I removed my stock leaf springs and brackets because I was informed I would not be happy with the ride and was told by that it would not be able to withstand 500 HP.
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My questions is considering cost efficiency and performance would I be better off trying to track down a pair of old leaf springs and brackets from a junk yard if so what year and model should I be looking for?


OR

Is new the way to go?

OR
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Should I go with a rear suspension kit to convert it to a coil over suspension with a ladder bar/4 link set-up?
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Speedway motors has complete kits from $325 to $534 not sure of the quality but the price seems right…

Any other suggestions on kits you may have used and where to purchase???
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Also I would like to replace the OG wood body mounts with a rubber bushing style mount. Any suggestions on where to locate or find such a thing?

 

Suspension.....I would go for the best that I could afford. Leafs are nearly always cheaper, but I sure like the lockup on a linked rear end. As for body mounts.....I used drilled hockey pucks. There may be a better "non-redneck" solution!

 

500 hp ??? Sara, you may want to box the frame also :-) I don't recall if you said what differential you were running, but if you have a 9" Ford, I have an N center case to sell you :-) (you will have to get it rebuilt because I think its the only one ever made without posi)

 

I have a new set of rear springs, 6 leaf stack, cheap, in Southern Oregon, made for my 46.

 

I can lend some experience here...

In my '57 other-brand, I ran a mild '70 LS5 BBC...probably 425 HP-550ft/lbs torque...all through the original '57 C-brand springs and hangers, only addition was coil over shocks. I did run a TH400 with only 2500 stall...but it held up very well to the abuse I put it through.

That said, with the easily available 4-bar setups you can now get and tune it the way you want, I'd do that if I were replacing the rear suspension because it was worn/etc...but if on a budget, I'd stuff a 9nich under with ladder bars and call it a day.