Huge rear end problem...

So we put together the 8in rear the other day and installing it today with the leafs and all. PROBLEM. After we put the rear end in and the leafs and everything, the cars sits up superrrrrr high and cant even get the shocks to fit in the plate. Well, we added a leaf to stiffen it up and thought that was the problem. Took out the brand new painted leafs (effed the paint up and gotta get em' repainted) and took out the new leaf to go back to the OG 3 leaf setup. Still too damn high, exact same stance to be exact.

Anyone had similar troubles? What would you do? Longer shocks and accept the HUGE gap between tire end fender?

Have not had a single day these past few weeks without something going really bad...

 

You didn't state if these were new leaf springs or not.

 

Nope, old leafs with one new leaf that was added...but I took it back out to see if that was the problem...but it didn't even help a quarter inch

 

Pics would help, how did the car sit before?

 

This sounds incredibly simple and don't takeit to heart if I sound condescending but, is the axle above the springs or below them?

 

the axle is above the springs...I dont know how you get the axle below them...? The Car used to sit from wheel to the top of the inner wheel well was 7 inches, its now 12 inches. I mean I don't have a problem with the height, but my shocks wont even reach the plate fully extended

 

Did you tighten the spring bolts with it in the air?

 

Will that give me a dramatic increase in height?

 

Ive seen it before, i usually put a floor jack under the axle then tighten

 

Someone told me because they're so old and were sagging, when i took them out a year ago during the restoration, they are some how "rearching"? Don't know how that could even be but yeah...still does not explain my shocks not reaching...

 

What kind of shackles are you using? the stock ones? How tight did you tighten the bolts on them?

 

Yeah I sand blasted and painted the original ones.

 

Yep and its a common boo boo.

 

I'm with Joe Dirt. If you tightened the springs unloaded, the inner portion of the spring eye bushing is preloaded in the unwound direction, meaning it actually has some spring action when put back on the ground. You would be surprised at the strength of the bushing if twisted.

 

Gotcha, thanks