Need Rear Spring Advice: For Moderately Taller Rear - ESPO +1, +2 or Mopar SS?

[Road_Runner]

OK, decided I definitely need new rear springs for the 73 Barracuda and I'm not sure what's on there now but the 275/60/15's BFGs just barely tuck under the lip of the rear wheel well.  So, I'm thinking either 1 or 2" above stock is probably about right.  I plan on adding front & rear sway bars, possibly wider wheels (15x10's on back with B Body rear), .96 front T Bars, better shocks, maybe a few Hotchkis pieces like their upper a arms, etc.  So what rear springs would you recommend for this mix of parts to handle well on the road and to reach a 'slightly' higher than stock rear stance?  Any pictures showing your setup if similar would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance, Jim

[brads70]

I went with ESPO springs , plus 1 1/2" over stock.
These picture are from when I first installed them, they sag a little after the first couple of weeks. The bottom picture is how it sits now.

[Chryco Psycho]

it depends what look you prefer but +1 is all I would go

[dodj]

So what rear springs would you recommend for this mix of parts to handle well on the road and to reach a 'slightly' higher than stock rear stance?

Higher a$$ and good handling don't go together. To get one you start losing the other. Depends ultimately which is more important to you - the look of a lifted rear, or good cornering ability.
If you look at Chryco's sig, that's pretty close to stock height, some of the tire should be covered by the 1/4 panel and I agree with CP, I wouldn't go more than +1.
I used to like the high look, but now prefer the lower look. 

[Chryco Psycho]

the problem with the +1 , +2 is from what height originally , my Chall sat lower then the car in my signature , the rear was waaay down , my stock ride height could have easily used +1 to get to look like the car in my sig , but looking at Brads car at +1.5 it is much higher yet

[brads70]

The pictures I posted are when I first installed the springs, except the last picture. You could see the whole tire before it settled a little . Now the top of the tire is just above the wheel well. They do settle some.

[Road_Runner]

The pictures I posted are when I first installed the springs, except the last picture. You could see the whole tire before it settled a little . Now the top of the tire is just above the wheel well. They do settle some.

Brad, what size tire are you running?  That's going to contribute to how high into the wheel well a tire goes.  The later picture looks very close to how my car sits now, but the springs are still wore out allowing the car to droop when someone sits in it, etc.  Otherwise, I'd just keep what I have. 

And Dodj I agree that tall rear height & ultimate handling are somewhat mutually exclusive, but since I've pretty much decided to stay with 15" rims & tires at least for now there's only so much handling the Barracuda is going to be good for anyway. 

Chryco, are the SS springs a good way to get a 1" lift?  Seems like that's what I remember reading here, that they give you about a 1" lift over stock xhd springs. I just don't want to have the stiff wagon like ride that the super stiff springs I run on the Roadrunner gave it.

Thanks for the input guys.

Later, Jim

[Chryco Psycho]

Yes the SS springs are a great way to get lift & ride , they require different front mounts as the springs are shorter & they will increase traction , the problem is which spring to use , they have 5 or 6 to choose from , probabaly a 3300 or 3400 lb spring would be a good choice , with a higher weight the rear may be too high

[brads70]

Brad, what size tire are you running?  That's going to contribute to how high into the wheel well a tire goes.  The later picture looks very close to how my car sits now, but the springs are still wore out allowing the car to droop when someone sits in it, etc.  Otherwise, I'd just keep what I have. 

Thanks for the input guys.

Later, Jim

I'm running 255/60/r-15 with 8" wide rims

[Road_Runner]

Yes the SS springs are a great way to get lift & ride , they require different front mounts as the springs are shorter & they will increase traction , the problem is which spring to use , they have 5 or 6 to choose from , probabaly a 3300 or 3400 lb spring would be a good choice , with a higher weight the rear may be too high

I've also been considering putting a B Body rear & offset hangers, so I'll need to make up my mind on that because with the special front hangers I won't be able to use the Dr Diff kit!  I was thinking 3600 or even 3800# if I go for the SS springs, but you're probably right if I go that heavy it will probably keep the rear too high.

Thanks, Jim

[Road_Runner]

I'm running 255/60/r-15 with 8" wide rims

That's what I thought, it looked like yours weren't quite as tall as my 275/60's so mine would go a bit further into the wheel well, but also sit a bit higher overall.  I really like your minilite wheels, that's a great look on your car.  I think I'll either go with the SS springs or 1 or 1 1/2" ESPO like you did, but definitely not 2".

Thanks again, Jim

[challengerx]

If you decide on ss I have a set I was going to advertise on here. I just took them out of my 73 challenger. I think they are 3600lb springs, extended front hangers and a brand new set of ss shocks, springs have brand new poly bushings in them.$200 plus shipping  Thanks Chris

[71340RT]

I went with 1 inch over espo springs on my 70 Cuda and have 275/60 15 tires on 8 inch rims. I'm glad I never went anymore as the front tires are 235/60 15 and are shorter making the front set lower.

[Aracer]

I had the 3600 SS Hemi set, bad handling and not very good on bumps, tried the 440 cuda and they were flat, so the rear shackles were in complete retraction and the set was over center down. Sold them all and got these +2 Stanley Springs, Made in Penn. from E bay seller for approx.$200 last year. They are great for the drag strip too, with rise the car rocks back and the bumper stays even, but the rims shoot down to compress the tires. The front still looks high with them (optical illusion due to the round body lines) but it's 2* lower. I have the front 1/2" higher so the header stays off the pass. tierod on very tight turns. So it's a matter of taste.
http://stores.ebay.com/McVeighs-Truck-Springs

[Ford.P51]

I went with ESPOs +2, but the back end was way up high. If I recall correctly I went with 2 inch lowering blocks and now it looks like this:



Rear tires are 255 60 R15.

When I purchased the car it had a busted spring. So I installed the Mopar springs from Summit, but the backspace on the wheels isn't quite right and the qtrs pretty much sat on the edge of the tires. ESPOs +2 seemed like the safest choice to get the car driving, turned out to be way too high in the back. Too me its like I got ESPO +3.5 or so, I've often wondered if my springs aren't quite right after seeing Brads and others at 1.5"