For the guys that have done this mod, what did you do about shock mounting. I know I can mount them in front of the rear end but I'm not sure if that would effect anything as far as handling goes. Just been racking my brain about this and not sure what the best route is.
Moved rear end back 1.5
- Thread starter trbodrt
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I switched to a ladder bar suspension and moved the shocks to the front of the axle. I am not using stock mounts for anything. I welded in a ladder bar crossmember between my sub-frame connectors and a coilover shock crossmember between my rear frame rails.
I wasn't aware this was a popular "mod". Can you explain why you would want to do it?
Just like the OP said, the reason I did it was to get a 31" tall tire in my fenders without having to modify them.
No; some newer cars and trucks have shocks in front of the axle. One thing you will have to worry about is interference with the axle housing if you plan to run a stock gas tank. If you plan to run a fuel cell, it's no issue.
1967 'cuda
Dropped on Head as a Baby
I know that leaf spring Mopars weren't prone to wheel hop because they had such a short leaf section in front of the axle. Will the movement cause problems if you're going to drag race it?
If you look at most Darts, the front of the tire is closer to the wheel well than the rear. So some people like to move it back to center it better in the wheel well. This allows for a taller tire.
Take a look at this picture for reference, there's definitely some room in the back to work with. How beneficial is it? Idk. I probably won't do the mod.
famous bob
mopar misfit
ain`t gonna help rear end weight. going to have the same effect as making the rear lighter, not good for traction !
Got to move it back to get those big meats to fit.
CultClassik
Well-Known Member
That's one of the reasons that I didn't do this one mine. I'm guessing you're losing the "Mopar leaf benefit" but I guess you can run Lakewood bars like the other guys then.
I know I'll probably hear it for this but I'm actually going for a pro street look but setting the car up for the street more for handling. Leafs moved in fox shocks with 7/8 sway bar out back. I love the pro touring cars and have no problem with the looks of them but I really like the looks of 15in. Steelies with huge tires and dog dish caps. Since this won't be a all out competition car for drag racing or auto-x and more of just a fun project I'm sure I won't notice the difference either way and should still be able to take a corner a hell of a lot better than when the car came new off the showroom. Now I'm side tracked, I'll figure out the shock mounting lol, thanks.
leblanc
member 2883
If you do this move you have to change the drive shaft right?
roccodart440
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So you can fit a decent diameter tire in the wheel well. Even after relocating the axle back it's still very restrictive unless you like the jacked up rear look.
No, the pin in the leaf doesn't move. The entire rear and springs move back 1.5"
Well if you want a taller tire. It invaluable. There are only 2 ways to do it. Stretch the wells or move the rear back.
Bullsh$t. It has very little effect on weight and it will not change the way it hooks at all. I take it you've never done this mod?
Again it has no effect on the placement of the axle on the spring. No measurable weight differences. No effect on hookup.
This is not a straight answer... It depends on a variety of factors. If you keep the same rear, probably unless the DS was very tight. If you do this mod and go from a 8.75 to a dana, no. Now, more trouble. If you go to a dana and run a performance cover you will have to do a little grinding on the cast rib. and you may have to dent or modify your tank.
The next thing to address the OP is the shocks are not an issue. They still get hooked up stock. 1.5" isn't much at all. You'll see that. Don't' move your rear shackles either. I assumed you need to. You don't.
roccodart440
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Both of my cars ran/run 28's. They have room for some more.
One has a stretched well and the other is moved back 1.5".
Both cars hook on street tires, no snubber. hook as in 1.70 shorts high teens for air pressure.
One has a stretched well and the other is moved back 1.5".
Both cars hook on street tires, no snubber. hook as in 1.70 shorts high teens for air pressure.
Roccodart440 thanks for the replys, I did use the existing hole in the frame rail but made a new one inline with the stock location but in the frame rail to keep the shackle angle from becoming to excessive, I'm using beefy aftermarket shackles so we did have to modify the area where the stock cross mount at the rear is, so just using the stock mounting points will be okay? That's a huge relief. I was worried about mounting the shocks in front of the axle because of possible interference with a sway bar. I'm running a ford 9 inch and a fuel cell so clearence at the rear isn't so much of an issue. Thanks.
swingn340
Well-Known Member
I had the same grief from people on another site when i asked this question. Now Im lazy and just drilled a new hole in the spring seat and shock plate, I only moved mine an inch. the rear is in but no drive shaft or shocks installed yet.
famous bob
mopar misfit
I made a template and streatced the front of the fender wells, and gotta say it looks pretty darn good. I know a couple of guys that did the movement thing, and the car never would hook right. even when they sold it, the new owner couldn`t make it hook right! this was back more than a few yrs ago tho. and I might add, 1.70 60 foot ain`t worth a crap as far as I`M CONCERNED. MY 92 gmc DID 1.50 60 FOOTS!:wack:
roccodart440
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First off, if it didn't hook after moving it back 1.5" it wasn't the movement that caused the issue. Look at various wheelbases of cars and it's pretty evident 1.5" isn't breaking the world.
1.70 might not be much to you but when the car is wrinking the sidewalls and isn't spinning I'm not sure how much harder you can hook than dead hook.
Car goes 11.70's, 1.70 shorts. Seems pretty typical...
CultClassik
Well-Known Member
Again it has no effect on the placement of the axle on the spring. No measurable weight differences. No effect on hookup.
Gotcha. I thought people were moving the axle on the springs, sounds like you're saying move the spring hanger back farther.
Gotcha. I thought people were moving the axle on the springs, sounds like you're saying move the spring hanger back farther.
451Cuda
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'67-'69 Barracuda has a 108 inch wheelbase
'67-'76 Dart Hardtop has a 111 inch wheelbase, basically a 3 inch stretch rearward compared to the Barracuda.
Both cars perform exactly the same at the dragstrip.
Move the rear back.
'67-'76 Dart Hardtop has a 111 inch wheelbase, basically a 3 inch stretch rearward compared to the Barracuda.
Both cars perform exactly the same at the dragstrip.
Move the rear back.
roccodart440
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Correct, moving the placement of the axle on the spring, which would change the length of the front segment. That could cause a big problem.
Thank you. Science, math, logic.
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