The Caravan used coil springs on the front end and leaf on the rear. Also the
only early Chevy PU trucks that had an enclosed drive shaft were 1/2 ton. The
3/4 ton had an open shaft to go to a full floating rear end. Mr. Gingles is
most likely putting more power to the rear end than a stock early model motor
put out, if my guess is correct. Traction bars will limit rear end twist and
should help out without giving excessive wheel hop. I do not know about the
rest of your message and do not have an answer. Good luck in your project. Bob
Fentress
---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "Carlos F. Madero" <amigos@esn.net>
Reply-To: "Carlos F. Madero" <amigos@esn.net>
Date: Sun, 13 Jun 99 18:24:55 PDT
>After visiting Alan Gingles' site for the n-th time (the buildup page is
>inspiring to me) I noted he used Dodge Caravan rear springs, and somewhere he
>mentions needing some sort of traction bars to keep them from twisting under
>acceleration. If these are springs from a FWD minivan, can it be they are not
>designed to take the twisting action of the axle? Well, now that I think about
>it, when braking there certainly is twisting action, but in the opposite
>direction. But the original AD springs do not have to take twisting from
>acceleration or deceleration, because of the enclosed driveshaft acting as a
>big control arm/ traction bar. Where was I going? I just wanted to know other
>people's experience with replacing the rear springs (a low-buck replacement,
>not the 500+ dls kits) and what springs have been used.
Also, I am curious if anyone has seen or tried installing a coil spring /
triangulated control bar rear axle (from a "70s or '80s mid-size GM car) on an
AD truck. I have an article (probably 20+ yrs old) by Pat Ganahl on installing
a Chevelle axle (with all its original rubber bushings, control arms and coil
springs) in a '40 Ferd truck, and it appeared fairly straightforward.
Best wishes
Carlos Madero
'53 5-window
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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