Leaf spring options for handling, which ones for handling, confused?

[torredcuda]

Still trying to put together a list of upgraded components for the cuda but confused a bit on which leaf springs. Hotchkiss has thiers at 160 lb in. but I have seen others that use much heavier springs, what makes it more confusing as many companies don`t give you the spring rate but just say heavy duty or give you a vehicle wieght. My list so far has 1.03 or 1.1 torsion bars, 1-1/8 front sway bar, currently factory 3/4 rear sway bar but will probably got to a 7/8 or 1". So what do I need for leaf springs to match, I want the car to sit no more than 1" lower than stock ride height?

[HP2]

1.03 to 1.2 is a reasonably large spread in the mopar world.  Did you mean 1.1?

Yes, leaf rates are all a  bit confusing for exactly the reasons you point out. Additionally, balancing the car's rates front to rear means the exact same percentages can be achieved with a wide variety of rates. 1.24 t-bars with a 1.25 front s-bar and no rear bar is going to require a much different leaf rate that a 1.0 t-bars with a 1.125 front s-bar and a rear s-bar.  Typically, because of the limited number of torsion bars available for our cars, I would recommend you set up the front suspension how you want and then back into a balancing leaf rate since leaf can more easily be modified than a torsion bar.

Hotchkis  t-bars are 1.1. These are designed to provide reasonable balance to the overall package with all of their products, hence the 160# springs. Hotchkis also makes a couple of other mods to their spring packs to provide benefit others don't address. They use a berlin eye in the front to centralize the force passing through it and they use a half leaf on top of the main leaf to help reduce wrap and tramp.  However, their arch may be closer to a 2-3 inch drop over stock based on some commentary I've seen over the years.

If you want a more stock level spring arch that is close to the Hotchkis rate, then you may want to use a copy of the factory XHD spring.  These springs have the extra half leaves for torque control, an OEM arch for ride height, and are around 140# in spring rate. This is reasonably close to the Hotchkis rate of 160#.

[torredcuda]

Ya typo, I meant 1.1 not 1.2, I edited it. Knwoing the XHD factory spring is around 140# helps to narrow down my choices, right now the I have factory springs from a 383 `cuda that make the car sit lower just due to sagging after 50 years.