1/2 vs 3" leaf spring relocation

[dmopar74]

Does the 3" leaf spring relocation offer any more room in a duster over the 1/2 kit with stock tubs?

 

[33IMP]

With stock tubs? No
Springs under the frame is work for nothing, without at least a mini tub.

 

[GTX JOHN]

The 1/2 inch offset is worth the trouble for a race car where legal.

My son's bracket Duster runs a 10.5 x 30 Slick which in plenty of
tire even for a low 10 race car at most circumstances.

 

[Illahe]

Does the 3" leaf spring relocation offer any more room in a duster over the 1/2 kit with stock tubs?

I relocated the leafs under the frame on my 69 Dart and squeezed 275/60/15's on 15x8s into the wheel well. We narrowed an 8 3/4 pick up housing so the axle mounting flanges centered in the oem wheel well. After all the fabrication, I'm convinced that the 3" relocation wasn't necessary...

 

[33IMP]

I'd bet that you could get 10" slicks (or the equivalent size drag radials) under a Duster without moving anything, IF using wheels with the right backspace. With good springs and shocks, should be enough to hook 600hp.
Really fast cars are hooking 1200 hp on less.
If you are doing it for looks, have at it.

 

[dmopar74]

I'm narrowing an explorer 8.8 and ordered the 1/2 spring relocate. I didn't think the 3" would gain anything with stock tubs but thought I'd check. Figured while I was doing the work might as well make as much room as possible.

 

[Illahe]

I'm narrowing an explorer 8.8 and ordered the 1/2 spring relocate. I didn't think the 3" would gain anything with stock tubs but thought I'd check. Figured while I was doing the work might as well make as much room as possible.

255/60/15's all day. 275/60/15 with some thought.

 

[HemiSSDart]

I had 11" slicks on stock spring location and stock tubs with custom wheels on a 69 Dart. I did have to roll the outer wheel wells and hammer certain parts of the stock pads. You find out real quick where they need to be hammered, literally with a ball peen hammer! A few chirps in the driveway show where the rubber hits the tubs...

 

[RustyRatRod]

I put center line 15 x 9.5 wheels with Mickey 28/9/15 ET Streets on the back of my 65 Valiant years ago. I used the 1/2 relocation kit. I did not mini tub it. I did roll the inner side of the outer lip because with my son in the back seat and groceries in the trunk, they'd scrub every now and then, but that solved it. The Early As have a good bit more room under them.

 

[str12-340]

and on a street car, the 3 inch relocation would result in crappy handling.

 

[RustyRatRod]

and on a street car, the 3 inch relocation would result in crappy handling.

I tend to agree.

 

[Newbomb Turk]

The 1/2 inch offset is worth the trouble for a race car where legal.

My son's bracket Duster runs a 10.5 x 30 Slick which in plenty of
tire even for a low 10 race car at most circumstances.

Did you need to set the rear axle back to get that 30 in there?

My axle is in the stock location and my 28 makes me a bit queasy.

 

[Newbomb Turk]

and on a street car, the 3 inch relocation would result in crappy handling.

How so?

 

[Illahe]

Did you need to set the rear axle back to get that 30 in there?

My axle is in the stock location and my 28 makes me a bit queasy.

This: "Did you need to set the rear axle back to get that 30 in there?"

I wish I hand known about "setting the axle back an inch," when I relocated the springs on my 69.

 

[GTX JOHN]

Did you need to set the rear axle back to get that 30 in there?

My axle is in the stock location and my 28 makes me a bit queasy.

Actually, the axles are forward on most of our race
cars to get the wheelbase to within 1/4 inch of the 3/4 NHRA
tolerance on the wheelbase. We roll the front end of both the
front and rear fender wells. Probably irrelevant with current technology
on the Slicks but made a difference years ago.

 

[72bluNblu]

Does the 3" leaf spring relocation offer any more room in a duster over the 1/2 kit with stock tubs?

I'm narrowing an explorer 8.8 and ordered the 1/2 spring relocate. I didn't think the 3" would gain anything with stock tubs but thought I'd check. Figured while I was doing the work might as well make as much room as possible.

The factory tubs become the limiting factor after you move the springs a 1/2" inward. So a 3" relocation without a mini-tub buys you absolutely nothing as far as tire clearance goes compared to a 1/2" offset with the same stock tubs.

Running 295's on my Duster with a 1/2" offset I can definitively say the inner tubs are the limit with that set up, not the clearance to the springs. And the frame rails and the inner wheel tubs are the same on a Duster, only the outer wheel tubs are different vs a Dart.

and on a street car, the 3 inch relocation would result in crappy handling.

It changes the roll resistance, that's true. But you can compensate for that with stiffer springs or a larger rear sway bar. So if you're actually running the wider tires allowed by a 3" relocation and mini-tub, and adjust the wheel rates appropriately it doesn't have to result in "crappy handling".

 

[33IMP]

Did you need to set the rear axle back to get that 30 in there?

My axle is in the stock location and my 28 makes me a bit queasy.

The axle is moved back an inch on my 62 Savoy. (SS springs and hangers). It has 10.5/28 slicks on it, 30s will fit. Appearance wise, the axle is more centered in the wheel well too. Improved looks, if you CAN improve the looks of a 62......