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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: THE CORN STATE
Posts: 57
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Rear lower leaf kits?
I'm looking at these rear leaf kits that supposedly lower the rear a few inches. Are the springs and other parts good quality or am I better off buying quality stuff piece by piece? Wich kits are the best in your opinion?
....or mono leaf? |
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#2 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Toppenish, WA
Posts: 15,823
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Re: Rear lower leaf kits?
Posies has them but sit down before you read the prices. They are a rod shop but their main focus is selling custom springs. http://www.posiesrodsandcustoms.com/
Page 38 http://www.posiesrodsandcustoms.com/.../pages3247.pdf |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Central Missouri
Posts: 155
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Re: Rear lower leaf kits?
depending on the rear you have you may be able to get them from Summit racing. I have a Firebird rearend and they have a set of drop leafs for me for ~350.00
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'49 Chevy 3100; 350/350; 305 H.O. P/P heads; 10.5:1; 370 hp; '75 Firebird clip, rearend & steering column; 7+ year home build |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: shingle springs, calif
Posts: 771
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Re: Rear lower leaf kits?
I use the rear leaf spring kit from TCI and have had good luck with them.. easy to install... and the price is around 400 for everything..
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: THE CORN STATE
Posts: 57
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Re: Rear lower leaf kits?
Does the TCI rear leaf kit have an offset to center the axle in the fender openings?...would that cause any problems if I keep the torque tube rearend for now?
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Motown
Posts: 7,680
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Re: Rear lower leaf kits?
dirtybird: put the type of truck you have in your signature. it helps people know what your working on.
i was going to reply and then i read torque tube which means your working on a 47 to 55 1st parkwood's pictures are of a 55-59 truck with the axle flipped on top of the springs your axle is already on top of your springs lowering blocks and new u-bolts will get you down a couple inches on the cheap ![]()
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: shingle springs, calif
Posts: 771
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Re: Rear lower leaf kits?
Like Orge said a picture is worth 1000 words..
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: THE CORN STATE
Posts: 57
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Re: Rear lower leaf kits?
I'm working on a '53 3100...original 216 with the original torque tube rearend.
The rear shocks are gone and the springs are........ well......tired! I have the box off and figured it would be a good time to clean up the rear end and update the suspension. The 216 still runs pretty good so changing to an open rear end might wait until I come across that 261 I'd like to find. Should I just throw some blocks under it until I update the rear end? |
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#9 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: shingle springs, calif
Posts: 771
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Re: Rear lower leaf kits?
Quote:
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: the middle
Posts: 296
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Re: Rear lower leaf kits?
I just recieved the tci kit for my 51. The springs, brackets and welds appear to be really high quality. Shocks are monroe. It was honestly nicer than i expected. I didnt mark my axle centerline, but if you can give me a measurement of the stock axle centerline to the rear end of frame rails i will check for you.
Goodluck! Posted via Mobile Device |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: THE CORN STATE
Posts: 57
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Re: Rear lower leaf kits?
Looks like +/- 36 1/2" from the center of the axle to the end of the frame rail.
Wouldn't I be able to put the kit in using the stock axle and save the axle brackets to weld on a different rear end when I get one? What changes have to be made at the transmission output when going to an open rear end? |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Auburn ca.
Posts: 2,886
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Re: Rear lower leaf kits?
The problem is that if you keep the torque tube you have to keep the spring perches with the pivot. The reason is that you have two drastically different arcs.a long one(the drive line) and a short one(half the spring) the centers are at different points and the liength of the arcs are drastically different.The pivoting spring perch allows springs to move independantly from the housing.Without it somthing bends or breaks.
![]() Please excuse my poor spelling and typing My brain goes faster than my fingers. ![]() Last edited by mknittle; 09-05-2012 at 09:32 AM. |
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#13 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Auburn ca.
Posts: 2,886
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Re: Rear lower leaf kits?
Quote:
you will need the rear bearing retainer(cover) with the seal and the yoke. you will also need a drive line. I would get one that fits one end or the otherat a wrecking yard that is too long. and get it shortened. hope this helps |
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: THE CORN STATE
Posts: 57
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Re: Rear lower leaf kits?
Thanks for the replies....I wanted to verify that I could install the TCI kit ( everything except the new perches ) with the existing perches for now. Springs would be wider than the perches but that shouldn't be a problem should it?
This would allow me to clean up the rear end and get some good springs & shocks on while my box is off...and wait until I want to drop in a more modern straight 6 and open rear end. Don't be afraid to tell me if I'm completely missing the boat on this one!!!!! |
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#15 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Raeford. NC
Posts: 69
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Re: Rear lower leaf kits?
I have a Chassis Engineering rear end kit in my 1st series '55 and a TCI it in my '56 (still in progress), both have Camaro rear ends. The CE kit made a big difference in the ride from the original flipped springs with a couple of leafs removed. I have a pair of Posie's 2" lowered springs on my '55 Bel Air Sport Coupe and it drives great also but they are more expensive than the TCI & CE.
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: THE CORN STATE
Posts: 57
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Re: Rear lower leaf kits?
Correct me if I'm wrong but I can install the TCI rear leaf kit with my torque tube rear end(using the original perches)? These springs do or do not have an offset to center the axle in the fender opening?
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: the middle
Posts: 296
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Re: Rear lower leaf kits?
you are wrong... the torque tube has that flex joint built into the spring mount on the axle. You need that or your suspension/ driveline will bind.
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#18 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Fort Worth Texas
Posts: 88
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Re: Rear lower leaf kits?
Quote:
Thanks, |
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: upper midwest
Posts: 1,129
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Re: Rear lower leaf kits?
FWIW, I used the TCI kit on my '58 and it rides like a car.
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Fort Worth Texas
Posts: 88
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Re: Rear lower leaf kits?
I like that the posies require less modifications but after you add all the pieces needed to complete it your back to the TCI price or more....
Also, does the TCI kit compensate for the 2 inch offset for the wheel in the fender well? Thanks! |
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