What exactly was the "hemi" leafspring reinforcement?

[challenger70]

Since I have already thrown the book at my charger as far as chassis reinforcement (sub-frame connector, torque boxes and inner fender bracing, I figure I minds well do this too.  What did the leafspring reinforcement on hemi cars consist of?  Pictures would be great.

[Ghoste]

Basically, at the front section of the spring where the eye is placed between the frame sub rails, that area is boxed in.  A plate is welded to the bottom and ties the outer and inner rails on either side of that spring eye together.

[1972Rallye]

Basically, at the front section of the spring where the eye is placed between the frame sub rails, that area is boxed in.  A plate is welded to the bottom and ties the outer and inner rails on either side of that spring eye together.

What you're describing is what everybody typically calls torque boxes.  Some don't realize (at least in the case of 71 & 72) there are three sets of reinforcements that these high-torque cars received. There are the ones you just described as well as forward reinforcements that tie the forward rocker and front frame rails together.  Also there is a small reinforcement for the rear leaf spring atachment - it's nothing more than a plate of steel welded between the rear perch mount and the frame rail. It boxes in the mounts and makes it all more rigid.  I'm not sure if this helps the OP or not.  I'll try to dig up some pics....

[tan top]

heres a picture of mine     , have front& rear torque boxes  also & frame connectors 

[hemigeno]

as well as forward reinforcements that tie the forward rocker and front frame rails together. 

Those are '71 only reinforcements, not found on '68-70 B-bodies.

In addition to the ones mentioned, a reinforcing plate was added to the backside of the forward spring perch mount.  It's hard to see inside the torque boxes, but it's there.  Another reinforcing plate was added to the pinion snubber contact point above the axle as well, again not easy to notice but still present.

I've heard rumors that Hemicar rocker panels were reinforced in a similar fashion to how convertibles were, but have seen no engineering graphics which support this claim.

[challenger70]

thanks for the help so far, so this reinforcement would go under where the torque box goes?

[hemigeno]

The first picture shows the reinforcement plate that accompanies the torque boxes... I outlined the visible portion in red so you could see it better.  It's welded on the back side of the spring perch, and I took the picture through the hole in the bottom of the torque box and looking towards the back of the car.

The second pic shows the pie-shaped piece that reinforces the rear framerail near the spring shackles (ignore those atrocious spring shackles, this is an older picture and those have been changed out).  Visible portion outlined in red.

The third pic shows the torque boxes from the side.

The last picture shows the extra plate welded on top of the regular pinion snubber reinforcing.  That's a little hard to see because my car still has its factory undercoating, but it is there.