Here's a chart from NPD. They have a warehouse in Ventura to hopefully help with shipping charges. http://npd.dirxion.com/WebProject.asp?BookCode=roa10flx&from=2
They have the original mono and optional leafs. $122 plus shipping.

Robert

 

Robert,

Thanks. The "Stock" monos that I purchased a while back were actually worse then what I have from a height standpoint. Do you know if anyone has tried these (from NPD) with good results?

Ed

 

On the three leaves are you running stock mono spring pad on top between the spring and perch?
If not you could add one. That would raise the axle a little with respect to the fender well.

 

I am using the the stock perchs and have a pad only on the bottom of the spring. Right now the gap I have is at least 3-4 inches higher then what I think it should be. I will measure it and take a picture tonight.

Ed

 

The 3 leafs probably did put you back at stock height or close to it. You probably got use to the height of the worn, tired, saggy monos that occurs over the 40 yrs our cars have been in existance. Mine were the same way. Keep your 3 leafs and put a spacer block on top of the springs. That will lower the rear end down. Might cost you $10 tops for a piece of flat stock from a metal supply shop. And not the cost of another set of springs.

 

Thanks but I hope this isn't stock height... take a look and let me know what you think.

 

Are your tires stock size or lower profile? I have a 69 so the wheel well opening is flatter than your 68 or 67. I have always thought there looked to be more space. Maybe check out othre pics of guys 68's with stock suspension. Maybe even check the wheel and tire section pics. Or you can go the route of a Hotchkis rear lowering kit. Also did you tighten the suspension down with the weight on or off the car? Maybe it never settled.

 

The best leaf springs on the market cost 400.00. They are Concourse Correct in every detail. I just purchased a set and could not be happier with the quality.
http://www.rickscamaros.com/camaro-multi-leaf-spring-assembly-set-five-leaf-1968-1969.html

 

The link is for 5 leaf... is that what you meant? Did you put these on a 68 and do you have pictures?

Ed

 

I'd say thats pretty close to a stock heigth.
If you liked the old/lower look...maybe look into Hotchkis 1.5" lowering springs ?

 

Doug, are you saying what I gave now is stock? I can always measure it tonight and post it vs what the assembly manual says.

Ed

 

What you have now looks very close to pictures "back in the day:

 

Ed, I have comparison pictures of my car before and after the 3 leaves in this thread. It's probably similar to yours but I'd shim the top to get the exact look you are after.
http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=179202

And they do settle some with time. Put a spare, full tank of gas and toolbox in the trunk (if you haven't tried that already)

 

Thanks! Your pictures look just like my before and after. I'm trying to get back to the before. I wonder if I purchase the NPD monos if that would do it or not...

Ed

 

Ed, yes. It will be a 1:1 change. You may need to go to all ubolts if you are using any tbolts now. Is the gas tank full when you took that photo? is there a spare in the trunk? Obviously you can't shim out a couple inches but I'd try a 1/2" spacer(shim) between the spring and perch and see what happens. Hard to tell from your photo, but as said, I don't think you are too far off from stock height now.

 

Thanks Tom. I just got home and measured the wheel well. Right now there is a spare in the trunk and I'm low on gas (~1/4 of a tank) and the distance from floor to the bottom of the wheel well is 28.5 inches. I looked in the assembly manual and it doesn't have that measurement as far as I can tell. What it does have is the distance from the wheel hub center 20" toward the front of the car measuring the distance off the ground. For my car it shows high 8" to low 9" which is about where it is if I'm measuring it right. So long story but I think you are right in that it may be close to "stock" height. It just looks wrong to me.

To answer your question, I have the stock T bolts. I may have to just live with it.

Ed

 

Holy Cow - you could fit a good sized house cat in there. Hotchkis 1.5 would be a good start, and then maybe a small block on top of the spring to get you closer. 4 u-bolts is a great idea unless originality is your deal.

 

hahahah!!! What's funny is my darn cat has sat in there so you have no idea how right you are!!

Yea, it's ugly!! I'm just tired of buying springs and getting the same results. As far as originality goes, I'd like to keep close just because the car is pretty original.

Not sure what to do at this point...

Ed

 

I didn't see a tire size. The stock tire diameter was I believe 26.5" It looks like you have more than 2" from to of tire to fender lip. I don't know where you are but a good spring shop can re-arch the springs to whatever you want.

 

my tires are 245/60-14. I'm in northern CA about 30 miles east of sacramento. To get the springs re-arched, would I need to take them the car or take the springs off? My goal would be to get the rear to look close to the front which means I'd have to lower the car about 3" or so... can they do that? What kind of shop does this?

Ed

 

Thanks. I found a place in Sacramento that I will call. At this point, I think this is my best bet and I appreciate the input. I'll let you know what I find out.

Ed

 

In the old dealer brochures they look like low riders.

 

Exactly... take a look at my monster truck picture above and then look at this... something is definitely wrong... this is the look I want...

 

I should of kept my originals. If anyone has an original pair of mono shocks and want to sell them, let me know.

 

Add 255/60 15 rears and you will fill that gap!

 

I should of kept my originals. If anyone has an original pair of mono shocks and want to sell them, let me know.

Nah, I'd work with the multi's, like Tom said above, they'll give a better ride.

This is just my opinion but, I would pull those springs, clamp the pack, remove the center pin and see which one of the leaves other than the main leaf has the most arch. Then have that leaf de arched by 50% at a spring shop(with a press not heat). I think that would give you a lower ride height when the pack is reassembled.
Also if they don't already have them, get the ends of the 2nd and 3rd leaves punched for teflon slider pads, they will help a little against friction when the spring compresses.
Don't tighten the shackle bolts too tight either and, use good lube with poly bushings.
You'll end up with a lower ride height and a smoother ride.

Keep in mind when you lower the rear the front will come up a little.

 

Yea, your right... I'll try and get a hold of the local spring shop here in CA and see if they are willing to help.

 

Any pictures of the 255/60/15 setup. I have the same problem only on a change to 5 leaf from mono. Of course everything is new and should settle a little (hopefully) in time.

 

Is yours worse then mine?

What's crazy is the more I look into this just about every car that's not original seems to have this issue and generally seem to solve it by putting bigger wheels on the car. So either the pictures I have of original cars are bogus or no one knows how to make a replacement set of leaf springs that makes the car look original.

I'm far from being an expert on this by any means but it seems to me that someone should be able to make a pair of multi leaf springs that when I put them on my car the sit like an original car sat... call me crazy for wanting that!!

Ed

 

255/60 15 is 27" over all diameter, I have that size on my 67. You will still have a huge gap between tire and fender well.

 

Yup. It will helP but still leave a huge gap. Perhaps a 215/75-15?

 

Hi Ed,

I think you should tinker with the springs to get the ride height you want.

Filling the gap with a larger tire/wheel combo will cost more money and probably give an image of an attempted "wannabe" pro stock look, which doesn't sound like you want that.

You could always spend money on the Hotchkis lowering springs instead of new tires

 

I'm going to take it to a spring shop this weekend if the weather holds up.

Ed

 

I just spoke to a local spring guy and will be dropping off the car on Tuesday. I can't wait. I'll post pictures after I get it back.

Ed

 

I used JCW 3 leaf. Dropped the car off to have the leaf springs recurved. Hope to have pictures by Wednesday.

Ed

 

Got the car back today and am VERRY happy with my choice to have the springs re-curved. The shop that did it was AWESOME and located in Sacramento (Hanley's Blacksmith). Shan is the owner and is a car guy!

My goal was to the space in the back = to the space in the front and he nailed it. The back dropped 1 7/8". Now I need to get new tires that are the right size!!

Here's a before and after shots:

Before:

After: