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Post by STROMI 121 on Oct 17, 2017 21:33:15 GMT -5
All relative. The biggest downside to switching to leaves is I have to change my entire rearend setup. I need to convince myself that all the extra work and expense is worth the outcome. If I do what is nesessary and it fails miserably, I will feel and look like an idiot. I have a proven setup. But I believe in my mind that leaf springs will make it even better. The issue is that I have no experience doing conversions.
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owen11x
Feature Winner
Ford makes it, Chevy shakes it, Mopar breaks it!
Posts: 2,585
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Post by owen11x on Oct 18, 2017 5:16:15 GMT -5
The toughest and best car is a car your comfortable in building. If you have proven set up and are competitive, don't fix what's not broken. Every build gets better no doubt about that but I are green 100% on the is the risk worth the reward. I definitely see the advantages and I also know the cons since I run leaf sprung cars. At the end of the day you gotta run a car your comfortable with or it throws your game all off. I'm on the fence leaf springs are the way to go but if your hump plated builds hold up like you said its proven.
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undertaker11
Heat Winner
get in, buckle up, and hold the hell on!!!!
Posts: 413
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Post by undertaker11 on Oct 18, 2017 19:16:21 GMT -5
I would have to say Hump plates as well on this idea, Over the years i have realized the main reason that the gm sedans are better then any other leafed sedans (excluding imperials) is that they are not leafed and can constantly roll onto itself over and over into it packs tight like a ball then the humps are the first thing to go afterwards, Leaf springs sedans hold up well for a while and most of them roll onto themselves as well but only so far to what the shackle will allow and then the frame starts ripping where the shackle bolts on or around it and then when that happens you lose all your strength when it tears from the frame completely like most Chrysler's like to do and then you will eventually lose the rear end a short time after especially if both sides get ripped from the frame. A 73 caddy is best left alone as a coil sprung car with hump plates and a GSP to keep it from bellying in front of the humps as well, but i would tuck and then v the trunk shut but not solid so that you get it to roll on the first few hits, then it becomes a battering ram/ defense wall to where you can save the front for later on when its needed. Like the master ( Joker14) said for a 73 the less you do to the rear of them the better off you are, all the strength is in the front. JMO
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Post by STROMI 121 on Oct 18, 2017 22:18:44 GMT -5
I doesn't really matter what you claim that Joker has said or what titles you personally give him. He is a friend of mine, and I respect his opinion. The problem is that he hasn't passed his opinion on this subject. Ive never seen him build any year Caddy for the bash. So I wouldn't put words in his mouth. Personally, I have came to the conclusion that notching a 73 is a waste of a 73 if we are refering to full weld builds. in my opinion, you might as well run a 74. I have built quite a few of both. However it's impossible to refer to anyone's alleged comment without knowing what type of build they were referring to. Commenting on a full weld bash car is not the same as commenting on a stock type build. It would be very easy to take his or anyone else's comments completely out of context without knowing all the variables of the conversation. Even then, its just another opinion. And personally, my opinions change somewhat after every build. BTW Undertaker, I have no issues with you whatsoever. I appreciate all of your opinions, comments, and positive input. However, I was only attempting to point out how its somewhat reckless to possibly misquote or add special titles to someone who likely doesn't even have any desire to be involved in the current debate or conversation. He is a registered member of Wecrash and can comment freely or vote just like anyone else if he so choose to.
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Post by rhull1977 on Oct 19, 2017 6:32:17 GMT -5
I don't have any experience with caddies but my advise is stick with what you know works. You can improve on it but don't switch it completely.
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undertaker11
Heat Winner
get in, buckle up, and hold the hell on!!!!
Posts: 413
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Post by undertaker11 on Oct 19, 2017 14:07:30 GMT -5
I doesn't really matter what you claim that Joker has said or what titles you personally give him. He is a friend of mine, and I respect his opinion. The problem is that he hasn't passed his opinion on this subject. Ive never seen him build any year Caddy for the bash. So I wouldn't put words in his mouth. Personally, I have came to the conclusion that notching a 73 is a waste of a 73 if we are refering to full weld builds. in my opinion, you might as well run a 74. I have built quite a few of both. However it's impossible to refer to anyone's alleged comment without knowing what type of build they were referring to. Commenting on a full weld bash car is not the same as commenting on a stock type build. It would be very easy to take his or anyone else's comments completely out of context without knowing all the variables of the conversation. Even then, its just another opinion. And personally, my opinions change somewhat after every build. BTW Undertaker, I have no issues with you whatsoever. I appreciate all of your opinions, comments, and positive input. However, I was only attempting to point out how its somewhat reckless to possibly misquote or add special titles to someone who likely doesn't even have any desire to be involved in the current debate or conversation. He is a registered member of Wecrash and can comment freely or vote just like anyone else if he so choose to. I apologize if I offended you or joker14 as i didnt mean to be reckless by my comments or the title that i gave him. I myself still believe that for a 73 the less you do to the trunk/ rear the better it will work, but in the end its your build but i would stick with what you have proven to work for you. My Dad has always told me don't try to get fancy because when you do that's when it bites ya in the long run. Jmo
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Post by bluecrew72 on Oct 19, 2017 15:16:59 GMT -5
Comparing a leaf spring Chrysler to a converted leaf GM Sedan I don't think can be compared. Look at the length of Chrysler springs along with how it bolts in, just not the same. You put a 9/16" bolt through a frame of a GM it's not ripping out wither it's a sedan, square back, and we've all seen what roundy's take.
As Stromi said before, with hump plates they bend at the base of the hump in his experience, he's not worried about the back rolling so from body mount back sounds pretty stout, so now it's about keeping the base of the hump stout.
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Post by STROMI 121 on Oct 19, 2017 15:33:36 GMT -5
In theory a leafed 73 caddy should be a beast in the back. My reservations are from zero experience converting one. Ive still got a week or two to decide which avenue I am going. I will get the bare frame in the garage, grab some leaf packs out of the pile and drink beer and study it until I make a choice. I was really hoping someone who had done it previously had some input. Everyone's opinions and comments so far are helpful. I like to ponder things sometimes. That's the whole point of this site. My buddy tells me that I am overthinking it. I replied how would that be any different from anything I build. Prior planning and preparation. The three Ps of success.
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Post by klicky96 on Oct 19, 2017 16:06:21 GMT -5
The 5/16" thick rule gets me. If you could run minimum 3/8 or 7/16, id say 48" length, I wouldn't flatstack, but I'd only give it maybe 2" of arch, pull it tight with the all thread, and let her eat. In all honesty, I've never built a 73 caddy, but I have leafed many cars. 5/16" leafs love to bend right at the eye. Even with a 1" stair step, unless you can make a set with the first two leafs wrapped around the eye, it's gonna bend at the eye. Then you are out the time, effort, and money of the leaf packs. I would personally stick to hump plates. You know they work, and you're not wasting money investing into something that might not work. If you'd like to test this, I personally wouldn't do It at bash.
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Post by bluecrew72 on Oct 19, 2017 16:59:50 GMT -5
I think the key to this ^^ is that end clamp
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snake
Heat Winner
Posts: 368
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Post by snake on Oct 20, 2017 9:11:29 GMT -5
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Post by klicky96 on Oct 20, 2017 9:13:00 GMT -5
Even with an end clamp, it will bend at the eye. Yes, it'll take a lot more abuse, but it'll still happen. Plus,that clamp is at officials discretion. Also, are you only using 2 bolts per clamp or 4? What length of clamp are you using? Do you have to clamp multiple leafs or can you use a clamp on the main at the eye and put a couple welds to the bracket? It all plays a part in how the leafs are going to bend. If you wanna spend enough money, you can buy a set of 5/16" leaf packs that will never bend or break in the derby world, but don't plan on pulling them tight with all thread either. It mostly pertains to how much you actually wanna spend and how you want to build them. Do you want to spend that much on something you've never tried before?
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Derby426
Future Icon
DemoFreak2000
Posts: 39
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Post by Derby426 on Oct 20, 2017 10:59:16 GMT -5
A bad leaf conversion more often then not will do more harm then good. there's alot of variables that goes into building a good leaf setup, including what you want the rear to do. Personally given a solid set of leaf conversion rules, id choose leaf conversion.
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Post by beefybuilt104 on Oct 20, 2017 13:25:35 GMT -5
In theory a leafed 73 caddy should be a beast in the back. My reservations are from zero experience converting one. Ive still got a week or two to decide which avenue I am going. I will get the bare frame in the garage, grab some leaf packs out of the pile and drink beer and study it until I make a choice. I was really hoping someone who had done it previously had some input. Everyone's opinions and comments so far are helpful. I like to ponder things sometimes. That's the whole point of this site. My buddy tells me that I am overthinking it. I replied how would that be any different from anything I build. Prior planning and preparation. The three Ps of success. I only see two Ps to success there, planning and preparation, can't really include the word prior as a p lol the third P must be pabst blue ribbon
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Post by STROMI 121 on Oct 20, 2017 17:31:58 GMT -5
I don't remember just some shoot I always heard from old timers. Maybe it was pabst
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