when i do those jobs i drop a plumb bob down to the floor,put a bolt in each spring hole,hang it from the same spot on each bolt, put masking tape on the floor so you can see your marks take your measurements off your tape , that way you have nothing in your way and the tape measure can lay on the floor, great job 2 thumbs up
To measure squareness and proper geometry, You can use a plum bob to drop the lines from the bolt holes on the brackets to the floor...mark the spots and measure using the markings on the floor .....you can find square on fore and aft and longitudinal using that technique. Use other parts of the subframe to measure off of as well. Good video man!
I installed the Mopar Performance kit in my Valiant about 15 years ago. Bear in mind that moving the rear leafs inward it is intended to allow you to use wider wheels and tires for drag racing, but it is not to be used on a car that you want to corner. Moving the springs inward upsets the rear handling by effectively changing the rear spring rate drastically. By installing this kit, you're essentially undoing all the work and calculations that the Mopar suspension engineers put into their live axle to make sure that it handled predictably. If you want the car to handle properly with the rear leafs moved inward, you're going to have to ditch the live axle and go to a multi-link rear. In the meantime, if you keep the live axle and use this kit, be very careful when cornering enthusiastically. The rear acts really wicked with that kit on a live axle and will start to oscillate unexpectedly when coming out of a turn. You can mitigate this somewhat by installing a large rear sway bar, but the fact remains that you've messed with Ma Mopar's engineering.
I did a few of these back in the 70's, it's looking good. We used to get Super Stock springs over the counter at the Dodge dealer, the cars would hook up very nicely.
The axle tubes on that rear end are so think they won't warp. Not like the cheesy cheap Ford Chit. lol. The guys at US Car Tool said they weld on perches daily and never get warpage.
Looking good! As for not having frame shop measuring tools: not really needed. You can tie a bolt that's been ground to a point onto a string & drop reference points down onto the concrete. Then measure them. Abom turned me on to you - so I know creativity is in your DNA.
@@TheGasTap Yep. And fore and aft,left and right,same sort of idea. Grind to a point,weld wire on to it,weld a loop to the far end bolt,put tension or weight on the wire,you have accuracy plenty good for the period vehicle. Can you get assembly manuals for Mopars,like the Camaros I am familiar with ? They helped me a lot twenty odd years ago.
I would bolt a piece of angle to the side of each of the front mounts. Long enough to reach the rear mounts. Measuring between them at the front and rear would show parallelism and it would show if the fronts were "pointed at" the rears. Test fitting the springs would show it, but not as accurately since the spring bushings can distort.
Dude thank you for posting this video. I have a 71 demon that I'm needing wider tires. Plan on doing a kit like this and mini tub kit. Looking to get 295-315 MT tires. Can wait to finally be able to hook! Anyways! Thank for the video! Great video!
The Gas Tap I own a 66 convertible Valiant, so I enjoy seeing what can be done to it, the thing with it, being in Mexico, it's not easy or even possible to get certain parts for it. Keep up the good work!!!!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge I think u not only very technical savvy but also u did a real good job explaining everything. Looking forward seeing this completed install , I have 2 a body’s 1,GT DART 67 and I got this 15x10 rims I want to fit in don’t want to cut the 1/4 panels I like to rai the back so the back tires don’t hit the panels any info will help slot thank u stay safe. Boynton beach Florida
Looking good! I know it takes a lot of time getting those pieces fitted in nice. Might as well add some bracing forwards too while you are under there so when you start yanking the front end it doesn't tweak the body/frame. lol
Thank you for sharing, would like to see the welding and finished spring location, do you need to shave away some of the inner metal to get a bigger tire in?
I am definitely installing that kit under my 68 2 dr sedan Dart !! Thank you for sharing and showing it can be done at home with simple tools . Is your diff gonna be shortened ??
I cant see gaining tire clearance without Narrowing the rear axle on any kit since the wheel tub is closer to the tire then the leaf spring is . i dont think a Dart is built for Handling that is why they made E-Body Mopars ,the A body is long wheel base and short wheel track to start with
Whats wrong with that old tank ?? So it has a hole or two lol.. it’s called weight reduction hahaha lol.. good vid man.. she has a nice little Harley there !!
Didn’t you hate cutting your frame rails lol mine are mint I hate to cut even a little but I got or want wider tires I got nice rims for it and I will need the extra 3 plus inches not much but will at least let you put in a good size tire in
What is the purpose of moving spring back? The reason I'm asking, because I need the axle relocation of 1inch foward in front and 6inches in the rear moved back. I wanted bigger tires to fit on the project.
You may want to look at Chevy and Ford leaf springs. They tend to place the axle in the center of the leaf spring. MOPAR places the axle slightly forward on the spring. May be an easy way to relocate the axle.
when i do those jobs i drop a plumb bob down to the floor,put a bolt in each spring hole,hang it from the same spot on each bolt, put masking tape on the floor so you can see your marks take your measurements off your tape , that way you have nothing in your way and the tape measure can lay on the floor, great job 2 thumbs up
To measure squareness and proper geometry, You can use a plum bob to drop the lines from the bolt holes on the brackets to the floor...mark the spots and measure using the markings on the floor .....you can find square on fore and aft and longitudinal using that technique. Use other parts of the subframe to measure off of as well. Good video man!
I saw in part 2 that's exactly what you did....lol. Thanks for doing this video.
Looks like a great kit. Customer service sounds good as well. Enjoying the build. Keep up the great work 👍
I installed the Mopar Performance kit in my Valiant about 15 years ago. Bear in mind that moving the rear leafs inward it is intended to allow you to use wider wheels and tires for drag racing, but it is not to be used on a car that you want to corner. Moving the springs inward upsets the rear handling by effectively changing the rear spring rate drastically. By installing this kit, you're essentially undoing all the work and calculations that the Mopar suspension engineers put into their live axle to make sure that it handled predictably. If you want the car to handle properly with the rear leafs moved inward, you're going to have to ditch the live axle and go to a multi-link rear. In the meantime, if you keep the live axle and use this kit, be very careful when cornering enthusiastically. The rear acts really wicked with that kit on a live axle and will start to oscillate unexpectedly when coming out of a turn. You can mitigate this somewhat by installing a large rear sway bar, but the fact remains that you've messed with Ma Mopar's engineering.
It will do as I need in this form. I'm not autocrossing the car. Just light street driving and drag racing.
That kit looks great, I wanted to see someone install this spring kit. Looks like you did a excellent job putting it together.
I did a few of these back in the 70's, it's looking good. We used to get Super Stock springs over the counter at the Dodge dealer, the cars would hook up very nicely.
Looks like you're doing just fine. Measure, measure, measure, then weld.
That is some serous modification. Seeing this might motivate me to get of my duff and get my project started. Great work.
Awesome work cuz! Looking like a pro under there! This is a good example of why we did not weld your spring perches on the narrowed rear end.
The axle tubes on that rear end are so think they won't warp. Not like the cheesy cheap Ford Chit. lol. The guys at US Car Tool said they weld on perches daily and never get warpage.
@@TheGasTap I have rewelded spring perches on the axles to different locations and it has never been a problem.
Looking good! As for not having frame shop measuring tools: not really needed. You can tie a bolt that's been ground to a point onto a string & drop reference points down onto the concrete. Then measure them. Abom turned me on to you - so I know creativity is in your DNA.
thanks soooo much!
@@TheGasTap Yep. And fore and aft,left and right,same sort of idea. Grind to a point,weld wire on to it,weld a loop to the far end bolt,put tension or weight on the wire,you have accuracy plenty good for the period vehicle.
Can you get assembly manuals for Mopars,like the Camaros I am familiar with ? They helped me a lot twenty odd years ago.
I would bolt a piece of angle to the side of each of the front mounts. Long enough to reach the rear mounts. Measuring between them at the front and rear would show parallelism and it would show if the fronts were "pointed at" the rears. Test fitting the springs would show it, but not as accurately since the spring bushings can distort.
Thanks
I didn't realize you did this, I had commented on the new video to suggest moving them in. Good job
thanks for the comments
That is a clean car you got there. That makes life a whole lot easier
Dude thank you for posting this video. I have a 71 demon that I'm needing wider tires. Plan on doing a kit like this and mini tub kit. Looking to get 295-315 MT tires. Can wait to finally be able to hook! Anyways! Thank for the video! Great video!
You don't mind playing hardball....... Not many folks would take on a Valiant as a project car. Can't wait to see it continue.
Great job, made it look easy.
I see you're still working on it! I'll wait up until you finish to see the finished project! Congratulations!!
Money money. I'm dedicated to getting it done now. Keep on watching 😎
The Gas Tap I own a 66 convertible Valiant, so I enjoy seeing what can be done to it, the thing with it, being in Mexico, it's not easy or even possible to get certain parts for it.
Keep up the good work!!!!
Makes me miss my 71 duster 340. Great job
Thank you!
Nice looking kit there...and a sweet bike!
Hi you could have use a plumb Bob and transferred the mounting points to the floor and checked for square like that. Cheers
Thanks for sharing your knowledge I think u not only very technical savvy but also u did a real good job explaining everything. Looking forward seeing this completed install , I have 2 a body’s 1,GT DART 67 and I got this 15x10 rims I want to fit in don’t want to cut the 1/4 panels I like to rai the back so the back tires don’t hit the panels any info will help slot thank u stay safe. Boynton beach Florida
That is a super nice kit man , I ENJOYED .. THANKS !!
Not sure but would a Plumb Bob and transferring locations to the concrete floor help with alignments. Looking great
Just bought the same kit for my 70 duster i hope it fits as well as yours
Looking good! I know it takes a lot of time getting those pieces fitted in nice. Might as well add some bracing forwards too while you are under there so when you start yanking the front end it doesn't tweak the body/frame. lol
I'm going to install subframe connectors at some point.
Loven' what you are doing! 👍
Personally, I like projects broken down to part 1, part 2, part ........
but it is your project. 🍻
Thanks for that. I like to make the channel the best i can
Those are some nice parts
Thank you for sharing, would like to see the welding and finished spring location, do you need to shave away some of the inner metal to get a bigger tire in?
Did you watch part 2?
I would like to, was trying to find it
ruclips.net/video/fngSPv4aSXo/видео.htmlsi=CoDm-WuVmS71wvQG
When you go to weld it all together do not forget to use weld through primer on all bare metal that you will not be able to get to later.
Looks good what I can see. How about a shop light under the car to help us see better ?
Yes sir
I need a better camera. GoPro 3 is outdated
I am definitely installing that kit under my 68 2 dr sedan Dart !! Thank you for sharing and showing it can be done at home with simple tools . Is your diff gonna be shortened ??
I built a custom rear end. There’s 2 videos on it.
I cant see gaining tire clearance without Narrowing the rear axle on any kit since the wheel tub is closer to the tire then the leaf spring is . i dont think a Dart is built for Handling that is why they made E-Body Mopars ,the A body is long wheel base and short wheel track to start with
I installed a custom rear end and wanted room for future mini tub if needed. I also didn’t do this for handling.
Nice job on the video bud 👍
Looks good.
That’s so smart😮
Body shop measuring tool is called a 'Tram gauge'
Thank you
Whats wrong with that old tank ?? So it has a hole or two lol.. it’s called weight reduction hahaha lol.. good vid man.. she has a nice little Harley there !!
Didn’t you hate cutting your frame rails lol mine are mint I hate to cut even a little but I got or want wider tires I got nice rims for it and I will need the extra 3 plus inches not much but will at least let you put in a good size tire in
It was one part of the car I didn’t mind cutting in order to gain clearance. The 275 barely fits so I either need to mini tub or go to a 255 tire.
You did a good job there. I know nothing about building hot rods etc, so a dumb question, why are you fitting a narrower axle?
275/60/15 tires fit tight on a stock platform. I want room for sidewall flex.
@@TheGasTap Thanks for that. I guessed it had to do tyre width. Is the gear ratio the same in the diff. you're fitting as the stock one?
What is the purpose of moving spring back? The reason I'm asking, because I need the axle relocation of 1inch foward in front and 6inches in the rear moved back. I wanted bigger tires to fit on the project.
This kit moves the springs inward to install wider tires. I’m not sure why someone would want to move the springs back and extend the wheelbase.
Artic style Iceland build
Iceland! I want to visit
You may want to look at Chevy and Ford leaf springs. They tend to place the axle in the center of the leaf spring. MOPAR places the axle slightly forward on the spring. May be an easy way to relocate the axle.
You said for the REAR Leaf Springs. What's up with the FRONT Leaf Springs?
It has torsion bars in the front.
@@TheGasTap THIS I am aware of. Just found it funny that you said......REAR Leaf Springs.
When I see a duck, I call it a duck too. 😆
@@TheGasTap Leaf Springs and Torsion Bars are both Ducks?
Nope
How is the TQ on the truck coming along?
Still tinkering on it. Its been too rainy to do much driving in it.
Can anyone advise me of the dimensions of the sleeves for the rear spring mount?