My "new" '74 Duster- or why I need a project like a hole in the head
moparmat2000 asked me for a template for my slider brackets. I didn't make a template when I made them, but here's a better write up, as well as dimensions, for the slider brackets I made. You could use these to replace the shackles in either the stock location or with a 1/2" offset (mine are offset a 1/2").
So, to make the upper part of the bracket I used 3"x3"x.125" square tube and cut it off at an angle. The pieces I used weren't quite cut at 45*'s, the tall section is 3.25" and the leg is 3". The bottom plate I used was 3"x4"x.25", so the overall height of the brackets ends up being 3.5" once the bottom plate is welded on. If I had to do it again, I would make the lower plate 4.25" long, because as you can see in the picture I ran a little short. By the same token, the lower leg of the bracket can be longer, doesn't hurt anything and it would make the bracket stronger. The height should stay ~3.5", because otherwise the bracket won't fit. It doesn't have to be perfect as long as the bottom plate sits flush with the frame extension, but it has to be close because the bolt pattern doesn't leave much clearance for the bottom bolt. I used the old shackle hangers to set the bolt pattern, just make sure you use both the L and R hangers for the pattern because they are different side to side (mirrored).
Here's the dimensioned picture. It looks a little wonky because of the angle of the picture, but the dimensions are correct.
moparmat2000 asked me for a template for my slider brackets. I didn't make a template when I made them, but here's a better write up, as well as dimensions, for the slider brackets I made. You could use these to replace the shackles in either the stock location or with a 1/2" offset (mine are offset a 1/2").
So, to make the upper part of the bracket I used 3"x3"x.125" square tube and cut it off at an angle. The pieces I used weren't quite cut at 45*'s, the tall section is 3.25" and the leg is 3". The bottom plate I used was 3"x4"x.25", so the overall height of the brackets ends up being 3.5" once the bottom plate is welded on. If I had to do it again, I would make the lower plate 4.25" long, because as you can see in the picture I ran a little short. By the same token, the lower leg of the bracket can be longer, doesn't hurt anything and it would make the bracket stronger. The height should stay ~3.5", because otherwise the bracket won't fit. It doesn't have to be perfect as long as the bottom plate sits flush with the frame extension, but it has to be close because the bolt pattern doesn't leave much clearance for the bottom bolt. I used the old shackle hangers to set the bolt pattern, just make sure you use both the L and R hangers for the pattern because they are different side to side (mirrored).
Here's the dimensioned picture. It looks a little wonky because of the angle of the picture, but the dimensions are correct.
