need some help with trans am rear

[55chevy/05caddy]

So ive searched and searched.....mayb its the long hours of workn on this project and I keep over lookn it. But I have a 78 Trans Am rear im putting in my 55 2nd and want to do the flip axle.... who makes a flip kit for this axle? .....could i just buy longer u bolts and mounting plate to put on top of the springs? Thanks for the advice in advance

[mr48chev]

Most speed shops and parts houses can get you a pair of Moroso spring pads http://www.moroso.com/catalog/catego...?catcode=44011 and the U bolts aren't hard to find. If there is a 4x4 shop close by they will probably have several lengths of U bolts in stock. You have to deal with when you tell them you want to lower it rather than raise it though As some of those guys don't seem to understand why we lower our trucks.

[Rude Dude]

I used bottom plates from an early jeep the springs are pretty close to the same width and they were 1/4 inch thick, spring pads can be found on egay and what said before most off road places sell u bolts even trailer outlet parts house. If you want to by the whole kit CPP sells the conversion at a higher price,

http://www.classicperform.com/Store/...ks/4754RCK.htm

[mknittle]

I have bought all my weld on spring perches form 4 wheel drive shops. Napa auto parts can also get /have U-bolts. That is if they are smarter than a rock{not here}!

[sweet70beast]

Dumb question here but weren't the second gen F-body's axles already on top of the springs?

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by sweet70beast

Dumb question here but weren't the second gen F-body's axles already on top of the springs?

Yeah, but the spring perches used a rubber mount that sandwiched the spring leafs. The spacing would likely also be off.

[Rude Dude]

Leaf springs mounting saddle are wider on camaro than TF Trucks

Originally Posted by sweet70beast

Dumb question here but weren't the second gen F-body's axles already on top of the springs?

[_Ogre]

you can buy a kit, but your just paying someone else a lot of money to package 3 items together
spring pads from any trailer supply or online cost each is $4 ($8 for two)
u-bolts and u-bolt plates you can buy 4 u-bolts and 2 plates for less than $50
so for less than $58 you can put your own package together

i reused the stock upper and lower shock mounts

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by Rude Dude

Leaf springs mounting saddle are wider on camaro than TF Trucks

The saddles also don't fit other applications except what they came with well at all.

Plus they are a bit ugly under a custom truck.


Also the plate that goes below the spring is huge and bolts to the spring pads with T bolts. It also uses shocks with a stud rather than an I.

[mr48chev]

I think Ogre and I run on pretty close wave lengths when it comes to buying parts and pieces for our trucks. We do a lot of hunting both locally and on the net to see what is available and what the prices on the stuff is.

There are plenty of local sources for U bolts including the local automotive spring shop, Napa or other parts houses if you find the right parts guy or the local 4x4 shop. You still have to check the price and compare on anything like this.

If you have the equipment and some square tubing the right size and thickness you can make your own spring pads but you have to get the measurements spot on.

The kits from CPP and other vendors are still a good price check and may be a better deal in some cases than a guy can get locally where he lives or he may feel that being able to order it all at once is worth the asking price plus the added cost of shipping.

[55chevy/05caddy]

thanks for the info everyone....Im going to the 4 wheel parts store tom and getting the u bolts and plates...the bulky ubolt pad on the rear will be cut off...it is pretty ugly lol.