Well, going to try something different...
#1208122
04/02/12 11:19 AM
04/02/12 11:19 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,600 Alberta Canada
StrokerAspen
OP
top fuel
|
OP
top fuel
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,600
Alberta Canada
|
That something, is the Direct Connection Leaf Link! I am in the process of putting a Dana 60 in the Aspen that I bought from Andre over in Michigan (68shifter) which is a great looking piece, and it was a great price. Good guy to deal with! Anyway, we have yanked the old stock 8-3/4 with 3.23 gears out this past Saturday. This week I will finalize the brackets, and with any luck, get them water jet cut at work. After attending one of Dave Morgan's Seminars www.davemorganseminars.com I think I will change the leaf link design slightly. It's hard to explain with out pictures, but I will be moving the bottom mount for the diff above the leaf spring, instead of below the spring like the original design. I will be contacting Dave once I have everything drawn up to see what he thinks. When I talked to him about it at the seminar, he thought the leaf link was a great idea that just didn't get enough use. The four links came and that was the end of that. Why am I doing this instead of Cal Tracs? I would like to try something different, and I think the leaf link is a neat part of the Mopar history. There is nothing wrong with Cal Tracs, their success speaks for themselves. There is also some class races around here that would knock me up a class if I put a ladder bar or 4 link in the car. I think I will be able to claim stock suspension with the leaf link. It is still using the factory suspension, just in a different way. So, I will try to get pictures along the way, and let you guys know weather it works or not! I think there is a few guys out there using it with success. What do you guys think?? -Kenny
|
|
|
Re: Well, going to try something different...
[Re: Dodgeguy101]
#1208124
04/02/12 11:55 AM
04/02/12 11:55 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,600 Alberta Canada
StrokerAspen
OP
top fuel
|
OP
top fuel
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,600
Alberta Canada
|
Quote:
I thought about doing this myself. I will be watching what you do.
If it works maybe I will start selling a kit?? As it is now, I will probably do two sets while I'm at it.
-Kenny
|
|
|
Re: Well, going to try something different...
[Re: StrokerAspen]
#1208125
04/02/12 12:08 PM
04/02/12 12:08 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,384 Upstate NY
Bigcube
I Live Here
|
I Live Here
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,384
Upstate NY
|
Do you know of a URL or drawing that would help me remember what a "leaf link" suspension is?
Jim
|
|
|
Re: Well, going to try something different...
[Re: StrokerAspen]
#1208127
04/02/12 12:13 PM
04/02/12 12:13 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 632 MD-USA
Dodgeguy101
mopar
|
mopar
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 632
MD-USA
|
Quote:
Quote:
I thought about doing this myself. I will be watching what you do.
If it works maybe I will start selling a kit?? As it is now, I will probably do two sets while I'm at it.
-Kenny
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Jegs or Summit sold the kit? Or are you looking at making something different?
|
|
|
Re: Well, going to try something different...
[Re: Bigcube]
#1208132
04/02/12 01:53 PM
04/02/12 01:53 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,600 Alberta Canada
StrokerAspen
OP
top fuel
|
OP
top fuel
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,600
Alberta Canada
|
Quote:
Well since I haven't seen a direct connection catalog since the late 70's or early 80's if you can scan a pic it would be helpful. My opinion on most of the old tricks is they are phased out for a reason, if they really worked, people would still be using them. But it never hurts to try to start with an old idea and make it better.
Yeah, I can see what you mean, some of the classes that I like to run locally will bump me up for a ladder bar or four link. So, Cal Tracs are what most will run. The theory behind the leaf link, will give more adjustment than caltracs, and allow me to move the instant center into a better position. I think the leaf link was phased out more because of the rules changing, than weather or not it worked. HOWEVER, that doesn't mean it will work. I am a willing test subject though
-Kenny
|
|
|
Re: Well, going to try something different...
[Re: StrokerAspen]
#1208133
04/02/12 05:00 PM
04/02/12 05:00 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,667 in a cattle trailer down by th...
Guitar Jones
Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
|
Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,667
in a cattle trailer down by th...
|
Hmm, interesting. I would like to see pics of it, not because I want to do it but I like different.
"Follow me the wise man said, but he walked behind"
'92 D250 Club Cab CTD, 47RH conversion, pump tweaks, injectors, rear disc and hydroboost conversion. '74 W200 Crew Cab 360, NV4500, D44, D60 and NP205 divorced transfer case. Rear disc and hydroboost conversion. 2019 1500 Long Horn Crew Cab 4WD, 5.7 Hemi.
|
|
|
Re: Well, going to try something different...
[Re: Labratt]
#1208136
04/02/12 06:03 PM
04/02/12 06:03 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,600 Alberta Canada
StrokerAspen
OP
top fuel
|
OP
top fuel
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,600
Alberta Canada
|
Quote:
There yas go
There it is! That as the lower point, below the leaf, where as I will be putting it above the leaf.
Quote:
I agree,Kenny!...dare to be DIFFERENT! Best of luck with your "experiment"! BTW..have you had time to work on the valley plate for the RPM's??? Maybe my price range made you re-think the idea!???
Haven't been able to touch it yet, those super stock seat brackets kept me pretty busy when I wasn't at work. I can move on to the valley plate soon, I have to anil down these Leaf Link brackets first since my car is sitting on someone else's hoist with no rear end currently
I have your custom Gold Leaf Plymouth decals collecting dust. LOL. We need to hammer out the other decals you want and ship em out too. Thanks buddy!
-Kenny
|
|
|
Re: Well, going to try something different...
[Re: StrokerAspen]
#1208137
04/02/12 06:13 PM
04/02/12 06:13 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,600 Alberta Canada
StrokerAspen
OP
top fuel
|
OP
top fuel
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,600
Alberta Canada
|
For a little back story, The last passes I made with the car was using bone stock suspension basically. factory original shocks, factory Aspen springs using a stiff over load spring clamped to the front segment of the spring. The car had the 3.23 gears, and the tire was a 27 x 10.5 ET Street. This netted a 1.55 sixty foot, and a 10.68 @ 128mph. The car isn't picking the wheels currently. The changes being made: Leaf Link Dana 60 with 4.10's MT ET Drag 9 x 29.5 QA1 A-Body Stocker "R" front single adjustibles QA1 Proma Star custom mount rear shocks (a coil over shock with out a coil) I am already using a set of Afco sliders in place of the factory shackles. Here is the best launch photo with the old set up. It usually ran a 1.59-1.60 with one 1.55. -Kenny
|
|
|
Re: Well, going to try something different...
[Re: Bigcube]
#1208141
04/03/12 03:26 PM
04/03/12 03:26 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,600 Alberta Canada
StrokerAspen
OP
top fuel
|
OP
top fuel
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,600
Alberta Canada
|
Quote:
OK, so if I understanding this correctly the horizontal bolt though the leaf spring bracket goes through the lower brackets welded to the axle housing. The upper bars connect to some other bracket on the chassis(floor). Your mod is to move the leaf spring bracket to the top of the spring instead of the bottom. (for lower ride height?) The thing that would concern me is how much the pinion angle will change due to non-equal arcs. The other concern is how strong the new axle brackets are but I'm sure some of those concerns could be mitigated with bracket design. Will be interesting to see how it works for you.
You pretty much have the idea. The change I am making with the lower diff mount will affect ride hieght, but this isn't why I am doing it. Moving this mounting point up above the spring, will change where the bottom "bar" points to. With the mount below the leaf, this angles the bottom "bar" in an upward direction too much. It would probably put my instant center somewhere about the middle or lower part of my back when I am sitting in the car. Moving this point above the spring will put my instant center in a more conventional 4 link spot, somewhere around the back of the engine. Also, I think this position will act on the leaf spring similar how the perch acts on the leaf spring, being in a similar spot to where a perch would be. It shouldn't kill the spring as quickly. In the old design, that bottom mount is further away from the leaf. Being farther away from the leaf will tend to want to bend the leaf more. Of course, this is still all a theory. Regardless, if it works, or if it puts me in the wall, it will be caught on video!
I have not been able to post up any pictures yet, as I was quite busy last night. I will see what I can do today.
|
|
|
|
|