TxDon
Well-Known Member
Following, interested in the outcome.
Is my 66 riding low?
- Thread starter Jeff Skibenes
- Start date
The Chrysler/MOPAR weekend at Carlisle is the second weekend in July. It is a "pilgrimage" for many of us (especially C-body owners) in the mid-Atlantic. I often purchase things, then pick up there, as most parts vendors don't bring everything with them like they used to.
Carl Hebert
New Member
Putting in a new set of springs can't hurt. I know back in the day I added an extra leaf to my 66 300 and it improved the ride a lot.
Ocalanewport
New Member
Mine's a '65 and the height looks about the same.
Ed Wagner
Member
It doesn't show super well in this pic, but my dad's 70 was sagging bad so a junk yard added 3 scrapped leaves. TOO MANY! over 30 years later and a ton of flaked off rust, it still is clearly riding high in the back.
Your rear springs should not be flat. Those are way past prime.
Your rear springs should not be flat. Those are way past prime.
Hey Jeff-
I am going through the identical situation as you at this moment. my 66 300 bottoms out at even the slightest dip in the road. It feels like the axle is going to fall out. Yes, your springs are shot, and they don't even look stock. I count 5 leaves. Here's the bummer: ESPO is 4-6 weeks out from shipping ( which means 8-10) , I ;m probably one order in front or behind you.
I
interesting. Can you elaborate why that is? (not challenging, I just literally don't know)
TxDon
Well-Known Member
Under hard acceleration the front half of the right side spring wants to wrap up causing loss of traction and wheel hop. The factory put extra half leaves there to counteract on performance models.
Update.
Well, seven weeks later, my *** is out of the dirt....ish
I ordered the seven leaf springs,new shackles, new u-bolts, bushings from ESPO.. They were good about being accurate with delivery times,and communicated well.The kit was $660 delivered .
Everything fit correctly.
The quality of the shackles and u-bolts is excellent. However, the rubber bushings are junk.
Believe it or don't,my 55 year old original bushings are better quality and they are back in service.
The leaf springs themselves are a question. I ordered the 7-leaf (one over the stock 6 leaf oem). I was hoping to get an inch of lift with the extra leaf,but upon install, the ride height is pancake flat. Glad i didnt order the stock 6 leaf.
Added KYB gas shocks.These are really good.
The good news is the horrible metal-to-metal clanking is gone. I still have no idea what was deficient. The original springs were not broken, just plain worn out apparently.
So...$1000 later , I have a smooth ride.(im glad I had a suspension shop do this...it wasnt a driveway job at all.The old ubolts has to be torched off
Overall, id give it a 7 out of 10. A little stiffer ride and that extra inch of lift would have warranted a 10.
Next is the dash lights swapped to LED's.
Thank you guys for the recommendations.
Well, seven weeks later, my *** is out of the dirt....ish
I ordered the seven leaf springs,new shackles, new u-bolts, bushings from ESPO.. They were good about being accurate with delivery times,and communicated well.The kit was $660 delivered .
Everything fit correctly.
The quality of the shackles and u-bolts is excellent. However, the rubber bushings are junk.
Believe it or don't,my 55 year old original bushings are better quality and they are back in service.
The leaf springs themselves are a question. I ordered the 7-leaf (one over the stock 6 leaf oem). I was hoping to get an inch of lift with the extra leaf,but upon install, the ride height is pancake flat. Glad i didnt order the stock 6 leaf.
Added KYB gas shocks.These are really good.
The good news is the horrible metal-to-metal clanking is gone. I still have no idea what was deficient. The original springs were not broken, just plain worn out apparently.
So...$1000 later , I have a smooth ride.(im glad I had a suspension shop do this...it wasnt a driveway job at all.The old ubolts has to be torched off
Overall, id give it a 7 out of 10. A little stiffer ride and that extra inch of lift would have warranted a 10.
Next is the dash lights swapped to LED's.
Thank you guys for the recommendations.
rapidtrans
Senior Member
I like to use original sales brochures for reference also.
These show your ride height being correct.
The skirts tend to make a car appear longer and lower.
These show your ride height being correct.
The skirts tend to make a car appear longer and lower.
I personally felt all the slab side C bodies with the 14" wheels looked too low from the factory and the rear ends always seemed to sag even on the showroom floors. That is why I would never keep one stock in that respect if I had one (I do have a couple 1965 Chrysler 300Ls and they will never look stock in regard to vehicle height/stance).
I feel even the fuselage C bodies generally look a little too low in the back, probably to help with one of their main issues - rear axle brake hop on panic stops.
» 1971 Chrysler New Yorker 440 Test Drive
I feel even the fuselage C bodies generally look a little too low in the back, probably to help with one of their main issues - rear axle brake hop on panic stops.
» 1971 Chrysler New Yorker 440 Test Drive
rapidtrans
Senior Member
Here is a good reference. My Monaco at FSM ride height compared to a modern car.
Look at that bumper clearance compared to the Charger’s fascia!
The seat height of the Monaco is closer to my Neon than the Charger.
Look at that bumper clearance compared to the Charger’s fascia!
The seat height of the Monaco is closer to my Neon than the Charger.
Rear wheel brake hop, usually the left rr wheel, was noted in a "Motor Trend" road test of a Dodge 880 circa 1963. A corporate trait of sorts, it implied, as I recall.
cbarge
World Famous Barge in a Budget
The modern day 14 inch radials are too small in diameter compared to what it came with originally.
Thats why the majority of us end up with taller 15 inch tires. 22575r15 will put the car hieght where it belongs IMHO.
Thats why the majority of us end up with taller 15 inch tires. 22575r15 will put the car hieght where it belongs IMHO.
I personally go with the 235-75-15s on all my cars.
rapidtrans
Senior Member
The appearance of “sagging” is more due to styling than any suspension issues. All three of the slab side big mopars are styled with a nice long tapering from front to rear.
Personally, jacking them up looks kinda silly with all that over hang out back.
Personally, jacking them up looks kinda silly with all that over hang out back.
D Cluley
Active Member
What Charge said!
A modern tire on a "14 wheel is going to lower your car at least an inch from the original height.
A modern tire on a "14 wheel is going to lower your car at least an inch from the original height.
cbarge
World Famous Barge in a Budget
Hey Dan! Long time no see!!
rapidtrans
Senior Member
The tire “size” is simply a mathematical equation. Just do the math to figure out what size yoe need.
The factory original 14” bias ply tires for the Monaco are the same dia. as the 220/70x15s radials on my car now. The issue most of us have with 14” rims are finding a whitewall width and diameter in the correct size. Another issue I had was with the 5 1/2” rim width of my factory wheels. Most modern tires I found recommended a min. width of 6” and any reputable tire dealer will not go outside the manufacturer's recs.
The factory original 14” bias ply tires for the Monaco are the same dia. as the 220/70x15s radials on my car now. The issue most of us have with 14” rims are finding a whitewall width and diameter in the correct size. Another issue I had was with the 5 1/2” rim width of my factory wheels. Most modern tires I found recommended a min. width of 6” and any reputable tire dealer will not go outside the manufacturer's recs.
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