Overload spring removal question

[68Timber]

I have the new wheels and tires on... It aint looking too good, it's going to have to come down more than 2/2. I was looking at the new rear springs, there's a spacer in there from God knows where. If I take the spacer and overload spring out I'll get another 2.25 inches. I'm worried about wheel hop if I do take the overload spring out. Has anyone removed it and ran a stout engine?

This is a pretty critical turning point, I want the stance right and I plan to put a fairly hot small block in - around 400 hp, give or take 20. It's gotta hook...

It looks like it needs a 4/3 drop to get it where I want it.

Thanks.

[68Timber]

I've planned a sway bar for the rear. I'm wondering also if that might add enough rigidity to prevent axle-wrap. I won't add traction bars so I'm at a loss here. I'm thinking the sway bar won't really help. Any advice is appreciated.

[tobiahr]

what kind of traction bars were you unwilling to install? I only ask because lately I seen ladder bars refered to as traction bars in advertisements. I'm still used to traction bars being the old school leaf spring "slapper" bars that mounted to the bottom of the leaf springs. the sway bar doesn't usually help with axle wrap

[68Timber]

Originally Posted by tobiahr

what kind of traction bars were you unwilling to install? I only ask because lately I seen ladder bars refered to as traction bars in advertisements. I'm still used to traction bars being the old school leaf spring "slapper" bars that mounted to the bottom of the leaf springs. the sway bar doesn't usually help with axle wrap

True, the sway bar shouldn't help with axle-wrap any. During axle wrap the springs turn "S" shape quickly back and forth until you back out or break something. So my only thread of hope on the sway bar was that it might offer just a little more rigidity and help.

If you step back and think out of the box a second, Chevelle's, Camaro's, and Nova's did not have overload springs. But I don't know what the spring rating was on those cars... But shouldn't they have been much more flexible if for nothing else than because they were on a car and not a truck? Well, yeah, that should be correct but that doesn't take into account the dynamics of vehicle weight the springs were designed for.

I hate to over-complicate this but this is not a dollar-be-damned project. I'd like to get this truck like I want it on budget.

But to be specific to your question - leaf springs only on the truck. No slapper bars or ladder bars.

[tobiahr]

all of the rear ends i've seen on novas and camaros had braces above the axle just to either side of the differential to prevent axle wrap if they wern't using slapper or ladder bars on high horsepower motors
http://www.ss383nova.dreamstation.co...s/MVC-696S.JPG
ok link doesn't work

[68Timber]

Originally Posted by tobiahr

all of the rear ends i've seen on novas and camaros had braces above the axle just to either side of the differential to prevent axle wrap if they wern't using slapper or ladder bars on high horsepower motors
http://www.ss383nova.dreamstation.co...s/MVC-696S.JPG
ok link doesn't work

I think we're on the same wave length. What do you think? 400 or so horses on a pack of thinner leaf springs?