Can I use 8 1/4 U bolts and spring/shock perches to mount an 8 3/4 in my Dart? That's all I could find at the local pull a part yard. I don't like the idea of the rubber insulators. I want good handling, not a cushy ride. Any suggestions?

Yep Rob, the 8.25" bolts and perches will work fine for an 8.75" swap. What rubber insulators are you speaking of?

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

The F-bodies et al, have the rear springs wrapped in rubber where they meet the spring perches. This makes for a quiet ride. This is not compatiable with the A-bodies thu. Also the lower shock mounts are differant then from the A-bodies.

I was never a fan of the rubber isolated springs so you may want to keep looking. Any shock plates from an A,B, C or E body 8 3/4 will work so check a few more wreckers, the U-Bolts are for 3 inch axle tubes and are pretty common.
DD

I looked at them a little closer last night. I may be able to use the ones I bought by using just the bottom plate with some modifications. I will look around for some correct ones before I go through the effort. I may have just wasted $15 on the 8 1/4 ones. No biggie. Not the first time or the last! Thanks for the replies everyone.

Rob

A member of my Mopar Club had the perches for $10. I got new U bolts at AutoZone. They were 3 1/8 ", but they worked fine. I tossed the 8 1/4 perches and U bolts in the scrap metal pile! Patience is a virtue I don't always possess.

Rob, check your perches to see if your spring centering bolt is a good fit. The Mopar perches are based on a newer set up and have a larger hole than the 60s/70s perches. Some people make a bushing to make up the difference. If your in luck, your perches are from Moroso, Competion Eng or another supplier, they have the early centering hole.

Cecil

Hey Cecil,
The perches were off of an older C Body that had the smaller centering hole. I was debating about using the 8 1/4 bottom plate only and making a bushing to make it work. The C Body route was definitely a better way to go.