alright, thanks for that explanation, I'm only sixteen so if that explains anything... do you think just adding the extra coilsprings around the shock absorbers would accomplish the same feat? or adding extra leafs from another car?

Wish there had been internet forums when I was sixteen...

The coil springs around the shocks would transfer too much of the weight of the car onto the upper shock mounts — something they weren't designed to handle (that's the springs' job). That's another problem with air shocks (something ELSE everyone used to do back in the old days!). That doesn't mean you'd necessarily have a problem, but many people have reported the upper shock mounts being ripped from their mountings that way, and that's a lot harder to fix than replacing springs...

Adding a few leafs from another pack of springs is certainly an option. I've never done this, but several others have. I'd use the search function and see what you can come up with, or start a new post called "adding a leaf" or some such.

If you absolutely can't afford a new pair of leaf springs and just have to raise the rear of the car right now, I'd get a pair of leaf spring "helpers" at the local parts store. They bolt onto the leafs themselves to stiffen them up. Just keep in mind that you'll be taking money away from the new leafs you'll eventually have to buy anyway, and then you'll have a practically worthless pair of spring helpers taking up space in your garage...

I'm not sure where you live, but you might check around your area for a business that deals in springs for big trucks. They can rearch your springs for considerably less than new ones (but for more than the cost of helper springs), and this will restore (or increase) the factory ride height.

In the end, though, you're eventually going to want to get a new set of leafs. The benefits from getting a pair from a place like Espo's Springs & Things are that you can get anywhere from 4-6 leafs (to vary the ride firmness) and either stock ride height or as much as 1-2" higher OR lower than stock. When I replaced the leafs on my worn out Swinger several years ago, it made a HUGE difference in handling and stability, even though the front suspension was very tired.

I understand that Espo's doesn't list leafs on their website any more, but you can give them a call and they can give you a price. Hope this helps, and good luck!

http://www.springsnthings.com/

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vm

I put on 340 HD replacement springs from mother Mopar. I was so used to the car with it's dragging the back bumper stance, it looked like I had jacked it up to the moon after I put them on and leveled the car out with the torsion bar adjusters. After comparing to a friends 75 Dart (only 1 1/2' higher than his), I realized it was just probably back to the factory designed ride height. The difference in ride and handling with just these springs and rear KYBs is totally amazing.

on my 62 valiant-- I bought the jc springs-- free shipping & on sale-- I have a before /after photo-- but not a detailed explaination-- like some members have done. It brought the car up quite a bit (althought the pics dont show) I would estimate approx 2" from tire top to wheel opening--- main thing the car would not bottom out when loaded & hitting bumps in the road. (front bushing eye hole is larger than stock-- so I modified the hanger & used larger bolt)
Lawrence
http://www.slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11651

Take this from the Josh man's excellent tutorial he found. This publication explains how rear ride height can adversely effect, or enhance handling:

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC