Rear End Shock Mounts

[BKB1969]

Hi everyone I'm new to this site, so forgive me if this question is a repeat.

I recently installed new 5 leaf springs on the rear of my 69' Firebird vert. The old springs setup had only 1 bushing on the bottom of the spring. When I tried to install the upper & lower bushings I did not have enough threads on the U bolt and T bolts to put it back together again.

There is a small flat plate(3"x5") on the bottom of the spring that I can remove to gain a little more space. When I bolt the shock mount to the rear end, is it okay to have a gap between the rear end mount & shock plate? The current set up to plates bolted tight together.

Thank, Brian

[HILROD]

I have left the lower rubber out before, just make sure the u bolts are tight. The 5 leaf springs will probably be very high in the rear.