Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

That does make me feel better. Thanks!

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

Both my ole Rancho and the new BDS springs only had the large spring wrapped, pretty common i think.

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

Gonna stop thinking about that extra wrap I think. Looks as if plenty of rigs out there are doing fine without them. Just thought I missed something kind of big. I do that more often than I'd like. Thanks for all the feedback!
Now on to the rear springs!

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

Small update. I so impressed with how the front springs rode that I pulled the truck back in the garage on Friday and started going to town on the back half of it. I figured that the front was fairly easy, how hard could the rear be - especially with the bed off?
Anyway, all of the old hangers came off easily within an hour on Sat. morning. They exposed some rust that I was sure would have fossils in it. Not quite surface rust and not quite rot either. A little more than I like to see on a frame but its what I have to work with.

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

I pulled the Dana 60 out to address a couple of items but mainly BC I just want to clean it up a little and put a couple of coats of paint on it. Lately I've been looking at CL for 14 bolts. Not sure why but I'm not gonna start painting just yet. As you all may remember, I was going to install the 31 gallon Blazer tank while I had the bed off and I was doing the 63" spring swap.
I have found it kind of weird how I have planned this out for the last 6 years in my head and had the order in which everything would happen mapped out as well. Funny how the project can dictate what order thing are going to happen.
At the start, I was going to do the suspension first, followed by the fuel tank. As it turns out, I have to do the tank first - mainly for the two new cross members that will be replacing the only cross member where the old spring hangers were.
In order to install the new DIY4x4 rear hanger I was going to have to remove the frame mounted trailer hitch receiver. At this point, since I had already removed the last cross member, I felt that the receiver was the only thing holding the back end of the frame in place. I didn't want to take the chance of everything really getting out of shape. Sooooo, the fuel tank crossmember install is going to happen before the spring swap. So far, not quite as easy as the front. LOL!

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

I cut a couple of pieces of 2 x 4 x 1/8" box tubing to fit the frame, both to hold the fuel tank and to strengthen the frame a little. I was going to bolt them in initially but I think Im going to use the Miller on it. I drilled holes for the stock tank straps, skid plate and access holes to get a wrench into. Im not a frame guy by any means so if you guys see me about to totally FUBAR my frame or maybe a better way to do things, Im all ears.

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

Awesome progress, Chris!
I have the same fuel tank sitting in my back yard waiting to go into Big Ugly. I guess great minds think alike! What is your plan for the fuel filler?

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

I'm not quite sure yet Jason. There is a lot of room towards the rear of the fender. My 9 yr old son asked me just yesterday - " Hey Dad, are we gonna have 2 tanks on the red truck now?", to which my reply was "nah, then we'd have to put in a valve and a switch and I don't really have the time". He seemed OK with that logic, but now I'm trying to figure out how to do it! Lol.

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

this is so awesome! i had a leaky valve cover gasket that lead to a full frame off resto once.

same boat bud.

by the way, im taking notes and riding your coat tails for my own 52/63" spring swap. thanks for the leg work!

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

And Pandoras box has just opened a little more. Just received an email back on a 2012 14BFF with disc brakes. The guy wants it gone fast. This would keep me from having to rebuild the brakes on the D60 and the spring perches. Anyone know how much my driveshaft would have to be shortened or lengthened to do this swap? At this point, I'm afraid the truck isnt gonna see the light of day again!

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

2" ish the pinion nose housing is quite a bit larger than the 60. i doubt you have the shaft spline travel to make it up tho so 2 chops and a weld is about $60-80.

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

So you're saying that the 14 bolt is longer than the 60 right? I had planned on moving the axle back 1" already (to center it in the wheel wells). 2" would really get it centered perfect. This axle just came up and I really don't know much about them other than what I've heard. I'm guessing in addition to the shock mounts having to move, I'll also have to move the spring perches inward? Lug pattern (8 lug ) is still the same right? Sorry for all the ?s. I do appreciate all the info!

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

hmm, ok. did i miss something about you lengthening the overall drivetrain length? if all you want is to position a 14ff in the wheel wells then you are still on tract for a 2" ish shorter drive shaft over the original D60 diff.

ill reread the thread for details bud

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

I think we are on the same page Steve. The position that the 60 was in made the tires hit the front of the fenders when I would really load the truck up. I had planned to move it back 1 to 1-1/2 " anyway to alleviate this. I figured that would be max for safe slip yoke travel. If the 14b is longer, I could potentially move the axle rearward around 2" without really changing the driveshaft at all. Sound right?

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

yep, i believe so sir. also, dont forget to look in on ORD's zero rates as they have the pin locater for moving the axle 1" and 1 1/2" with a pin locator for getting the wheel well/axle positioned just right. they are 1" tall tho; but would be an option if a little rear end leveling as well as slight for/aft adjustment of the axle positioning is needed.

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

Spring perch spacing on a SRW 14 bolt from 73 to 87 will be 42.5" on center, not sure about the newer models. Stock spacing for 60-72 is 40" on center. Shock mounts will be in the wrong locations too, and one will be facing the rear. Parking brake cable setup will likely be different. Also you may need to change something with the proportioning valve, resresidual vakve or master cylinder for the rear disks; Not sure what you have in there now.

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

I was eyeing the zero rates too. I think they are a way better solution to the lift and axle locating issues. I ended up buying a set of over sized (length) weld on perches with multiple positions .

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

Not much progress in the last week, Ive been working like a dog at my regular job. Between that, Little League playoff / championship games and practices and end of year grad stuff for my older one, there has not been a lot of time. I did however manage to bring home a new member of the family for about the price of re doing the brakes on the Dana. Not sure why Im so stoked to have rear discs since the old drums always worked so good. Parking cables seem to be intact. Im pretty sure that the 10 41 stamp on the ring gear means 4.11. I think I may miss the Trac Lok in the 60 since this one is definitely open. One thing I will say about this axle... it is WAY burly!

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

And before I get called out on this

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

Edit: This axle turned out to be out of a 2005 2500HD truck.
After some careful examining and comparing posts and pictures, it actually has a Gov Loc. Not really having a lot of experience with the 14BFF, I have some mixed feelings on this as I have heard them referred to as "Gov Bombs" and it seems as though people avoid them like the plague. The 60 had a "Trac Lok" which Ive read wasn't the greatest either but seemed to do really well for what I do.
So what are your opinions on this? I did see one mod where a guy lightened the weight(s) inside of the Gov Loc in order to "lock" it earlier (I don't think it completely locks though?). He did this BC from what I read, the GL is supposed to lock at 15 mph difference between wheels which to him seemed like a pretty big shock load to the 3 pin spider? He thought that locking it earlier would lower that shock to the spiders.
Again, for what I do with my truck, I have a feeling that it will probably be fine but I do like to understand how things work before I use them so I welcome any info and or advice.

Any way it works out, Im still pretty excited to have what appears to be a fairly new axle that has been sitting for the last 5

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

Whats the WMS-WMS dimension on your old dana 60 versus thr AAM?

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

I have the feared gov-lok in my Big Ugly pickup. Never had any problems so far. But then again I don't hammer it offroad, just low and slow.

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

The D60 is 65" and the 14B is 68". I thought about that when I was picking it up. I couldn't remember what the front Dana 44 measured wms to wms but I figured however it worked out, Id live with it. Who knows, maybe 1.5 inches sticking out on either side might just push me over the edge and I do something like narrow it! LOL.
Do you know offhand what the '73 Dana 44 width is?

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

The 3/4 ton dana 44 is roughly 69". I was asking because I had given thought to pulking the 14 bolt out of my burb in favor of a dana 60. The 14 bolt diff is so huge that ground clearance is terrible with anuthing smaller than 35" tires, and I only plan to run metruc 32"s. Downsides were 1/2" wheel studs, narrower track width and of course smaller axle shafts.

You say your axle is from an HD pickup? Could it be an AAM 11.5 even? I'm not real savvy on the visual differences. Either way, nice score!

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

Those measurements are all good news to me. I never noticed the difference between the front and rear, I suspect because of the way the rear fenders somehow masked it.
It is a AAM but it does have the 10.5 ring and the removable pinion support. I think I read somewhere that the 11.5 version does not have the removable support.
I just realized that I think I misunderstood Steve on the differences in pinion length in that the 60 is about 1 1/2" longer than the 14B that I have. Oh well, Ive got a good driveshaft builder not too far away in San Jose.

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

Hey Jason, What gears does the Seahorse have anyway?

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

4.10s now after I swapped in the big hub dana 44 and 14BFF. I drove a distance to get these because the guy said he was sure they were 3.73 gears, but when i got there and pulled the covers they turned out to be 4.10s. Now overdrive is a must.

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

So do you think you'll re gear the axles or run the 4:10's and swap the rear to a 60? I think these days with the availability of OD transmissions, Id run OD on everything I have regardless of the ratio! LOL. Im still really liking the 4500!

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

I have another nv4500 and round pattern np205. So I'll most likely stick with the 4.10s. Plus its powered by a little old 327 so I probably need the gear.

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

Guess its time for an update. Been working 9 pm to 1 pm for the last few weeks so it hasn't left a lot of time to add to this thread. I finally got the Miller working well enough to lay down a couple of passes and get cross members in for the gas tank supports, re weld the gas tank straps, and move the brackets on the 14bff. My buddy Dozer kept me company the whole time. He doesn't seem to mind the air tools and welder. Please don't hate on the welds though. That was flux core. The solid core with gas came out a little better for the little machine.

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

Finally made it to Twainharte a few hours ago for a little R&R. Had a few already so if this gets askew, don't hesitate to get me back in line. LOL. After much debating (with myself), I finally got the nerve to drill the mounts for the spring hangers. I was in a little bit of a hurry BC I was trying to get it done before I went back to work. I may not have too many pics.
One cool thing that I was able to do was to adjust the TC. It was a few degrees off center. I was able to weld in an adjusting nut so that I could adjust it to where it was centered and keep it there. Hopefully the weird vibration that has been bugging me will go away!

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

I got the spring pads, bump stops and shock hangers cut off of the 14b and got it into place. Lots of measuring later, I was ready to set the new pads and the reworked shock mounts. I did have to get new 5/8" u bolts and plates for the tops of the springs. The plates are crazy thick (3/8") and are really well built.

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

I used the front hole on the spring pad and the top plate in order to move the axle back 1".

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

In moving the axle backwards, I had to lengthen the driveshaft. Had a complete new one built with 4510's ? Really big joints compared to what I used to have.

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

A little bling

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

And here is how I left it today. BTW, it stops better than any car that we have now!

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

That stance looks great. Did the 52" springs lift the front at all, or is it close to stock?

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

The front ended up almost 1/4" higher which is really nothing. The rears on the other hand lifted the truck 2 or so inches compared to the stock springs. I'm really hoping that the weight of the be will bring it back down

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

Do you still have enough clearance between your front driveshaft and the bellhousing where the clutch slave sits? I'm assuming the 52s are much more flexible than the stock front springs.

Do you have the bed back on and fuel in the tank? I'm curious what your measurements are from the ground to the wheel well lip at the centerline of the front and rear axles.

Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
 

I still have the front driveshaft out since I put in the 205. The 205's output is higher than the 221 so the DS actually almost hits the trans cross member. I'm looking for a new one or may even modify the one in it to fit.
As far as the bed, I still need to run the fuel line and connect the e brake cables first before I drop the bed onto it. Hoping by the end of this week.