My first resto project - all in

[notoptoy]

The only problem with re-arching is that it will change the resting height and rake, which he wanted to avoid.

[mshort07]

The only problem with re-arching is that it will change the resting height and rake, which he wanted to avoid.

Notoptoy- you’re correct. That’s what I’m trying to avoid. I can go up at most 1/2” but that’s all.

Re-arching - will that both raise the ride height and stiffen the ride, or ultimately just raise the ride height with the same spring rate?

I saw someone on an mg website add coil overs to a leaf spring rear end. He removed most of the leafs, but left one each side to locate the rear end. Then added the coil overs. Is that strange?

The helper spring sounds the easiest way to go, but my mind keeps coming back to taking a leaf from an extra set I have and adding it to my existing leaf pack on the car. Yes it will raise up but only the thickness of the leaf. It should stiffen it due to the additional leaf, correct?

[theunz]

Since you have extra spring packs why don't you try swapping them out. You may just have a weak set. The rear springs on these cars are generally considered to be to stiff in the first place, so adding an extra leaf may result in a very rough ride and diminished handling.

[mshort07]

Well I figure I’ll try the re-arched spring approach. Resting height is reading, from my installed flares, an inch lower in the rear. So re-arch should level out and hopefully tighten up some??? I’ll let you all know how it goes.

[s15to311]

The only problem with re-arching is that it will change the resting height and rake, which he wanted to avoid.

Notoptoy- you’re correct. That’s what I’m trying to avoid. I can go up at most 1/2” but that’s all.

Re-arching - will that both raise the ride height and stiffen the ride, or ultimately just raise the ride height with the same spring rate?

I saw someone on an mg website add coil overs to a leaf spring rear end. He removed most of the leafs, but left one each side to locate the rear end. Then added the coil overs. Is that strange?

The helper spring sounds the easiest way to go, but my mind keeps coming back to taking a leaf from an extra set I have and adding it to my existing leaf pack on the car. Yes it will raise up but only the thickness of the leaf. It should stiffen it due to the additional leaf, correct?

I had a similar issue on a sunny truck we built a few years ago, the rear springs were way too soft combined with the truck being really low. We tried a few different things but ultimately we ended up using motorcycle coilovers for shocks. Admittedly we used a knock off Chinese brand, but it worked really well especially since the spring added additional stiffness. The added bonus is they bolted directly on with no modification. I'll try to find some photos, but this is the truck: https://www.japaneseclassics.com/invent ... nny-truck/

[s15to311]

Found one from the SS article here: http://www.superstreetonline.com/featur ... ect-pickup

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[Gregs672000]

What a cool little ride that. Normally I dislike the stretched tire look, but this is not overdone and it fits the rest of the Car. It's nicely stanced, balanced, I like the graphics, and like a 620 pu it looks like it's moving when it's not. A more interesting engine would have been the icing on the cake IMHO. Of course, how it rode would make a big difference too, but it sure looks right sittin pretty! What happened to it?

[mshort07]

Judgement day will have to wait. I got the springs off the car. In the process I dropped one on my finger. Ouch. Anyway, got the spring packs apart and re-arched. I ordered new spring pads so I’ll have to wait until next week to see how they sit.

[mshort07]

So the springs are re-arched and back on the car. It’s sitting a little high now. Going to drive it some more and see if they settle any. If not I’ll need to add thin lowering blocks to get it where I want it.

[mshort07]

A new question - is there a difference in speedometers? My transmission’s out of a 69 2000, 5 speed. My speedo’s out of a 67 1600. I noticed that my speedo is reading faster than I’m going. Is there a simple fix?

[notoptoy]

Two questions:
1) what rear end do you have - the 1600 or 2000?
2) What size tires are you running?
The combination of 5 speed and rear end will make the biggest difference, there are speedo pinion gears that go into the transmission with different teeth to accommodate the set up you have.
The speedometers function the same, but they have different displays for top speed I believe.

[mshort07]

I guess it’s the tires, 185-60r14, that’s the difference. I thought the standard rear ends were the same between the 1600 and 2000? Anyway, the rear end’s out of the 2000.

[theunz]

3:89 for 1600, 3:70 for 2000

[mshort07]

Been some time since my last post. Not much done to the roadster, just sorting out some bugs. Had the radiator out again to be repaired.

Learned a hard lesson. Stick on wheel weights need to go a specific location on wheels so they don’t get thrown off.

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That’s two dents and cracked paint from where the weight hit the inner side of the fender.

Took my roadster and my 520 to a couple local car shows. Love hearing people talk about their Datsun memories.

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[Dreymar]

Too bad to hear about the dents! Nice local car shows.