeah, that makes sense ... I shouldv'e thought of that ... I'll give it a try ...