MGB & GT Forum

I was wondering what you guys have done to stiffen up you rear suspensions. I've cut and chopped my 78 into a widebody beast with a well built small block chevy 400, lowered and running 19 x 10 275/40/19 in the rear and 19 x 8 with 245/40/19s in the front. Right now i have my stock springs in the rear (i took the spring packs apart and flipped a few of the leaves then bolted it all back together). The rear sits about where I want it, but it is VERY soft. I have a set of ford ranger leaf springs laying here (2.5" wide vs 1.75" wide stock springs).


I was looking at taking the lower (shorter) leaf or two and adding to my spring pack but i would have to notch the ranger springs where the U bolts go down through at the axle to keep everything nice and tight.

I know heat and springs don't mix so i planed on taking my time with a 4.5" grinder and just notching out 4 small notches just where the U bolt passes by the leaf.


any thoughts or ideas?

Drop it all and install an 8 inch with 4 link Lighter,stronger,located,adjustable,better geometry,better traction. All of which you will need with a 400SBC.

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find a good spring shop near you and have them make you a set of heavy duty springs,
cheap quick and effective

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71 MGB
brakes good
tires fair

I don't know what your definition of "very soft" is, but I think you should drive your car as-is before you go changing to heavier springs. The biggest downfall that I think the mgb has, compared to better handling cars, is the rough/choppy ride due to the rear leaf springs. One a perfectly smooth road/track it's no big deal, but look out if your on a road that is rough at all because the rear end can get very unsettled by a bump or two.

So, I think "soft" is what you want in the rear, while also controlling wheel hop. The best way to do that is by building some kind of torque arm from the axle to the front spring eye. Bill Guzman has a pretty simple plan for this using half of a leaf spring. With your power, you might actually want a bushed tube running from the axle to a custom bracket under the front spring eye. Lots of examples of how to do this if you research britishv8.org.

The best solution is to do as Rob says and go to a 4 link with coilovers, but lacking that I wouldn't want to make the springs stiffer.

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Ryan