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On my 67 vert I haqve the mono rear leaf spring. I need to replace them. Is there any advantage to the conversion to multi leaf??? If yes how difficult is it. What additional parts would be needed. Would the brackets welded to the axle have to be changed? I notice there are 4 t bolts and no u clamps in the current setup.
Thanks
1967 400 Convertible
1978 Firebird
1980 Trans Am Pace Car (Sold)
2002 Ram Air Convertible (Sold)
Mike
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1967 400 Convertible
1978 Firebird
1980 Trans Am Pace Car (Sold)
2002 Ram Air Convertible (Sold)
Mike
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I've seen a kit in the Classic Industries catalouge for converting from mono to multi and as far as I could tell the kit would give you everything you need. You should not have to do anything to the rear end itself. Advantages - yes, stiffer rear suspension. Difficulty - low (if somewhat mechanically inclined).
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I have heard you would have to change the spring perches on the axle to accept the multi leaf. Does the axle have the factory torque arm(s) (traction bars) That's a nice plus. One area I don't know to well is changes from year to year. My '69's have T bolts on the inboard and U bolts on the outboard. 
Tom '69 Firebird 400 4spd conv  
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The car only has one traction bar???
1967 400 Convertible
1978 Firebird
1980 Trans Am Pace Car (Sold)
2002 Ram Air Convertible (Sold)
Mike
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The mono leaf springs are stiffer. A stock multi-leaf rides better. You don't need the traction bar with the staggered shocks. That's what they're for.
John 
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You could always try a composite single leaf. People that have used them, like them.
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Thanks,
Im still learning! What are the staggered shocks? Why is there only one traction bar?
1967 400 Convertible
1978 Firebird
1980 Trans Am Pace Car (Sold)
2002 Ram Air Convertible (Sold)
Mike
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Staggered shocks(one in front of the axle and one in back) were used to control spring wind-up. GM decided they could do away with the trac bar this way.
The auto cars came with only one bar. 4sp cars came with two.
Robert
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Didn't the staggered shocks start in '68?
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold  1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
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I dont have staggered shocks on my 67 vert And only one bar on the pass side
1967 400 Convertible
1978 Firebird
1980 Trans Am Pace Car (Sold)
2002 Ram Air Convertible (Sold)
Mike
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I believe the '67 standard had one traction bar.
And the 400 and HO had 2 traction bars.
And staggered shocks started in '68.
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
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The '67 has the torque arm(s) to eliminate harmonics and wheel hop that was caused by the non-staggered shocks. I read somewhere the base OHC-6 cars didn't get them. The Sprint got one, and so did the 326 on the passenger side. The HO 326 and 400 received them on both sides.
I don't think it mattered what type of transmission was in the drive line. It was the matter of HP the determined what the axle was equipped with.
The engineers figured out the problem before the '68 model year and staggered the shocks, eliminating the need for the torque arm(s).
Tom '69 Firebird 400 4spd conv
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1967 400 Convertible
1978 Firebird
1980 Trans Am Pace Car (Sold)
2002 Ram Air Convertible (Sold)
Mike
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Im still trying to find out how to convert from mono to multi leaf. I didn't see anything in the classic catalog.
1967 400 Convertible
1978 Firebird
1980 Trans Am Pace Car (Sold)
2002 Ram Air Convertible (Sold)
Mike
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Never tried it myself, but think you have to replace the spring perches on the axle.
BTY, the 67 version was better for straight line performance.
Worse for comfort.
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Makes sense, the perches dont look that deep.
1967 400 Convertible
1978 Firebird
1980 Trans Am Pace Car (Sold)
2002 Ram Air Convertible (Sold)
Mike
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Anybody have a good picture of the 68 setup with the staggererd shocks? Thanks
Last edited by tinindian6702; 09/23/08 07:23 PM.
1967 400 Convertible
1978 Firebird
1980 Trans Am Pace Car (Sold)
2002 Ram Air Convertible (Sold)
Mike
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You will have to change(or fab) a 68 style upper shock mount in the drivers side trunk for staggered shocks.
Also, the lower shock mounts are different on both sides.
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