updated pics, remove how many leafs

[staggerd86c-10]

well guys i finally mounted the 245/40/20s in the front like i said and i cut a coil off the front springs, now tomorrow comes the task of taking out a little bit of the rake i have in the rear of the truck. I have/had the heavyduty leaf springs in the back, but after removing a couple i still have 5 leafs if i take out 2 more on each side would it look right? i want it to sit about the same in the rear as the front.

[1LoC10]

I think it sits nice... slap some 295/40's out back and call it good

[staggerd86c-10]

in person the rake looks crazy, i plan on putting some 315/35/20s in the rear the wheels i have right now are 11.5 look how it stretches the 275/40s

[staggerd86c-10]

Anymore suggestions? I plan on doing this tomorrow afternoon at the shop and I would really like you guys' opinion on this.

[Pyrotechnic]

The question isn't how many, but which ones. Some of the leafs have more spring rate than others. For example there was a small spring on the bottom (not the overload) that seemed to contribute to the spring rate more than some of the longer ones on top.

Unfortunately I can't tell you which ones. My best advice is to take the spring apart and take a look at how much arch and spring rate each leaf has then make the decision on what to remove.

Though I can tell you that if you take the 4 lower leafs out and leave the 4 upper, you will have no spring rate at all and the rear will be very bouncy. I had to do it a second time and add some back in.

[CLASSIC87']

IMO there is really no way to tell untill you take it a part, remove, reinstall... and repeat if necessary. If I remember correctly I did mine at least 3 times in a day to get it "right". Good luck buddy... it'll be worth it!

Anthony

[D.FENS]

Originally Posted by CLASSIC87'

IMO there is really no way to tell untill you take it a part, remove, reinstall... and repeat if necessary. If I remember correctly I did mine at least 3 times in a day to get it "right". Good luck buddy... it'll be worth it!

Anthony

This.

It sucks to get told "yeah, you're gonna have to do this about five or six times" but try taking out one leaf, see how it looks and go from there.

I had to take the front end of my red '86 apart about three or four times to get it sitting right. The spindles looked like they'd been through a war.

[knightowl73]

trial and eror. sucks but it works. i think t took me about 4 months to get the suspension sittin right AND handlng good on my blazer in hgh school. ii was under it every weekend

[BGRAFX]

Nice looking truck!

[staggerd86c-10]

thanks guys, you are definately right having to hear the the only way to get it right is doing it over and over again but i guess im just going to remove one at a time till it sits the way i want it to.

[knightowl73]

yeah because i dont think theres really a rule for it, like "for every leaf removed you gain 1 inch of drop."

has anyone actually found somethng out like that? i think it all depends on the spring's temper, im sure they loose some of it over time

[staggerd86c-10]

so is it safe to say that i should remove 2 leafs and go from there? it has about 2-3 inches difference from the front and back

[Crush]

what wheels are you running and what the specs for backspacing? Those look damn near perfect for a 20" setup...

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

Yea don't think it looks too bad but defiantly got some rake. I have heard of people having to do the trial and error over and over again to get it perfect. Best of luck with it.

[knightowl73]

yeah i was thinking, id try to take out 2 frst and see where your at. i would think f it wasnt enough just take out a third, but i wouldnt ride any less than 2 leafs. think you said you had 5 left.and if you are plannng on running wider tires in the back id get them first or at least check the secton width of the new tire and try to get an idea how much clearance youll be runnin with the new tires. just a thought.

[staggerd86c-10]

crush the wheels are 20x8.5 in the front and 20x11.5 in the rear im not sure on the specs of the wheels though. the tires are 245/40/20 in the front and 275/40/20 in the rear. they are gfg trento-5 3 piece wheels.
Im going to take the plunge tomorrow and remove the 2 bottom leafs in the pack i think that will be enough, at least i hope. I have belltech shocks all the way around but i wonder if they are too stiff.

[knightowl73]

im sure the shocks will do fine, what are you running for bumpstops front and rear? was thinkin the foam belltech ones for my truck, just curious.

and just a thought.... might get your rake back if you go to a fatter tire in the rear. almost definate it would be taller, might not be very much, but might be enough.

i think the two leafs will be about right, and no matter what, with a fatter tire on those wheels, even a bit more rake wont matter. you will defnately be pullin off that streetrod-pro-touring look seems you are going for. very nice truck by the way.

[staggerd86c-10]

thank you very much, yeah thats kind of the look i am going for on this truck, you hit it right on the head. I plan on putting a 315/35/20 in the rear and the overall size is about the same as the 275/40/20 so im just trying to get the tire tucked a bit in the back.

[slugish]

For me the truck sits perfectly < but Im old school older member & grew up in bootleg runner country where it was very cool to have a raked car or truck . If I wanted it level , Iwould put in a 2 in. hanger & roll on without sacrificing your spring rate --Good Luck

[staggerd86c-10]

it already has shakles and hangers in the rear with 3 leafs out. i plan on taking out 2 more leafs tomorrow so i can even it out a little bit more.

[knightowl73]

cant wait to see what t does. how much longer befroe we will get to see the new rear tires tho?

[staggerd86c-10]

as soon as i get the money, but i have to do a few more things before. i still have to buy a new carb and finish up my interior.

[staggerd86c-10]

well like i said i just did it and took out 2 leafs like you guys suggested and i just want to say im really glad that you guys helped me out with this. i think it looks great now and it doesnt ride as bad as other were warning me about. enough chit chat here are the pics...

[CLASSIC87']

YOU DID GOOD SIR!!! Another one nailed the stance... kudo's to you!!

[staggerd86c-10]

Thank you very much, coming from you it means alot your truck has inspired the stance of my truck since day one. Thanks again.