rear leaf spring schackles???????

can anyone tell me if the rear leaf spring shackles off of a 72 nova will fit on a 74.

Hi 2novacars,

Yes, they'll fit. The rear spring shackles will interchange from 68 to 79.

Hello Ray. Thanks for the help. Sorry I didn't get back sooner. I thought that was the case but it was an E Bay thing and I wanted to be sure. Seems they went for way too much money anyway.
Lance

Speaking of shakles. I've seen a lot of 3rd gens with a sky jacker type rear shackle. Was this a common upgrade or standard option or what? The shackles look a lot more substantial and it looks like thier are multiple spring eye mounting locations on them. Was this a better set up than the stock ones? Also I noticed an additional Aluminum block on each rear shock mount to raise it up. Was that only on cars with the skyjacker type shackles? I've got one of these set ups here, but I'm not really keen on installing it since the shackles themselves look like the east end of a horse going west, but if it is a better suspension set up I might look into how I could clean it up and make it look better.

You'll find most of the vehicles that have these extended shackles have them to either

1. Fit a tire/wheel combo that is way too large, or incorrect for the car
2. To raise the rear of the vehicle back up to stock height, with sagging springs.

My '72 was unfortunate enough to see them for a short while. They are substantially longer (6"+) and can raise the rear of your car 3" pretty easily.

However, you'll notice the rear end will hop a little bit more and the rear end will walk in a turn and settle late. It can be pretty un-nerving if they are combined with worn bushings--the rear axle walks from side to side and you'll experience more body roll through a turn.

The shackle kits are cheap, around $25 from most parts stores. If you're going to use one, upgrade to better bushings (poly). Keep in mind when raising the rear end, you'll have to double check your brake lines and shock lengths.

You'll find most of the vehicles that have these extended shackles have them to either

1. Fit a tire/wheel combo that is way too large, or incorrect for the car
2. To raise the rear of the vehicle back up to stock height, with sagging springs.

My '72 was unfortunate enough to see them for a short while. They are substantially longer (6"+) and can raise the rear of your car 3" pretty easily.

However, you'll notice the rear end will hop a little bit more and the rear end will walk in a turn and settle late. It can be pretty un-nerving if they are combined with worn bushings--the rear axle walks from side to side and you'll experience more body roll through a turn.

The shackle kits are cheap, around $25 from most parts stores. If you're going to use one, upgrade to better bushings (poly). Keep in mind when raising the rear end, you'll have to double check your brake lines and shock lengths.

Thats all I needed to know! I won't be using them. I was thinking of having work redo the the actual shackles in Aluminum if I were going to use this set up. I wonder if Aluminum will hold up good if I make them stock hieght. I'm thinking 1/4" thick Aluminum plate with a nice polish and clear coat.

Thats all I needed to know! I won't be using them. I was thinking of having work redo the the actual shackles in Aluminum if I were going to use this set up. I wonder if Aluminum will hold up good if I make them stock hieght. I'm thinking 1/4" thick Aluminum plate with a nice polish and clear coat.

I would never use aluminum shackles...at least not 1/4" thick ones. I would think it would fatigue and break rather easily...not to mention wear out the bolt holes and any other friction surface easily. Keep in mind those rear shackles are one of only two pieces that keep the reas suspension/axle attacked to the car. It'll be an eye opening experience to have those shackles break through hard corner and send your car into a rail, or worse.

If you want good looking shackles, why not chrome? Mine are 3/8" hard-chrome and looks pretty darn good--when they're clean. That's not too often though, as my car sees almost 15k miles a year.

I bought a shackle kit from Energy Suspension (the P/N is 3.2101 for mono, 3.2102 for multi-leaf). It was about 80 dollars (Canandian Dollars...probably much less in American dollars), and had polygraphite bushings for both the front and the rear eyes, new bolts (with a gold antisieze coating...chromium I suspect) with nylock nuts, new sleeves, and much more substantial shackles. They are stock in all dimensions, and improved the handling of my car a very noticeable amount. Obviously no patch for poor springs, but definitley something worth investing in. Remember, if you change your rear bushings and leave your front ones as they are, you are introducing a whole new dimension of flex to the spring...you're adding twist, and that's something that springs don't take too kindly too. Just a thought.

I already plan on using Polygraph bushings all the way around. I would use solid, but the car is going to see more street and show than it will strip so some ride comfort is needed. Just want to build something in back that is origional in design and worth conversation at a show. If the lower part of the shackles were connected from side to side with a solid piece of steel 1 1/2 to 2 inch round stock with the ends machined down to proper threads for the lower bolt that goes through the leaf spring eye would it help or hinder a rear sway bar?