Proper setup of leaf spring rear??

[BuddyP]

I keep hearing how leafs can be setup to perform just as good as a good setup link rear, and I believe that. My question though is, what are you guys doing to setup the leaf rears to perform the best?

I have a '68 Camaro that I currently plan on putting in 3" drop leafs... where do I go from there?

[chicane67]

Well..... plan on ditching the 3" drop springs that you had considering purchasing and step up to a custom FIA type spring.

Ok, that and start saving your pennies.

[Norwoodx55]

How many more pennies would one need to be saving?

[BuddyP]

Well..... plan on ditching the 3" drop springs that you had considering purchasing and step up to a custom FIA type spring.

Ok, that and start saving your pennies.
Ok, what is the FIA type spring, any link to it? And way the FIA over the 3" DSE's?

What else do I need to know?

[chicane67]

As history has it...... ole Richard Guldstrand and Roger Penske built a couple of really competitive 1967, 1968 and then 1969 F-bodies (oh yeah, then again in 1970 and 1971....and...). I guess ole Dickiepoo and Roger had a fair budget to research just how to make a leaf spring work better....... and they did. The "FIA" note is just a set of regulations set for a peticular racing body.... which just happends to be world reconized, and the original designs were approved by this sanctioning body for all out effort.

Years later, some dude went to work for them and sucked all the information out of Dickiepoo's head, did a lot of experimenting with the design himself and then changed a few things to incorporate later model theory/ideas/components to improve on an already proven spring design.

There is a HUGE difference between a barney bolt on, one size fits all - off the shelf - drop spring, and a properly designed FIA type spring that is engineered and manufactured for a peticular vehicle, chassis set-up, its weight and power production. It would be a part made for you, for your specific needs and chassis. The 3" drop DSE is just that...... a 3" drop DSE.

Dont get me wrong, Kyles stuff is really, really nice and works well, but if you are looking for better than average results..... there is no replacement for a properly built set of springs. And most of everything important, is in the design and excution of the spring build.

Ya see.... the spring controls many things. From the rear suspensions IC (instant center), to the way it controls wheel hop and forward traction to axle tramp under braking..... not to mention the ride height. You cant really do that with a one size fits all - drop spring that didnt take into consideration all the other aspects at the same time..... and most dont.

You said you keep hearing that a properly built leaf can be, and at times is, better than most link type systems out there..... when properly executed. There is a way to do it, but its isnt the most furgal project that one would embark on.... but the payoff is definately worth it.... and much, much cheaper than the execution of a properly designed and built link system.

Is there any link to this ?? Well.... yeah, but, there are very, very few who understand the art of a leaf build and its not overly doccumented.... except for if you look at the 67,68 and 69, 70, 71 etc etc... years where GM opened up a continent of whoop-ass on the other guys.... and probably from that dude that worked for ole Dickiepoo and Roger. :secret:

[BuddyP]

Thanks for the info!

Who would I go to to get these leafs? It's a '68 Camaro, guessing right now to be around 450-500hp at the crank, stock CA's up front with G-mod and Hotchkis drop springs, shocks and sway bar. Car should be around 3300-3400 lbs ?? What kind of cost are we looking at here?

[chicane67]

Oh........ the list of....... information required..... is much, much longer than that.

Ill PM you the list.

[XTRMEASURES]

can you pm me the list also, if it would work for a 1980 camaro?

thanks

[68BNUT]

Please pm me the list also. Along with any pricing that you might already have thought up.

thanks.

[chicane67]

I know you guys have asked, but here's the deal with pricing. I have two manufacturers that I deal with and can trust with my requirements being met every time.

One of them I have been working with for over 12+ years and perfer... for any build and is where I get my own personal springs from. I also use them for max effort builds and specifically for clients that actually see the track. They are however, considerably more expensive... but made with US steel and they have the most experience of any builder in the States when it comes down to leafs.

The other, is much more affordable and much better suited for a street application that doesnt require the level of spring my primary offers. They just did a group purchase build for me awhile back that involved about 10 to 12 Camaros that had near the same spring requirements. They had near same type engine/power, front suspension mods and chassis weights.... it was actually kind of weird that it worked out that way, but it made it really affordable to all involved and easy for me. Since they were all street type chassis and that all agreed to what we had on the plate, per-sey, as a general build to meet the requirements, it turned out really good in the end... after working through some issues involving parts from other venders for bushings and shackles.

Basically, there are design elements that can not be changed and have strict component requirements. No swapping a bushing here or there for some other type, etc... etc. Because I can not guarantee their fit and or performance if things get changed around from there design and purpose build.

So for me just to throw out pricing isnt really smart, due to the fact that each individual build is some what different.... unless I do a GP with the builder involved. If you tell me what you want, I will try and narrow it to one or the other for you, but dont just plant it into your head that you want the cheaper set.

[XTRMEASURES]

thanks for the pm