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| Suspension upgrade path questions https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=52472 |
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| Author: | zorg [ Sat Jul 13, 2013 11:40 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Reed, I have 1" Firm Feel T-bars, 1 1/8" Addco sway bar up front (mounted to factory sway bar LCAs), Edelbrock shocks, and 6 leaf ESPO springs on my Dart. 225/50R16 tires all the way 'round. I'll have to take you for a ride sometime so you can see what you think. It's a little stiff for some people's liking, but I'm still a kid who likes to think he's a race car driver so it suits me well. Up front I wouldn't mind the 1 1/4" Hellwig sway bar, actually... And out back I'll probably lose a leaf at some point (it's a little too stiff on uneven roads and jumps around when I push it real hard). I hope your hand heals up quickly! I gouged my hand with a grinder and smashed my face with a socket/ratchet today...no fun. |
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| Author: | Reed [ Sun Jul 14, 2013 12:43 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
 I don't even have a good story to tell. My can opener broke when I was trying to make dinner so I tried to rip the half-cut top off the can off manually. My "Hulk SMASH!" moment ended with me getting stitches. D'OH!Thanks for the advice on the suspension. I will definitely be looking into at least a front sway bar. |
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| Author: | StephenShawScamp [ Sun Jul 14, 2013 7:49 am ] |
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Reed, ouch, I hope you are better soon. I've tried that can opener method too with bad results. In your research on the van springs, does the bolt hole that holds them together that pins the axle perch line up on all the leafs? |
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| Author: | Reed [ Sun Jul 14, 2013 9:34 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
I haven't actually installed the leaf yet, but my measuring tape tells me the van leaf will fit. I will post once I get the leaf installed. |
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| Author: | StephenShawScamp [ Sun Jul 14, 2013 2:42 pm ] |
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I remembered something weird about ESPO so I went back to their site. I don't see any leafs listed for any Valiant or Dart 72 thru 76. So I'm not sure what to order. Does anyone have any part numbers? I would like to compare their capacity and rate to General Spring. Pricing as well. Thanks. |
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| Author: | kesteb [ Sun Jul 14, 2013 10:05 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
You have to call them direct for springs. I bought a set of the 6 leaf rear springs for our Duster. They were around $200 or so. I also picked up a set of U bolts, some poly bushings and one shackle. The rear end now sits like a Duster should. |
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| Author: | Reed [ Tue Jul 16, 2013 9:56 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Shot down in flames... |
Well, I tried fitting the Dodge van spring into the Duster spring pack and it is a no go. The front fits but the portion of the spring behind the hole for the locating bolt is too short. THe van spring is the thicker one second from the top in the photos: Front:  Rear:  Bummer. |
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| Author: | Reed [ Tue Jul 16, 2013 10:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Hmmmm, but what about removing the second longest spring in the Duster spring pack? Hmmmm. The van spring I know has more arch and is stiffer than the Duster spring. Hmmmmmm. |
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| Author: | DusterIdiot [ Wed Jul 17, 2013 12:28 am ] |
| Post subject: | Yikes! |
I think before putting the springs and rear axle in, I'd be taking care of the surface rust with a paintbrush and a bottle of SEM Rust Mort, and then priming it or undercoating it before it becomes cancerous. -D.Idiot |
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| Author: | Reed [ Wed Jul 17, 2013 12:43 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
What you see is mostly dirt over the factory undercoating, but dealing with the rust on the underbody is the next step. I was just farting around with the springs for fun. The 8 1/4 is already in place, but I may pull it back out to deal with the bodywork. I hate bodywork.... |
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| Author: | StephenShawScamp [ Wed Aug 07, 2013 5:54 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
After reading and talking to lots of people saying my shocks had nothing to do with my new springs bottoming out on every small gutter, I decided to replace all four shocks. This suggestion actually came from the ESPO sales girl. Well, it fixed it. It rides great now. I still think the 5 leafs might be a bit soft so I plan to get the 6 leafs for the '72 and put the 5 on my '64 valiant convertible. Hopefully the 6s will be a better fit on the '72 Scamp and the 5 leafs will work on the lighter(?) car. Does anyone know the weight of the two cars? '64 is a 273 car. |
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| Author: | Reed [ Wed Aug 07, 2013 6:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Shorts after this experiment I scored a set of original six leaf heavy duty springs for a 74 Duster, so this problem is solved for me at least. |
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