Rear Leaf Spring Help Needed

mudjnky · #1 10-10-2006, 08:41 PM

This is kinda long, so thank you in advance for reading it and any help or advice offered. Everyone here has been a big help with all of my questions so I'm hoping you can help with this one. We have a 68 Camaro Baldwin Motion replica. It has the GMPP 454/450 roller engine, M21 and 12 Bolt w/4.10. Heres the situation: the prev owner setup the rear with mono leaf springs and the perches are in the wrong spot causing the springs to be pulled inward. They are also twisted into an "S" pattern. He also added traction bars and moved the shocks inboard of the springs. There is a bracket welded into the trunk floor for the upper shock mounts. The traction bars are the type that have the long "U" or "J" bolts to adjust the preload. Now the right side of the rear is sitting further forward than the left.
Ok, here is my question: I purchased multi leaf springs, new perches, and install kit. In the install kit there are pads for the top and bottom of the springs. Why? Seems to me that would allow too much deflection in the mount. I'm used to setting up 4WD springs and they are always metal to metal, anything else is a no-no. Is there a way to eliminate the pads? When I bought everything the guy said some people run a mono leaf perch with multi leaf springs. I don't want to do this twice and definitely don't want to do it wrong. What's the best set up?

Chevy454 · #2 10-10-2006, 09:32 PM

You can ditch the pads if you want to...if you're planning on running the car you might wanna take a peek at your pinion angle once you get it buttoned up...

**WILMASBOYL78** · #3 10-10-2006, 11:27 PM

Curious about the motor..is that alum or steel head version?
How does it run?? I have one in m 68 car and it needed some "massaging" to make power.

wilma

mudjnky · #4 10-11-2006, 12:06 AM

It actually runs better than any other performance engine I've had. Steel head, everything was set up on it when we got it. Cross Ram with Edelbrock 600 or 650, not sure.

**WILMASBOYL78** · #5 10-11-2006, 12:26 AM

Cross Ram??? do you mean an aluminum hi-rise single 4bbl manifold or does it have 2 carbs?? Edelbrock carb 600-650 would be a little small for that motor, but if it works..ok

The steel head BB GMPP engine is rated at 425hp..their alum head is rated at 440hp. Thanks for the feedback.

wilma

mudjnky · #6 10-11-2006, 01:42 AM

Cross Ram, 2 4bbl Carbs side by side

mudjnky · #7 10-11-2006, 01:47 AM

Heres a link to a picture of the car, I'm at work so i can't attach any pictures.

http://www.edselmotors.com/yenko2a/moreyenko014-tb.html

**WILMASBOYL78** · #8 10-11-2006, 01:47 AM

wilma

mudjnky · #9 10-11-2006, 02:06 AM

When my engine guy calculated everything it is supposed to make 450hp, you are right, 425hp out of the crate, sorry about that.

**scuncio** · #10 10-11-2006, 02:14 AM

I just went through a similar scenario. I eliminated the top pad (between perch and spring), installed 1" lowering blocks from Guldstrand on top of each leaf pack, and reused the lower pad between the shock mount and leaf pack. When I mocked everything up, for whatever reason, the RH pad didn't want to sit flat against the spring. I set the car up on corner scales and played around with shims until the cross weights were close. But I digress...
Here's my suggestion: if you don't want to cut one of the existing perches off and properly reinstall it so it's correctly positioned, measure how far it's rotated and use one of these between the spring and perch: http://www.speedwaymotors.com/xq/asp...qx/Product.htm

Hope this helps.

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