I'm wondering what the closest spring out there is to give my Challenger the factory T/A model "Daytona Rake". I'm trying to get a ride height that I like on my Challenger. Original 318 leafs had sagged, Super Stocks were way too high and lopsided, Mopar XHD seem just as low as my sagging originals.

I have heard ESPO makes good stuff, but they come in +1 +2 arches. Does anyone have pics of their difference heights installed? Any other recommendations?

I want to make this the last spring swap I have to do. Application will be street with maybe an occasional track run at shows. Mostly I need a couple inches ground clearance back with my side exhaust and high cap transmission pan. Tired of dragging them over speed bumps.

I had posted this in the resto forum but didn't get a lot of responses, maybe someone here can help. From my other post KillerCuda seems to be looking for the same thing.

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i am looking for the exact same answer concerning height on aar/ta. i am at 25 inches to the wheel well, on a 275/60/15 tire, same as BEFORE i had the 6 leaf packs re-arched. there was supposedly 2 extra inches of height in them, none of which i saw once weight was back on them. tired of a saggy bum too, and dragging my side pipes as well......

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To get a rear ride height you will need to measure all the specifics for your car, and then calculate for what you want.
Weight on the rear wheels (ideally you'ld subtract the axle and wheels but generally this is close enough).
Free hieght of the spring.
Spring rate.
Then you can calculate the average the current springs were compressed when in the car.
Then with the new spring rate, you can calculate the free arch to get to the same point or any other.

Search here for leaf springs, spring rates and stock springs and you'll find a fair bit of info.
There is also a link to Stengel (?) Bros in Allentown Pa. whose website list more specific oem replacement springs than most places. Since you are in Ga. you may see if there is a local supplier for those (Stanley Springs) if thats what you decide to buy.

I had ESPO plus 1 1/2" ( that's what I ordered anyhow?) and now am using Hyperco composite leaf springs. The ESPO steel springs do "settle" after a couple of weeks.
ESPO



Hyperco composites

[URL=http://s651.photobucket.com/user/B_Richmond/media/bradschallengertrack2.jpg.html][IMG]http://i651.photobucket.com/albums

I'm running XHD's with one full leaf added by a local shop. The XHD's were about right height to start with and sagged. Adding the leaf increased loaded ride height by about 1" and increased spring rate from about 140 to 170 lb/in. Works great in my application with 1" front TB's.

Ahy, do you have any pictures of your car that you can share?

Courtesy of Mopar Mitch, there is a recent picture posted from Joliet Autobahn, You need to look about half way through the thread for the Plum Crazy Challenger.

https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/show...rue#Post7823804

I agree. Nice looking car. And, I'd also like to know more about your choice of wheels and how your car drives and feels with them.

Thanks for the comments.

The wheels are American racing "Salt Flat Specials". 8x17 in the front and 9.5x17 in the rear. Wheel diameter was minimum 17" to clear front brakes. I picked tire size first then wheels. Tires were picked to be wide as possible with no rub under the most extreme conditions. I used a test wheel/tire to measure front and rear. I measured the front with TB's removed and went through full jounce, rebound, left and right and all combinations. "Extreme performance" tires are all low aspect so I started with 225/45/17 front and 255/40/17 rear. Since then I bumped it up 10 mm front and rear.

For the wheels, I like rally style wheels. 17" steel versions have the same centers as 15's and wouldn't clear the brakes. AR's have a rally look, clear the brakes and can be ordered with custom backspace which I did (4 1/8" front and 5 1/2" rear). Also they were relatively affordable.

If I did it again, I would likely go with 18's as the extreme high performance 18" tires are a bit taller.

How does it drive? I haven't gotten Mitch in it yet so here is my impression. As background I have a stiffened chassis and K, 1" front T bars, big front sway bar, rear bar, stiffened XHD leafs and KYB shocks. Steering is FF level II. Ride is firm, controlled but not unduly harsh at all. I've road tripped it a little (350-400 miles) without problem. One of these days I'll drive it to Nevada. It is nice to drive on real roads and corners flat. It took a couple of try's but I got the alignment dialed in with a bit over 5 degrees positive caster and -3/4 degree camber. That really made a difference in how it felt. Its fun to push it.