Chevy leaf springs

[DieselBrad]

Who has em and how did you go about doing it?

I heard on another thread about using them for some more weight capacity and keeping a decent ride. I haul firewood frequently but dont need a washboard ride.

I heard all that is need is to move the front spring hanger forward and use 88-mid 90s chevy 1/2 ton springs. But which ones? i found 4 and 5 leaf. Also, does it lift the truck any? I am looking for 1-2".

I have a lead on a pair of 4 leafs for 100

[ZWilson07]

If I was you id use the explorer leafs. Mount right up and will give some lift also.

PS do you have any pics of the trucks in your sig, particularly the 80 and 86, and the 96

[DieselBrad]

Thanks for the BUMP wilson, but i am looking for more weight capacity w the chevy springs, the explore will not do that

as for pics of my rides I am a pic w#ore
my 80

My 86

and the 96

[ZWilson07]

damn you lol

and the chevy springs should hold more than the ranger springs. Even weigh down your rear will prolly just level out with the front.

EDIT: im suprised you dont have a 73-79?

[southbama man]

Very nice man^

----------

Does any of those have the 7.3?

[DieselBrad]

Originally Posted by ZWilson07

damn you lol

and the chevy springs should hold more than the ranger springs. Even weigh down your rear will prolly just level out with the front.

EDIT: im suprised you dont have a 73-79?

Like this one

[ranger024x4]

i had chevy swap on my old 02. I hated it. lol

here are a few pics that i had on my cardomain


thats with tbars(#1's) cranked and it was still higher in the rear







bigger pics can be found here

as you can see, I had 5. If you were to do it, do it with 4.

[Clinton]

Brad, Those are all your current trucks?

[DieselBrad]

Originally Posted by ranger024x4

i had chevy swap on my old 02. I hated it. lol

here are a few pics that i had on my cardomain


thats with tbars(#1's) cranked and it was still higher in the rear







bigger pics can be found here

as you can see, I had 5. If you were to do it, do it with 4.

You hated it because of the rake? I have the 4 leaf springs
You ran 2 shackles?

[ranger024x4]

Originally Posted by DieselBrad

You hated it because of the rake? I have the 4 leaf springs
You ran 2 shackles?

no, hated it because it rode like shit without weight in the back.

also note they are the 5 leaves (4x4 z71) springs. They were stiff as shit. with 1,000lbs in the back, it did ride great though.

It was double shackled because the 5 leaves gave it way too much lift.

[DieselBrad]

Originally Posted by Clinton

Brad, Those are all your current trucks?

Here are the current ones in my garage now
96 crewcab(pic above)
94 Lightning
86 F250 diesel(pic above, undergoing a powerstroke swap in the spring)
80 F350(pic above)
95 F350(donor for 86)
99 F550
96 F450
04 ranger

the 79 was one i just finished for my friend. Got 2nd place at Carlisle All Truck National this year. build thread here,>>>>http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/85...s-79-f150.html

[Alon]

Thevy leafs in the back, chevy lowering shackles, 2" lift blocks, spindle lift and torsion bar cranked up front.

[DieselBrad]

Originally Posted by Alon

Thevy leafs in the back, chevy lowering shackles, 2" lift blocks, spindle lift and torsion bar cranked up front.

How much total lift did that give you?

I realize yours is 2wd but the 4wd and 2wd are close in height?

Do you have pics of it on level ground?

[rwenzing]

These pictures are with the softer 4-leaf (3 plus overload) leaf packs from the 2WD 88~98 Chevy C1500. They are used with the stock Ranger blocks and shackles and the repositioned front hangers. Unloaded lift is roughly 2~2 1/2" over stock FX4 but the ride is only slightly stiffer than the factory Ranger "C" springs. Torsion bars are cranked about 1 inch.

The loaded picture is with a scaled 2440 lbs in the bed.

5-leaf packs (4 plus overload) from the 88~98 4x4 K1500 would theoretically handle even more load but they have a reputation for a hellish ride in an unloaded Ranger. Besides, the 2440 was taxing the rest of my truck enough as it was.

[DieselBrad]

Thanks rwenzing. that was exactly what i was looking for.

i noticed today that my frame has a "step" in it right in front of the front spring hanger. Did you shim it out to match the frame?

And are your blocks the 2 1/2"?

And does your truck really have supercharged 5.0?