Shackles on a Challenger

[Mark_B]

Hi All,

I was thinking of getting that 70s street machine look on my 1970 Challenger.

Do you please know if these shackles will fit the leaf springs?

Shackle Sets P5249716

https://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/dcc-5249716/overview/



Thanks for any help you can give.

[6bblgt]

those appear to be stock B&E-body replacement shackles

[RJChallenger]

What do you mean by Street Machine look? Jacked up in the back? Tires sticking out past the wheel well lip? Yes, those shackles will fit.  but only give you the factory ride height

[Mark_B]

Ah I see. Yes jacked up at the back by 2 inches.

[RUNCHARGER]

I think those are stock. Longer than stock shackles require you cutting the rear valance to make them fit.

[JS29]

To accomplish that 70's look he would have to go with air shocks.

[Mark_B]

Cutting into the rear valance doesn't sound a good idea.  And air shocks are supposed to be bad.

Maybe the 70s look is a bad idea.

I had shackles fitted on my 72 Mustang, they weren't a problem fitting.

[RUNCHARGER]

Yes on E-bodies the shackles are tucked up just above the rear valance. Lots of E-bodies got the rear valances sawed with a hacksaw back in the day. Rearching the rear springs is the best way to accomplish a slight lift.

[anlauto]

Here's a 70 Challenger with shackles on it....

[Chryco Psycho]

You need to understand why the rear is raised , the long shackles make almost no difference in ride height , they just depress the rear of the spring , so going to stock shackles is what you need to do but  if the back is raised up either you have air shocks or extra leafs springs added to raise the rear of the car so that problem needs to be fixed also to lower the rear , personally I like the T/A stance with the rear a bit higher .

[Mark_B]

Thanks for the information.  Does the T/A have stock shackles or an extra leaf in the spring?

[RJChallenger]

I believe they would have stock shackles and maybe one more leaf. Its the arch of those springs that give it a lift. Your only choice is to go air shocks, play with the air pressure to get the height you want. The problem with this setup is,  more air pressure = less comfort. Too much air and the car tires become the shocks. UNSAFE. The other option would be to remove and re-arch your leaf springs ,they might sag over time so you could add a leaf at that time. I found a used set of 440 H.D leaf springs and they lifted the back end a couple of inches.  The old springs sagged a fair bit so I cant say how much better it is over stock springs . Good luck and post some pictures please.

[dave73]

When I first bought my challenger it had shackles protruding through the valance, that was cut into 3 pieces.

Call up ESPO springs and get a set of new leafs from them. I believe they will do 2" lift over stock. I had 1.5" when I first got my challenger and it was cool but got old. Between their springs and cranking down on the front torsion bars, you'll get the look you want without anything super sketchy.

[RUNCHARGER]

The shock absorber crossmember is designed, well to support the shock absorbers. It is not designed to support any weight that is why just about any car that ran air shocks had a destroyed shock absorber crossmember.

[Burdar]

The shock absorber crossmember is designed, well to support the shock absorbers. It is not designed to support any weight that is why just about any car that ran air shocks had a destroyed shock absorber crossmember.

  If you decide to run air shocks, beef up and reinforce the shock x-member first.  If you don't have any fabrication experience and can't weld, then replacement springs that will get you the height you need is probably the best choice.