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Leaf link/ladder link rear suspension...
#3173248
09/06/23 04:17 AM
09/06/23 04:17 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,168
A Red State
SNK-EYZ
OP
I Live Here
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OP
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,168
A Red State
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I just got a 70 Cuda that has the old school leaf link/ladder link rear suspension.
I know that it's old school stuff.
The plan is to make it mainly a street car that will occasionally go to the track.
What are opinions on that type of rear suspension?
Kayse can't keep up at all now. lol
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Re: Leaf link/ladder link rear suspension...
[Re: Cab_Burge]
#3173251
09/06/23 04:31 AM
09/06/23 04:31 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,168
A Red State
SNK-EYZ
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I Live Here
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OP
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The springs are obviously moved in, they are in the frame rails in the front.
They used regular spring hangers in the back with what looks like added homemade mounts to attach them to the frame rail area..
My concern is that they literally touch the rear valance.
Trying to decide how to deal with that.
Sliders on the rear may be a good option for clearance, but is that a good choice for a mainly street car?
Last edited by SNK-EYZ; 09/06/23 04:32 AM.
Kayse can't keep up at all now. lol
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Re: Leaf link/ladder link rear suspension...
[Re: SNK-EYZ]
#3173270
09/06/23 08:24 AM
09/06/23 08:24 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,402
Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,402
Marion, South Carolina [><]
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Ditch the leafsprings, weld in a shock crossmember, and add coilovers.
CHIP
'70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60
'69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60
'71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75
'73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75
'90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt
'06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax
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Re: Leaf link/ladder link rear suspension...
[Re: an8sec70cuda]
#3173285
09/06/23 09:38 AM
09/06/23 09:38 AM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 4,704
Wichita
GY3
master
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master
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 4,704
Wichita
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Ditch the leafsprings, weld in a shock crossmember, and add coilovers. This! Things like this were done primarily to fit a rules package back in the day.
'63 Dodge 330
11.19 @ 121 mph
Pump gas, n/a, through the mufflers on street tires with 3.54's. 3,600 lbs.
10.01 @ 133mph with a 250 shot of nitrous an a splash of race gas. 1.36 60 ft. 3,700 lbs.
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Re: Leaf link/ladder link rear suspension...
[Re: cudaman1969]
#3173326
09/06/23 12:19 PM
09/06/23 12:19 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,737
Fulton County, PA
CMcAllister
Mr. Helpful
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Mr. Helpful
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,737
Fulton County, PA
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Old school. It will work. Clean and lube the springs and sliders so they can move freely.
If the results don't match the theory, change the theory.
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Re: Leaf link/ladder link rear suspension...
[Re: SNK-EYZ]
#3173342
09/06/23 01:13 PM
09/06/23 01:13 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,103
Yes
sixpakdodge
master
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master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,103
Yes
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The springs are obviously moved in, they are in the frame rails in the front.
They used regular spring hangers in the back with what looks like added homemade mounts to attach them to the frame rail area..
My concern is that they literally touch the rear valance.
Trying to decide how to deal with that.
Sliders on the rear may be a good option for clearance, but is that a good choice for a mainly street car? It sounds like it has the wrong springs on it? Possibly a longer rear segment than normal, or the spring has flattened out. I would leave the ladder/floater. It will work just fine. One of my cars is still set up that way. As mentioned, keep it greased. The only thing I see that I would change is how they have the rear shocks mounted to the axle. I don't see that lasting long under any kind of stress.
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Re: Leaf link/ladder link rear suspension...
[Re: SNK-EYZ]
#3173420
09/06/23 05:42 PM
09/06/23 05:42 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,760
Moved to N.E. Tennessee
GomangoCuda
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,760
Moved to N.E. Tennessee
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My concern is that they literally touch the rear valance. . Probably has B body springs on it. E body springs are 1" shorter in the rear segment. E Body 35" vs B body 36".
In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is.
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Re: Leaf link/ladder link rear suspension...
[Re: GomangoCuda]
#3173445
09/06/23 07:34 PM
09/06/23 07:34 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,168
A Red State
SNK-EYZ
OP
I Live Here
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OP
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It'll be a couple weeks before I get it up on jack stands so I can start measuring the spring lengths.
I want to get through the Holley Moparty before I dive into it and the other project Cuda (a 72) that I have to work on.
After the Moparty hopefully I can get some of the stuff figured out so I know what I'll be doing with it suspension wise.
Kayse can't keep up at all now. lol
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Re: Leaf link/ladder link rear suspension...
[Re: SNK-EYZ]
#3173482
09/06/23 09:49 PM
09/06/23 09:49 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,150
Melbourne , Australia
LA360
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,150
Melbourne , Australia
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What does it drive like? I bought a car with a similar set up, for a street car, I didn't like it. I went back to normal leaf springs.
Alan Jones
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Re: Leaf link/ladder link rear suspension...
[Re: SNK-EYZ]
#3173483
09/06/23 09:50 PM
09/06/23 09:50 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,311
Bend,OR USA
Cab_Burge
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,311
Bend,OR USA
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Last edited by Cab_Burge; 09/06/23 09:53 PM.
Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
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Re: Leaf link/ladder link rear suspension...
[Re: LA360]
#3173493
09/06/23 11:28 PM
09/06/23 11:28 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,168
A Red State
SNK-EYZ
OP
I Live Here
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OP
I Live Here
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Posts: 10,168
A Red State
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What does it drive like? I bought a car with a similar set up, for a street car, I didn't like it. I went back to normal leaf springs. At this point the car is just a body, no drive train in it so it's not drive able.
Kayse can't keep up at all now. lol
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Re: Leaf link/ladder link rear suspension...
[Re: cudaman1969]
#3173545
09/07/23 11:28 AM
09/07/23 11:28 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,384
Las Vegas
Al_Alguire
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,384
Las Vegas
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Step into the 90's and ditch the leafs and put coil overs on it personally.
"I am not ashamed to confess I am ignorant of what I do not know."
"It's never wrong to do the right thing"
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Re: Leaf link/ladder link rear suspension...
[Re: GomangoCuda]
#3173687
09/08/23 04:56 AM
09/08/23 04:56 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,168
A Red State
SNK-EYZ
OP
I Live Here
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OP
I Live Here
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Posts: 10,168
A Red State
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My concern is that they literally touch the rear valance. . Probably has B body springs on it. E body springs are 1" shorter in the rear segment. E Body 35" vs B body 36". I climbed under it to measure the rear segment of the leaf springs, if I measured it right going from the spring centering bolt to the center of where the rear spring hanger I was coming up with 35.5 inches. when you say E Body 35" vs B body 36" exactly where are the measurement points? Assuming spring centering bolt but what point at the rear of the spring?
Kayse can't keep up at all now. lol
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Re: Leaf link/ladder link rear suspension...
[Re: DusterKid]
#3173688
09/08/23 05:01 AM
09/08/23 05:01 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,168
A Red State
SNK-EYZ
OP
I Live Here
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OP
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Posts: 10,168
A Red State
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How fast is the car going to be?
If your going to keep the ladder bar, make sure the front heim joint has the safety loop, Seen to many cars tore up without having one. Realistically, 11's is the goal. The engine plan is 472 BB (440 with a 3.90 stoker crank that I have) , nothing radical just lots of torque for the street. I looked at the front of the ladder bars, they have the safety loops on them.
Kayse can't keep up at all now. lol
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Re: Leaf link/ladder link rear suspension...
[Re: SNK-EYZ]
#3173706
09/08/23 08:58 AM
09/08/23 08:58 AM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,104
Michigan
A727Tflite
master
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master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,104
Michigan
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My concern is that they literally touch the rear valance. . Probably has B body springs on it. E body springs are 1" shorter in the rear segment. E Body 35" vs B body 36". I climbed under it to measure the rear segment of the leaf springs, if I measured it right going from the spring centering bolt to the center of where the rear spring hanger I was coming up with 35.5 inches. when you say E Body 35" vs B body 36" exactly where are the measurement points? Assuming spring centering bolt but what point at the rear of the spring? Measure on the spring radius. Not in a straight line. Lay the tape on the main leaf from the center pin to the center of the rear eye. Sounds like you have 36”.
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