whats the purpose of these? rear shackle spacers?

[orangetwist]

I got to looking at the suspension on the rear of my duster and saw these spacers behind the rear shackles. they are made out of aluminum. I know a previous owner had a different motor/tranny combo and raced the car. is this some racer trick or something? the leaf springs are 3690457, and 3690456. which are 64-65 ss b body springs.

I dont think I want to change anything, because it has a really good stance. It just rides a little rough (I dont mind, wife doesnt like it, oh well:-D). Im more just curious than anything.

those are 275/60r15's. so we are talkin roughly a 28" tall tires so maybe 29.5-30" from the ground to the center of the wheel opening.

 

[rumblefish360]

I don't have my suspension book in front of me, but, the spring looks long. The spacer may help with some interference.

 

[bOb shingler]

check the number on your springs, they most likely are "E" body springs which would be why they are a tad too long.

 

[1wild&crazyguy]

3400# b body springs is what you have, they are all the same length.
I ended up with a #456 somehow, I keep it just incase..
the b-e bodies use longer front hangers.

get the mopar suspension book and see what it says about having too much rear shackle angularity,
I think they recommend just a lil to the rear, and never to the front.

does it hook good and lift the rear the way it is?
maybe it helped?
It would be nice to talk with the one who originally set it up..

 

[abodyjoe]

and oldtimer told me to use those years back. here is what he would do:

re arch stock 340 style springs 3". then put i think it was a 3/4" spacer in that location because the big arch made the spring a little shorter. then flip the front hanger. this would give the car a good ride height. said it would hook great also. you would also have to correct pinion angle.

 

[1wild&crazyguy]

cool joe, thats what I'm talkin bout.

 

[orangetwist]

thanks guys. it hooks really good. ive been thinkin about tryin to get ahold of the guy who set it up. i think i know a guy who knows the guy. ill have to try it and see what he says.

 

[74360duster]

they are like that to make the shackle lay back against the frame farther so that you get more downward travel of the rear axle when you nail the throttle it gives you the extra plant of the tires to the ground when it lets the car lift the back up more and puts more pressure to the street. it is an old time super stock trick. i am doing that on my duster now and it did improve slightly on 60 ft times, on my dart we are running a set of the rear slider shackles,

 

[orangetwist]

cool, thanks for the info 74360...im definitely going to leave em now. 1 for the added benefit of hooking, 2 if its something that was done back in the day, thats the kind of thing im goin for. somethin that once done would be like how they would have done it back then. and 3 it looks to good to risk changing the stance