hello

Im not one of the heavies around here, but if it helps, I can tell you that I am in the middle of doing my '73 swinger with a fomoco axle- 1995 ranger 7.5" posi 3.73. I have 225cm tires on 7" rims and when they are installed on the axle there is still a good inch or two of clearance between the tires and my unmolested fender lips. (or so my tape measure tells me, I haven't done the switch yet.)


I am in the middle of shaving the ford leaf pads off the rear, it seems the ford axles mount on the other side of the spring from mopar. Also the shock mounts on the mope are integrated into the u bolt situation, right? So my plan is to record the angles of the mopar driveline and reproduce them- set up the axle and then tack weld the pads on, and measure for driveshaft length. Then dissasemble and weld for real. Maybe I'll have to shorten the driveshaft, maybe not... anyway, I am worried I will get the pinion angle wrong.

I have been reading that in mopars, with their off center axle mounting on the leaves (off center meaning more towards the front), traction bars are not so useful, and that in high power situations some negative pinion angle is desireable to straighten the components while under load. (if I said that right, I meant that you should point the rear toward the ground under the front tires so it can have some give under power)

I realize that I am probably talking about sub 10 second car stuff, and I have a sub 20 second car! Anyway, it is a lot of work to mess up and do twice, so any insight would be appreciated. I don't want my driveline to bind up, and Im already at a disadvantage with the pinion offset to the right.

Thanks
Kevin
in philly, where it is hailing the size of gumballs right now...

_________________

madam im adam

You will want a pinion angle of -3 or -4*.

I don't know where the story that traction bars won't work on a Mopar comes from, but it is total bullshyt. I have a set of Lakewood clamp-on bars on my red car and 8" ET Streets. I can 60' within a couple hundredths of Mike's blue car and it is a ladder bar car with 12" slicks.

_________________
Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

Well of course traction bars will work. Because of the unique geometry of Mopar springs they don't make as much difference as they do on other cars but they do work.

_________________
David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

The Explorer rear (narrowed ) is less than 1" narrower than the 7.25 .

_________________
Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

sorry I'm in over my head when it comes to this technical discussion-(smart unough to ask the question, but not enough to understand the answer ) I realized I don't know what angle you are describing- is it the deflection of the rear's pinion when compared to level, or compared to the angle of the driveshaft?

Thanks

Kevin

PS I got lakewoods too, on my demon- it came with them from the P.O. Somebody told me they were not doing any good, but I left them on anyway...

_________________

madam im adam

It is the angle between the driveshaft and the pinion shaft. It's important because too much angle leads to shortend U-joint life, driveline noise and possibly vibration.

_________________
David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

Most of the people who tell you that traction bars don't work on Mopars still believe the fantasy that a pinion snubber is the only way to go on a Mope. Personally, I wouldn't have a pinion snubber to save my soul from hell. Same thing for Super Stock springs.

_________________
Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

Man, that's pretty contrary to what I've seen.

I don't think the argument is that slapper bars wont help, only that a well setup pinion snubber is much more effective.

That, and slapper bars make you look like a Chevy dork. You're not a closet Chevy dork, are you Dennis?

Oh, and pinion snubbers have nothing to do with your final destination.

_________________
'15 Chrysler 200S V6
'74 Duster 360, factory 4 speed car

Whoever thinks that slapper bars are a Chevy only thing must not have been around in the 60's and 70's when all the muscle cars were brand new. Every Dart, Roadrunner, Duster, and Super Bee in my area had them. I graduated in 1976, so I was there.

Mine aren't on my car because they make it look cool. They are there to make it hook, and since it pulls the left front 4" on street tires I'd say they work.

Oh yeah, I never had a set of slapper bars on any Chevelle, 442, GTO, or Skylark that I ever owned/raced.

_________________
Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

Sorry, just stirring the pot.

Gets burned at the bottom if you don't.

_________________
'15 Chrysler 200S V6
'74 Duster 360, factory 4 speed car

_________________
Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

I got the bill for narrowing the housing and moving spring pads, removing sway bar mounts today.......2.5 hours $175

Brake lines, pads etc will be in Tuesday but Im not sure when I will have time to cross the line (border) and get them.

I still need to find some reasonably priced calipers. Core charge is $100/pair most places...

Turns out the driveshaft/ ujoint stuff can come from the slant pile.....my car may get back its original driveshaft after a 7 year hiatus.

_________________
Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

Cool beans Sandy.

_________________
Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

I got my calipers today (used 43000 km) and picked up my pads , hoses, and mounting hardware(new) from Spokane on Saturday. I now have everything I need except for a conversion u joint and 6 hours to get the freeking thing together.

Lemme see ....Alberta tomorrow to friday(again) ....reality tv show in Alberta (again) next Monday to Friday.....Leave for the East Coast the following Monday....back 10 days later....straight into 5 days on the lake in the sailboat(holiday with the new bride).....


Im thinkin I can get it running .....um....lesse....August

_________________
Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

for those asking about Ford ratios around here 3.27 seems real popular
in the smaller pickups/Exploders.