Finished Installing The New Leaf Spring
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
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From: Clymer PA
Finished Installing The New Leaf Spring
The VBP 420lb rear composite monospring came in today and was installed today :) . The installation took less than an hour as I have had the leaf spring out numerous times before. The stock 9 leaf spring is actually a lot harder to remove and install than the VBP 420lb monospring. The reason being that the 9 leaf spring has a lot more of an arch to it.
I weighed the stock GM 9 leaf spring and it weighed in at 38lbs. The VBP 420lb spring weighed in at a modest 7lbs! That was an easy 31lbs shaved off of my car.
The weather is really rainy today, so I haven't been able to drive the car. The next nice day I plan on taking it back out and putting shoe polish on the snubbers and making a few hard launches. I want to see if the snubbers still contact the trailing arms...if not, I'm good to go drag racing.
My car now weighs about 3200lbs without me in it. If everything is good whenever I test the car out, I'm going to make a trip to the track this Thursday or Saturday shooting for 11s. I'll keep you guys updated.
P.S. The girlfriend is at classes until 9:00, that's pretty much the only reason it got installed. Otherwise I'd have been with her and the spring would have layed up in the garage until I found time :) .
[Modified by bence13_33, 6:19 PM 6/3/2003]
I weighed the stock GM 9 leaf spring and it weighed in at 38lbs. The VBP 420lb spring weighed in at a modest 7lbs! That was an easy 31lbs shaved off of my car.
The weather is really rainy today, so I haven't been able to drive the car. The next nice day I plan on taking it back out and putting shoe polish on the snubbers and making a few hard launches. I want to see if the snubbers still contact the trailing arms...if not, I'm good to go drag racing.
My car now weighs about 3200lbs without me in it. If everything is good whenever I test the car out, I'm going to make a trip to the track this Thursday or Saturday shooting for 11s. I'll keep you guys updated.
P.S. The girlfriend is at classes until 9:00, that's pretty much the only reason it got installed. Otherwise I'd have been with her and the spring would have layed up in the garage until I found time :) .
[Modified by bence13_33, 6:19 PM 6/3/2003]
Racer
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 352
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From: GA
Re: Finished Installing The New Leaf Spring (bence13_33)
Let us know how It works out. I'm looking at changing my 7 leaf to fiberglass.
I weighted my spring one time I only came up with 28lbs.
My spring Is aftermarket.
I weighted my spring one time I only came up with 28lbs.
My spring Is aftermarket.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 26
From: Clymer PA
Re: Finished Installing The New Leaf Spring (Glenn454)
Glenn:
I weighed the 9 leaf spring and composite spring on an everyday house scale...so I am not sure as to how accurate this method is. My spring definitely feels like it weighs 38lbs. The spring is the original one to my car from 1976.
I weighed the 9 leaf spring and composite spring on an everyday house scale...so I am not sure as to how accurate this method is. My spring definitely feels like it weighs 38lbs. The spring is the original one to my car from 1976.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 553
Likes: 1
From: Valparaiso IN
Re: Finished Installing The New Leaf Spring (bence13_33)
Did you notice any increase in rear end height? After I put in my new spring, I noticed about an inch and a half of increased height. :nonod:
I think, hope, that the longer bolts will lower it back to normal.. :hurray:
I think, hope, that the longer bolts will lower it back to normal.. :hurray:
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 26
From: Clymer PA
Re: Finished Installing The New Leaf Spring (OldSchool)
I honestly couldn't really tell. I have 28" slicks on the back that make the rear sit up a good bit higher so it's hard to say.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Re: Finished Installing The New Leaf Spring (OldSchool)
Did you notice any increase in rear end height? After I put in my new spring, I noticed about an inch and a half of increased height. :nonod:
I think, hope, that the longer bolts will lower it back to normal.. :hurray:
I think, hope, that the longer bolts will lower it back to normal.. :hurray:
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,551
Likes: 0
From: No link, No dupe
Re: Finished Installing The New Leaf Spring (bence13_33)
:cool: Let us know how it does. I need a new spring bad; the rear sags so much I'm afraid the rear wheels will rub the fender wells :lol:
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Team Owner
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 34,454
Likes: 665
From: Republic of Texas
Re: Finished Installing The New Leaf Spring (OldSchool)
I think, hope, that the longer bolts will lower it back to normal.. :hurray:
Hope it works out for you though. :thumbs:
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,892
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From: Pettis Performance 565 with two stages of Nitrous Supply nitrous 1.082, 4.61 at 155, 7.17 at 192
Re: Finished Installing The New Leaf Spring (Corey 68)
Shane, Do they make a 420# spring that will fit with off set trailing arms. I am thinking of upgrading from my 360 #. My car squates too hard.
Good luck on the 11's
Good luck on the 11's
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,365
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From: Lake Villa IL
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Finished Installing The New Leaf Spring (bence13_33)
Okay, dumb question. But I have to know.
When adjusting the ride height, is it the bolts at the wheels that you adjust, or the bolts in the center that mount the spring?
Thanks!
When adjusting the ride height, is it the bolts at the wheels that you adjust, or the bolts in the center that mount the spring?
Thanks!
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 34,454
Likes: 665
From: Republic of Texas
Re: Finished Installing The New Leaf Spring (joeveto)
When adjusting the ride height, is it the bolts at the wheels that you adjust, or the bolts in the center that mount the spring?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
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From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Finished Installing The New Leaf Spring (69 N.O.X. RATT)
John I didn't know that it made a difference to the spring length if you had offset trailing arms or not? I need a shorter spring because of my wheel spacing and am considering breaking down, spend the money and have a custom one made shorter then stock.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,770
Likes: 3
From: St Louis MO
Re: Finished Installing The New Leaf Spring (Corey 68)
I think, hope, that the longer bolts will lower it back to normal.. :hurray:
Don't be so sure, several members including myself went with the fiberglass spring and it too raised our ride high. The rear bolts only dropped the rear about 1/2 inch. :rolleyes:
Hope it works out for you though. :thumbs:
Don't be so sure, several members including myself went with the fiberglass spring and it too raised our ride high. The rear bolts only dropped the rear about 1/2 inch. :rolleyes:
Hope it works out for you though. :thumbs:
:jester :lol: :lol: :lol:
Brett :thumbs:
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,770
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From: St Louis MO
Re: Finished Installing The New Leaf Spring (bence13_33)
P.S. The girlfriend is at classes until 9:00, that's pretty much the only reason it got installed. Otherwise I'd have been with her and the spring would have layed up in the garage until I found time :) .
[Modified by bence13_33, 6:19 PM 6/3/2003]
[Modified by bence13_33, 6:19 PM 6/3/2003]
Brett :thumbs:
[Modified by Brettmc, 11:50 AM 6/4/2003]
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
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From: Living in the Hartland
Re: Finished Installing The New Leaf Spring (norvalwilhelm)
John I didn't know that it made a difference to the spring length if you had offset trailing arms or not? I need a shorter spring because of my wheel spacing and am considering breaking down, spend the money and have a custom one made shorter then stock.
Suprised you didn't 're-engineer' one to suite your needs. :)
[Modified by Fevre, 1:56 PM 6/4/2003]
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,770
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From: St Louis MO
Re: Finished Installing The New Leaf Spring (OldSchool)
Brett, Did you put on the 10" bolts?..
BENCE- any difference in tire/fender clearance?
Brett :thumbs:
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
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From: Clymer PA
Re: Finished Installing The New Leaf Spring (69 N.O.X. RATT)
John:
I'm not sure whether it will work with offset trailing arms or not. Is the 360lb spring that you are currently running a custom spring? I'm just running stock trailing arms so the spring fit with ease. I know what you mean about squating hard. I was only running a stock 9 leaf rear spring and when launching with the slicks the car would bounce like crazy from my suspension going solid (snubbers smacking the trailing arms). Not to mention my halfshafts were going way over center.
Thanks for the vote of confidence with the 11s :cheers: ! As it turns out I won't be able to go Thursday my girlfriend is having some sort of party at her parent's house so her family said I'm expected to be there. I may give it a go on Saturday. The only problem with Saturday is that it's bracket racing, so I'll likely get two trial runs and then eliminations start...plus it's $30 :( . The last time I went bracket racing I got 5 passes in and made it to round 3 before "breaking out" and running the 12.1 on a 12.3 dial in.
Brett:
I'm really not sure if the gap in my rear wheel wells changed or not. I think it may have raised it about 1/2" or so. It's tough to really judge though with the 28" slicks because they fill up the wheel well very nicely.
I'm not sure whether it will work with offset trailing arms or not. Is the 360lb spring that you are currently running a custom spring? I'm just running stock trailing arms so the spring fit with ease. I know what you mean about squating hard. I was only running a stock 9 leaf rear spring and when launching with the slicks the car would bounce like crazy from my suspension going solid (snubbers smacking the trailing arms). Not to mention my halfshafts were going way over center.
Thanks for the vote of confidence with the 11s :cheers: ! As it turns out I won't be able to go Thursday my girlfriend is having some sort of party at her parent's house so her family said I'm expected to be there. I may give it a go on Saturday. The only problem with Saturday is that it's bracket racing, so I'll likely get two trial runs and then eliminations start...plus it's $30 :( . The last time I went bracket racing I got 5 passes in and made it to round 3 before "breaking out" and running the 12.1 on a 12.3 dial in.
Brett:
I'm really not sure if the gap in my rear wheel wells changed or not. I think it may have raised it about 1/2" or so. It's tough to really judge though with the 28" slicks because they fill up the wheel well very nicely.
