Order of assembly? From a bare shell

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Ok so mini milestone finally getting the 8 3/4 hooked up. Encountered a problem with shackles flipping inward instead of outward. I'm doing this on my own so a bit of a struggle.
Springs are factory but re-arched years ago. Looks like both front and rear hangers are on correct.
Tires are only 13" rollers.
Large bolt for front spring eye is loose.
Shackle nuts are finger tight.
Undid bottom of 1 shock to make sure it wasnt the issue.
Shackle is close but not quite.
Both sides are causing me grief.
Currently no jack stands, tires are sitting on blocks of wood to lift rear up.
ATV jack under the diff but not supporting it. Figured I'd let it sit overnight to see if it drops any?
Pics are if drivers side.
Suggestions?
Thanks
Steve

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You can use front spring hanger shims to move the spring and rear back which is usually a benefit for tire clearance and in your case more rear angle on the shackles. Mancini makes them.
 
Thanks Roy, I was hoping to avoid that as I already ordered shackles and a shackle bracket from them...if I ordered probably take 2 weeks to a month to get here.
Thanks
You can use front spring hanger shims to move the spring and rear back which is usually a benefit for tire clearance and in your case more rear angle on the shackles. Mancini makes them.
 
Ok so mini milestone finally getting the 8 3/4 hooked up. Encountered a problem with shackles flipping inward instead of outward. I'm doing this on my own so a bit of a struggle.
Springs are factory but re-arched years ago. Looks like both front and rear hangers are on correct.
Tires are only 13" rollers.
Large bolt for front spring eye is loose.
Shackle nuts are finger tight.
Undid bottom of 1 shock to make sure it wasnt the issue.
Shackle is close but not quite.
Both sides are causing me grief.
Currently no jack stands, tires are sitting on blocks of wood to lift rear up.
ATV jack under the diff but not supporting it. Figured I'd let it sit overnight to see if it drops any?
Pics are if drivers side.
Suggestions?
Thanks
Steve

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Looking good Steve hope it drops so you don't have to buy shims.
Nice job on the under side.
 
Yeah, hoping it sags over night. I just thought I shoulda taken other shock out...doh.
Still lots to go on underside but I'm hoping to get it out of shelter and in shop(space pending) asap, then hopefully progress on underside thru our lousy winter...
Looking good Steve hope it drops so you don't have to buy shims.
Nice job on the under side.
 
Yeah, hoping it sags over night. I just thought I shoulda taken other shock out...doh.
Still lots to go on underside but I'm hoping to get it out of shelter and in shop(space pending) asap, then hopefully progress on underside thru our lousy winter...
Yea I here ya buddy lousy winters here as well. Can't do much without heat here real soon..
 
I wonder if part of the problem is the car is completely empty?? Its a bare shell only parts bolted on is rearend. Maybe if I loaded the trunk with some weight?
 
I wonder if part of the problem is the car is completely empty?? Its a bare shell only parts bolted on is rearend. Maybe if I loaded the trunk with some weight?
Good idea I think mine did the same thing just not as far forward as yours till I put it together then it settled in.
 
With a pry bar I can get the shackle vertical but that's it. It's almost like springs are too "tight" or arched too much?
I'll also loosen the 4 front hanger nuts on each side a couple threads .
ATV jack was a lifesaver.
Good idea I think mine did the same thing just not as far forward as yours till I put it together then it settled in.

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...Encountered a problem with shackles flipping inward instead of outward. I'm doing this on my own so a bit of a struggle.
when i first read that i thought you were saying they moved toward each other, side to side :lol: those hangers are fine. as long as everything is even, by the time you get the car ready to drive, the weight of the other parts will settle it more and you'll be good :thumbsup:

also, don't over tighten the U bolts, and put the gas tank in last, (or maybe the exhaust last, don't know what your using). it's a lot easier doing everything else back there with the tank out of the way.

progress, it's a good thing :D
 
Anthony, it's up to you but I would undercoat. No way in hell I would use white either lol. Factory was black I believe. I just want protection, not going for show. Wont be any mirrors under this car, only if it has coke on it lol.

What is wrong with using white underneath there on a white car?

I don't remember that all Mopars were black underneath.
I do know that Mopar people have a conniption fit if you paint under the hood black unless it's a black car.
 
What is wrong with using white underneath there on a white car?

I don't remember that all Mopars were black underneath.
I do know that Mopar people have a conniption fit if you paint under the hood black unless it's a black car.
i like them both ways, but like my car that still has most of the original undercoating, my choice is old black or newer black. body color and you need to get under there and clean to keep it looking good
 
Just a personal preference, like Kursplat said. Body color on underside(unless black) and welcome to tedious cleaning and constant touch ups.
What is wrong with using white underneath there on a white car?

I don't remember that all Mopars were black underneath.
I do know that Mopar people have a conniption fit if you paint under the hood black unless it's a black car.
 
Not much progress on car, BUT I got 8 3/4, under it as well as new shocks. Now it can roll, so I seriously reorganized the shop. Finished insulating the roof trusses. Pain in the *** up and down the ladder...had to put the eggcrate stuff up for ventilation.
Buddy came over today and gave me a hand shoving it in shop. Used the truck and a spare tire. Worked great.
Went and bought 4 dollies to slide it around, works good. Now the boat can go where the cuda was in the shelter for winter and maybe get something accomplished on cuda. I think next up is either finishing painting underneath or painting (roller??) the inner floor, firewall etc.
Suggestions??
Oh last pic is of a toy he showed me he has lol...lotsa wacky stuff.

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Glad to see the old fish in the shop and hope your winter is a warm one so you can get things done.
 
Just Great, you are going to like that 8 3/4 underneath there. Nice heavy duty rear end for the A Bodies.

Glad to see it up in the garage, nice to work on it there now.

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any problem with the shackles, or did they behave themselves?
 
Suggestions ??

Here is how I do under bodies that are the original surface, that have been cleaned up, any oil or grease removed, and a quick spritz with distilled water, wipe down with terry cloth towel and blow out the seams and dry with high pressure air.

Mix up my undercoating paint with the hardener and then put some vaseline on your arms, hands and even a light layer on your face to help get the dipping and spattering paint back off you when done.

First coat I go in and brush and mop in all the overlapping seams to get the coating worked up into them, same wth any scabby/rusted sufface remaining to work the coating good into the pours of the surface.

Putting a few sheets of masking paper around on the floor of your garage helps to catch the dripping paint and makes floor clean up at the end easier. Saftey glasses are good to keep wet paint specs out of your eyes, and a throw away long sleeve shirt is good to use too.

The second coat I use the same mixture with a little reducer so it will spray, strain it with a paint filter as you pour it into your spray gun. Then throw a drop cloth over the top of your car, and go to spraying the 2nd coat to the underside of your car to give good coverage and and end up with a nice uniform finish.

Can also use an undercoating gun with an 18" long plastic 1/2" tube on the end to spray the mix up into the box frame channels and inside the rocker panels, trunk drop down panels inside the trunk at the quarters and reach up over the inner wheel wells from inside the trunk and soak them down too. Positioning masking paper sheets on the floor to catch the paint that is running out of the body.

One tip on your regular spray gun is to turn the pickup tube 180° so it will pick up the paint from the spray cup when spraying upside down.

1/2 a spray cup of undercoating paint at a time help to keep it from running out of the gun while painting the underbody.

It's a dirty job, but the end results to preserving your car are well worth it.

Here is the finished results I did lately to help preserve this clean 2003 Gand Caravan from the MN slop and salt spray.

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I left the shackles as is, still pointing slightly fwd, bottom is at about 630, 7 oclock, so just slightly off. If/when more parts get added to car I'm sure they will orient properly(I hope!) Moving car in wasnt an issue.
Thanks!
any problem with the shackles, or did they behave themselves?
Thanks George for all the advice, much appreciated. Hoping bringing it into shop keeps me motivated on it. Finishing up painting the underside and coating passenger compartment will help.
I've never painted before so at this point it's looking like brush n rollerz for time being lol.
Thanks again all.
Suggestions ??

Here is how I do under bodies that are the original surface, that have been cleaned up, any oil or grease removed, and a quick spritz with distilled water, wipe down with terry cloth towel and blow out the seams and dry with high pressure air.

Mix up my undercoating paint with the hardener and then put some vaseline on your arms, hands and even a light layer on your face to help get the dipping and spattering paint back off you when done.

First coat I go in and brush and mop in all the overlapping seams to get the coating worked up into them, same wth any scabby/rusted sufface remaining to work the coating good into the pours of the surface.

Putting a few sheets of masking paper around on the floor of your garage helps to catch the dripping paint and makes floor clean up at the end easier. Saftey glasses are good to keep wet paint specs out of your eyes, and a throw away long sleeve shirt is good to use too.

The second coat I use the same mixture with a little reducer so it will spray, strain it with a paint filter as you pour it into your spray gun. Then throw a drop cloth over the top of your car, and go to spraying the 2nd coat to the underside of your car to give good coverage and and end up with a nice uniform finish.

Can also use an undercoating gun with an 18" long plastic 1/2" tube on the end to spray the mix up into the box frame channels and inside the rocker panels, trunk drop down panels inside the trunk at the quarters and reach up over the inner wheel wells from inside the trunk and soak them down too. Positioning masking paper sheets on the floor to catch the paint that is running out of the body.

One tip on your regular spray gun is to turn the pickup tube 180° so it will pick up the paint from the spray cup when spraying upside down.

1/2 a spray cup of undercoating paint at a time help to keep it from running out of the gun while painting the underbody.

It's a dirty job, but the end results to preserving your car are well worth it.

Here is the finished results I did lately to help preserve this clean 2003 Gand Caravan from the MN slop and salt spray.

View attachment 1715604991

View attachment 1715604992
 
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