Lowering leaf springs
Trying to setup as a good handling daily driver
The SS springs are for drag racing. Specifically to develop the suspension sit and angles for a good launch with slicks under high torque. The car will rise and nose lift shifting more weight onto the axle.
For what you want to do, I would not start with a matched rt/left pair.
A '66 is fairly light wieght compared to the next generation.
Yes a pair of 'hd' springs in the 110 to 130 #/in range would be good, 130 especially if you will be carrying tools etc in the trunk and have larger torsion bars up front.
The other characteristic to check is the free arch. With a higher rate sping, this needs to be matched with a slightly lower free arch to get the proper rear ride height.
Chrysler set the springs up flat at normal ride height so the rear tracks in on a turn. For more about that see.
Extra-Duty Options (Session 253) from the Master Technician's Service Conference
Will the 11" rotors and 9" drums sbp setup will this be enough stopping power .
In most cases the limitation on stopping power will be the road surface, the tire and the driver's skill.
The rear brakes are most important in the initial application of braking and in more gentle braking situations.
If you have doubts, then my suggestion is to copy what the factory did. I'm not aware of that F/R combo on anything they produced.
That would mean getting 10x1.75 drums on it and a proportioning valve if the previous owner didn't do this already.
Proportioning valve is explained here starting on page 7
Disc Brakes (Session 219) from the Master Technician's Service Conference
Replace those immediately with just about anything else. You can try them again if you must when the car gets larger torsion bars.
Regardless the high frequency damping is too stiff. The lighter the car the worse it will be.
Sway bar kit( front and rear or just front?)
A Front anti-sway bar is the best bang for the buck in terms of improving the street handling.
Adding a rear bar is requires knowing enough to be sure that it won't put the car into oversteer under the worst conditions. Generally not recommended for a general use unless its part of a complete package specifically design for the car and use.
