Hey guys, im back again with more questions haha. Im planning on bagging the azz end of the shoe. I am going to notch the frame, and put a crossmember in to mount the bags to. The bottom of the bag will sit on mounting plates welded to the axle tubes. My next question is should i leave one leaf on each side and run it like that with the bags, or should i remove the leaves all together and just throw a 4 link in? My impala is bagged and the bags mount on the rear trailing arms, and the top bag mount is in the coil perch on the frame. impalas kind of have a 3 link from the factory. I also had a 75 ford f100 that was slammed in the back and all i did was take a few leaves out of the pack and thats why i was wondering if i could use them with the bags instead of a 4 link. Let me know what some of you have done what you recommend. thanks
Depends on if you want to "lay frame". If you "lay frame", 4 link the rear. I run a mono spring on the rear of my shoebox, which is bagged. With all the air out, I can still drive it around. I use the bags to get in and out of driveways.
well i dont need to lay frame, cause its an everyday driver. I was considering the 4 link though b/c my one leaf spring perch/mount is partially rotted and i will have to either weld and repair that section or just get rid of the leaf springs all together. I still have to weld in a crossmember too to mount the top of the bag to. I just thought after doing all that i should just notch the bich and build it all new. i dunno, hmmm....
The main leaves alone are not suitable for locating the rear.If you bag it,truck arms or a triangulated 4-bar would be well advised.
From what I understand, a single leaf will give you tons of spring wrap on acceleration. If you're going to go as far as a notch, just 4 link it and forget it. I did my Merc and didn't look back. It rides 100% better and will 8"-10".
get rid of the springs, not a good idea, what if that one leaf breaks? seen it.......especiialy if you use it in a way other than intended.........4 link or truck arms, i prefer truck arms myself.....
ok thats what i was kinda of figuring. I will definately toss the springs. I know this might sound dumb, but what do you mean by "truck arms"? I have seen triangulated 4 links, parallel 4 links, etc. not sure what your getting at with truck arms? thanks everybody
truck arms are just that.. truck 2 link trailing arms.. from gm trucks. there big and long and beefy.. after all they're made for trucks... truck arms work great.
This is how I did mine, Imho they work great on Chevys! But Im not sure how the shoebox guys do them?? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=476824
Hey thanks a lot for the pics and article, really informative. That setup really reminds me of how my impala is bagged, except the arms arent that long. My impala has a trailing arm on each side that attatches to the rear axle tubes. My bags are mounted on the trailing arm and the steel cup on the top attatches to the upper coil spring mount. Very similar setup. Anyway, with your setup you need to run a panhard bar right? You also need to fab up a front crossmember to mount the front of the arms to? I may consider this setup, i like it.
Oh yea, what kind of bushing are you running in the front and rear of the arm? is it a standard 4 link style bushing? what size are they? just trying to put together a parts list to see what i would need to do it. thanks
The longer the arms the less change in pinion angle you will have which helps getting your driveline angle rite on. The bushings where actually musting II control arm bushings (like 76 I think) and we milled out the caps for the front of the trailing arm to fit then pressed them in. The have the little teeth on them to grip the mounts so when you tighten them up they bite in well and dont want to spin. Yes on the pan hard bar..very simple set up. The mounts on the rear end housing have kind of a lowering block built in it also where the arms slide in. The more forward the bags are the more travel you will have with less bag height. Glad it helped out, as I said I have not done one in a Shoebox so maybe somebody else has a better suggestion for dem Fords!
yea i am going to do a little more research of the shoebox setup. Im picking my car up this weekend and bringing it to my house, so now i can get a better look at it and see what will work out the best. But like i said, thanks a lot for the info, and a big thumbs up on your 54, that thing is spot on.
We bought a triangulated 4 link from Welder Series and put it under my uncles shoebox. It has a fairly decent powerplant and I bent the leafsprings.
Here's my 4-link. I ran a 425 nailhead for a while and it put every bit of power to the ground. (FYI, The bottom bars run up to the front spring perch)If you're going to run big power or like torque, a 4-link is the only way to go.
make it real simple pick up a gambino tail drager 599.00 with out bags and 740.00 with bags cheeper for aliance members tail dragger kit is a notch (made for your car not a truck) trianglated 4 bar and over the axel brackets if yer gona link it your gona want to do a trianglated not a 4 bar you can do it over leafs like you were saying problem is your gona need a 4 or 5 inch block to make it work and your going to be into your scrub line call me if you like i can help ya out 408 561 5744 heres some links mostly chevys the last ones a shoe box http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=152076 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=394429 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=293280 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=202220 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=194332 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=194332 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=305649 this one is a ford http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=394891
Arms are a bit less intrusive on the body if that matters, as far as power....Nascar is running trail arms at roughly 800 horse, Im sure they will work with your Shoebox. Im puttin down 450 with no issues but what ever you feel more comfortable building, they will both work just fine!
Hey JK, thanks for the pics! I like that setup too. Thats origianally what i was planning to do, bag over axle and a 4 link. How do you like having the bags on top of the axle? Would you have done it different, like the behind the axle mounting plates?? Im not sure what style bracket to go with.
I also have a 50 ford and if I go that far to do all that work , I am not going to leave on spring there to hold the rear in place . All I see it that 61 year old spring snapping when you ad some torque to it .Four links at the best and easiest to build IMO . When I change the rear in mine , it will either stay with new leaf springs or a 4 link . You can just do so much More with a 4 link . It also depends on how much up & down you are wanting to have the rear to move , so keep that in mind when making the length of the bars and where you mount them . I would build a 4 link for the set up you want . You will be very happy you did it that way ! Just my opinion . Retro Jim
I mean im not going crazy with this thing because it will be a daily driver. Im not bagging the front or anything, just the back to drag some bumper down the boulevard on nice nights ya know. My impala is bagged on all four corners with 6 switches and 1/2" lines and electric fast valves and its way to outta hand for a daily driver haha. I just want simple and dependable. I never did a 4 link, so im just kind of going off the pics on here to get the idea of how to weld everything up. What is a good starting point for the length of the arms? I am assuming the longer the arms are, the better pinion angle you will maintain and the smoother it will ride. Ive done quite a few installs on 60s chevy cars and its fairly straight forward with the trailing arms and wishbone type setup. I have also done quite a few notches in trucks for people for side work, but never threw in a 4 link. Seems pretty straight forward though. i value your opinions, thanks
Jimenez bros customs offers a kit just for ford shoeboxes 2 link kit includes 2 link / trailing arms / crossmember 2 firestone bags 2 doestch tech shocks 1 pan hard bar 2 step notchs 915.00 call 951-781-1268
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