lowering blocks, Where to get?

[Sanitylost]

Looking to lower the back of my 69 Dart. Looking to go with a lowering blocks BUT I would like them to be at the very least solid aluminum OR steel. Looking for a 1" drop.
I cant flip the front hanger as I have the 3" inboard kit in the car
Any recommendations or experiences would be great.
Thanks,
Jeff

[That One Guy]

a 70's or early 80's 3/4 ton or 1 ton truck, they probably have them, check a junk yard or something like that,
particularly the ones with the "dual springs" on back

[NYrr496]

I would imagine they'd be pretty easy to build.

[392dart]

autozone or oriellys haved them i think there $40 and they come with longer u bolts

[Sanitylost]

Yeah I tried the autozone ones they are not the right size width. The springs are 2 1/2" wide and the blocks they have only measure 2 1/4" AND they are not solid aluminum

[jg]

Mancini Racing has billet blocks.  I can't find them on their site, but I purchased a pair for my B-body while in the store. 

http://www.manciniracing.com/

[Sanitylost]

Thanks for the head up with mancini. I e-mailed them, hopefully something will come of it.
I also contacted GregZ of Magnumhp.com about his billet drop blocks. Very nice looking pieces BUT they are not a direct fit. I would have to drill out the hole in the spring perch for the pin to fit AND use a bushing over the leaf spring pin/bolt so the block will sit on the spring. Wonder if they are the same that mancini has or had.

[Sanitylost]

Anyone now IF RMS sells lowering blocks. I performed a search and someone said they purchased some from Bill.
Ya out there Bill? I sent you an e-mail also.

[Scamp]

I had my new SS springs re-arched.  Cost me $75 and they hit my target right on.  I had them de-arch the right side more so it would sit level.  This way I have the spring rate but it doesn't sit high.  Lowering blocks increase the lever arm against the springs and change the pinion angle.  If you have a good spring shop nearby it might be worth checking.

I did mine before I installed them because I knew they would set the car (71 Scamp) too high, especially since I used 'B' body SS springs to get the increased spring rate.

Just a thought

Scamp

[Sanitylost]

 Thanks for the idea Scamp.
When I first intalled the SS springs some years ago the car sat WAAAAAAAAAY to high. At that time younger and more ambitious   I removed them and had them de-arced at a local shop. Now with the recent removal and install of the new espo springs, The removal and install fought me everystep of the way . So I figured that the lowering blocks would be the lesser of the 2 evils . I know I should probably just remove them and have them de-arced, BUT it was such a pain in a$$ (literally) I dont want to go through it again. If all else fails I guess I will have to do what I have to do.
 Getting older sucks.

[Womanator]

Here's the 67 Dart with 3 inch lowering blocks I had made.The springs are ss springs.





Stance of car

[PureGTS]

The lowering blocks can be made really easily. For teh OEM look at 3" you can get the blocks from the rear axle of a Mopar 4x4 pre1994. I made a pair of 3 1/2" lowering blocks from some 3/8 wall 2 1/2 X 3 1/2 square tubing from the local metal yard. (see first pic - car in the slammed mode)The 1" blocks I lost are made from steel blocks with an allen bolt (drilled and tapped) for the axle to locate onto and a hole in the other side for the leaf spring to go into. Pretty simple, really. I have since replaced them with aluminum ones from Pep Boys (I think). (see 2nd pic - look at the U-bolt area and you can see, silver, them ) 2 1/4 vs 2 1/2 means you lost 1/8th of an inch on each side. I wouldn't get too excited about that. 2" and lose a 1/4" each side, yeah, but not 1/8th.

[coors00]

Install an adjustable floater.

[Winter]

     I tried the 1" hollow aluminum blocks from AutoZone and after a few runs they bent to the curve of the SS's, I returned them and put in the Lakewood 4* angle shims. I did not like the way the lowering blocks lessened the pinion angle and increased the distance to the tranny by 1/2". "Lowering blocks increase the lever arm against the springs and change the pinion angle." You Are Correct Sir!