Nobody narrowed rear ends, mini tubbed or had custom offset wheels back then. If you wanted big tires, you jacked it up for clearance. Ask me how I know:)
Yeah, shackles were the cheapest and easiest way to go. We got them from JC Whitney back then. I think they were around 6 bucks? If you used air shocks that ment you were a little classier and had more money:).