when i put my rear end back together and redid the front end the front end sat higher than the back end and it still does with my engine in it and i was wondering if there is a way to raise the back end and i was planning to cut the springs of the front end.
I am in the same boat all the weight shaved off under the hood is leaving the front way higher than rear. I want to get new springs but am afraid it will lift the rear too high! I think adding a military wrap spring to my spring pack to give an inch of lift back and help prevent spring wrap.
New leaf springs are the only fix. If its too high after new spring just add a block to set your height. DO NOT PUT ON AIR SHOCKS UNLESS YOU WANT THE TOP OF THEM IN YOUR TRUNK!
i no not to get air shocks my brother had a set on the rear of his comet and they blew right through the shock mounts.
yes ive tried driven it around the block but it would probably go down if i put a v8 but for now i have a 250 inline 6 for my daily driver to school.
You're only talking 40 pounds difference between the weights of the two engines. If you go with aftermarket intake and/or exhaust on the V8 it will weigh less than the 250. By the same token...a 250 w/A-C weighs more than a 302 wo/A-C. Unlike the six cylinder with its full weight sitting on the axle center line, the V8 sits back farther in the engine bay taking some weight toward the rear and away from the front axle. When you rebuilt the front suspension did you tighten the nuts and bolts with the engine installed and car sitting on its wheels...or was it sitting on jackstands? It will also take new coil springs months to settle
i put it all together on jackstands but left it loose i tightened everything up when it was on the ground with the engine in.
you can rearch you springs or any good spring shop can rearch them for you if you don't want to mess with them. but it probly costs just as much as new
Extended shackles are bad news too ... just introduces slop and leverage to a spot not really designed for this, and they will make the car handle worse. You are dealing with old worn out leaf springs that weren't so hot to begin with. Did you see the tech article about Econoline van springs? http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=49782&highlight=vans+springs I will likely be playing with a combo that I can assemble out of the original main and a few of the van leafs until I get the height and added spring rate that I want. This may take several tries. I like the general stance on my car, but need to go up at least a size on the fronts to visually fill the wheelwell better. That will add an inch or so, and some firmer rear springs will bring the back up a similar amount ... aiming for the same rake on the car without exposing the top of the rear tire. There is also a handling goal I have in mind, and a higher rear spring rate will cut some of the understeer that was designed into these cars. If I do this and add a bigger front sway bar, I am pretty sure I will be where I want ... better overall handling ... not set for slaloms or the like ... just nice driver.
Just get new leaf springs with an extra leaf. Problem solved. Had to do it to my car also. You will be able to feel a difference in handling and ride.
