I finally got around to switching the worn out leaf springs in my 53 Pontiac. I used some nice springs from a 57 Nomad. The springs are the same length from eye to eye, but the centering pin on the Nomad springs is about half an inch or a touch more farther forward. I put the springs in to see if it would look bad or not and it does, plus now my driveshaft is really far in the trans. What is a better coice for a fix? I'm thinking either drill a new hole in the spring pad on the axle or drill a new hole through the leaf pack. Or is there a better option? Thanks in advance for the help! Tony.
get a half inch peice of steel, drill 2 holes the distance of the offset of your 2 different springs, drill and tap one for the correct diameter bolt, cut off bolt threads flush with plate after torquing down...install inbetween the spring and axle with spring bolt going in the hole and the bolt head up into the axle pad.....if th rear tire wasn't perfectly centered before this is the opportune time to do so. Yes it will lower the car the thickness of the plate....if axle is over spring.
drill a hole in the spring pad. or while you got the whole thing apart make a lowering block with offset holes/pins. this is the HAMB. all cars must be lowered.
If my choice was to either drill the spring or the perch, I would drill the perch. This will slightly affect where the weight was designed to ride on the spring pack; but should be so minor in difference I don't think anything would ever result. another option would be to drill only the top spring leaf and move the rest of the pack to the new hole....
I hadn't even thought of the 2 holes in the spacer! That i think is my perfect problem solver! Plus with the old springs it sat nice and low like i wanted it, now with the new springs it sits stock height! WAY to high! Killing 2 birds with one stone! Thanks for the help everyone! I'm goin back to the garage!