another rear spring question

[Bryant Fields]

hey guys, I was under my 68 cuda adjusting the snubber and noticed the springs have no arch at all. they are flat. Does this mean they are just worn out? I was already making the clamps to put on the front 1/2's, but maybe this would be a waste of time if they are too worn. Maybe I should go ahead and put SS springs on it now.The only thing I dont like about them is how high they make the cars rear end sit up. Is it acceptable to bring the heighth back down with lowering blocks ?

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My
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Private
Adrenaline
Rush

[cuda367]

yes they are worn out. no blocks are not an option

[Dr. Righteous]

Worn out rear springs can cause several problems that seem unrelated at first.
It will throw off your pinion angle and cause drive train noise.
It will make your fuel tank hold less gas.
(that is a weird one)
It can give you that 'flat spring' feeling.

[Bryant Fields]

What about the option of having my springs re-arched and then doing the clamp trick? Does anybody have an idea of how much spring shops charge to do this ? Just wanting to try the low buck approach first.

[ChristianCuda]

By the time you send your springs out to have them re-arched and then shipped back to you you will have paid for almost a set of Super Stocks. If you want order the XHD springs which are a little cheaper and then you don't have to worry about the high rear-end. But don't waste your money getting them re-arched.

Christian

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Http://ThunderRacing.Knudstrup.net/

68 'Cuda 383 Best of 8.363@83.78 in the 1/8mile which is a mid 12 with a 1.89 60ft
Formula S recreation not original but making like they should have at the factory) Working on adding EFI
69 'Cuda Race Parts Car
76 Duster 273 recent transplant
95 Neon 2.0 SOHC best of 16.96
84 Dodge Ram D50 transplanting 360

[Bryant Fields]

UPDATE:
Hey guys, Finally got to take the cooder to the track which was open for test &tune. At the end of a very short and rushed day(like about an hour) we came up with a 7.47 1/8 th mile ET with a 1.58 60 ft...And it was stumbling on the top end so my buddy who was driving was peddling at the top end.
That's my best time ever in that car and it wasnt even right.
He drove so I could watch the suspension. The springs seemed to lift pretty good for their sorry condition and I saw daylight under the left front tire. The Dominator makes a helluva difference !
for now Im gonna do the clamp trick and some more adjusting on the snubber.
Got a new MSD waiting to replace the nearly 20 yr old M.P. ignition, and were gonna borrow a tool to check valve spring pressure tonight. Hey, they've only been on there since 1984 !
Oh yea, I havent even checked the plugs or valve lash since the last time it was ran.....1996. I'm gettin pretty encouraged after that trip

[71 scamp]

What exactly is 'The clamp trick'? And what is the danger with using lowering blocks? My street driven 340 a-body runs 11's w/s.s. springs, a 1.5 inch lowering block and a 2 degree shim. The car sits perfect and launches perfect.

[Dart]

I re-arched my '70 Dart's springs, had a leaf added and only spent $125 which included new busings. Don't send them off, find a local place to do it.

[69CORONET440]

Just how much taller are ss over xhd springs?

[Bryant Fields]

The clamp trick is clamping every spring at the ends forward of the axle, to stiffin the spring. Then removing the clamp behind the axle to free up the movement of that end. Thanx for the info about re arching the springs and about using the blocks.

[Hammer 74]

I had a shop that worked on truck suspensions rearch my original springs for $35. Just make sure to tell them how much you want them done of else you could slide off your drivers seat onto the floor.
I run SS springs with a 1 inch spacer and see no problem with it. 2 shims measured is about 1/2 inch in the center.