Suspension Help

[BadBird]

I got the car running today. Sounds and runs great. Loud when I open the electric dumps but has a good sound when they are shut. I have a question about the suspension. I don't have a lot of room in the rear for the tires and that has always been a concern. Then when I added the fiberglas surround system in the trunk that added quite a bit of weight. When I have some folks in the rear seat as I will during the parade at Hot August Nights I am sure there is going to be problems. I have air shocks but they are already up. SOOOOOO is there any thing that you know about that can help get the rear end up? Thanks Larry

[pbrown]

I would put a new set of five leaf springs in the rear. Scrap the air shocks.

[BadBird]

That is probably what I will have to do. Do you have experience with this change? Does it keep the rear end up with loads and during hard acceleration? ( I would like to hit the strip at least once to see what it will do) And do you know of the best / cheapest place to get a set? Boy after all the time and effort of taking the old set apart, replacing the spacers, and powder coating them. Oh well. Thanks very much Pat. Larry

[BadBird]

Has anyone seen any of these put on a car? http://www.jcwhitney.com/quick-change-helpers/p2005887.jcwx
http://www.jcwhitney.com/leaf-spring-adjustable-helpers/p2005984.jcwx

[Jeff W]

I have not... how about something like these?

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/edel_coilstrut.cfm

[Luva65wagon]

I put these on my wagon and liked them so much I bought a set and they will go on the Ranchero. They are not overly expensive at all (~$60 on RockAuto).

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=294401

[doghows]

I have a set of those on the rear of the barn find... Cool..

[BadBird]

Thanks everyone for the ideas. larry