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01-07-2009, 12:26 PM | #26 | |
Retired Air Force Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Pembroke Pines, Florida 33024
Posts: 1,808
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Re: Rear suspension leaf to coil swap?
Quote:
I installed 6 inch drop coils (No C-Notch) from GMC Pauls and a Super Track Bar from ECE. As for the leaf spring axle brackets. I originally purchased Axle Saddle Brackets (For the train arms) from ECE for $29 plus shipping but ended up finding a Front/Rear 5 Lug Setup from a 72'. Now I also have front disk brakes. Degree of difficulty? I'm just a DIY guy with average skills and with all of the parts ready to install, like Gringoloco said, It'll take the weekend to complete including cleaning and painting.
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Harry 69' SWB Step Side 1/2 Ton w/68' Front Clip Swap from Leafs to Trailing Arms (Complete) Swap 6 Lug to 5 Lug (w/ Disk Brakes in Front) 3/6 Drop Help Support The Board Click Here For Information On How To Subscribe Krue's FAQ Page Vendors |
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01-10-2009, 02:12 PM | #27 |
The LuvShack Garage
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Maple Grove, TN (West Side)
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Re: Rear suspension leaf to coil swap?
Sorry to hijack, but does it bottom out at all? What size rims? overall diameter? Thanks
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Owner/Op: "TN Classic Transport Carriers" The Toy: "Square Vette" 72 Hybrid Blazer Toy Barn: "LuvShack" 40 x 60 x 20 Shop Tow Piggy:"Maddy" 88 Silverado 3500 Hauler: "Feathers" 14 Aluma 8218T |
01-10-2009, 04:48 PM | #28 | |
yard boy
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Franklin, TN
Posts: 119
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Re: Rear suspension leaf to coil swap?
Quote:
x2!
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1984 Chevy c20 |
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01-10-2009, 04:57 PM | #29 |
resto body guy
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: milford, Nebraska
Posts: 128
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Re: Rear suspension leaf to coil swap?
i guess i don't under stand why switch to coil springs i would love to have leafs!!!
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01-10-2009, 05:35 PM | #30 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
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Re: Rear suspension leaf to coil swap?
Why?
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67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol. |
01-11-2009, 05:27 AM | #31 |
resto body guy
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: milford, Nebraska
Posts: 128
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Re: Rear suspension leaf to coil swap?
leafs you can hold more weight!
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01-11-2009, 09:07 AM | #32 | |
Retired Air Force Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Pembroke Pines, Florida 33024
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Re: Rear suspension leaf to coil swap?
Quote:
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Harry 69' SWB Step Side 1/2 Ton w/68' Front Clip Swap from Leafs to Trailing Arms (Complete) Swap 6 Lug to 5 Lug (w/ Disk Brakes in Front) 3/6 Drop Help Support The Board Click Here For Information On How To Subscribe Krue's FAQ Page Vendors |
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01-11-2009, 02:09 PM | #33 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
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Re: Rear suspension leaf to coil swap?
You mean you can overload leafs more than you can coils. Both are rated to safely carry the same weight capacity.
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67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol. |
01-11-2009, 03:34 PM | #34 |
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Toppenish, WA
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Re: Rear suspension leaf to coil swap?
Horrors You don't really think any of the guys swapping to dropped coils intend to carry anything heavier than a duffel bag and cooler in those trucks.
I have to agree that for serious towing or hauling I would rather have the leaf springs as I feel they are more stable. |
01-11-2009, 05:37 PM | #35 | |
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Location: DALLAS,TX
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Re: Rear suspension leaf to coil swap?
Quote:
I have (had) 2 swb trucks that were both dropped w/their specific suspensions. I could not tell a difference between the 2 as they both handled towing my 18ft car trailer w/o a problem. The 68 still gets the nod for better ride....... no competition.
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67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol. |
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01-11-2009, 10:15 PM | #36 |
70 Chevy 3/4t
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Kokomo,IN USA
Posts: 1,230
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Re: Rear suspension leaf to coil swap?
my question is almost the same. I have a C20 with coils. I would like to change out the eaton rear and drop in a dana rear. The dana is a leaf sprung rear. After I cut off the mounts, how do I know what angle to set it at so I dont bind the driveshaft?
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Find a job you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life. 1998 Yamaha V-Star 650 1970 Chevy 3/4t, I6 (rebuilt), 4 speed Kokomo,IN |
01-11-2009, 10:21 PM | #37 |
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Re: Rear suspension leaf to coil swap?
Measure the pinion angle of the current set-up @ the pinion yoke before swapping the 'new' housing into place. Set-up the new housing @ the same angle.
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67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol. Last edited by SCOTI; 01-11-2009 at 10:22 PM. |
01-12-2009, 03:01 PM | #38 | |
I wish I was a cowboy
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Rohnert Park, CA
Posts: 409
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Re: Rear suspension leaf to coil swap?
Quote:
1) Get it absolutely right. If you're off by more than 3 degrees or so, you'll have an AWFUL howling vibration that will make the truck impossible to drive and will trash your ujoints/driveshaft/center bearing in no time, and possibly screw up your pinion bearing. 2) The absolutely correct way to get the right pinion angle is to make sure the yoke to driveshaft angle is an exact mirror of the trans yoke to driveshaft angle. If you have a 2 piece, like you likely do in your C20, then make the rear end yoke to driveshaft angle exactly mirror the front driveshaft to rear driveshaft angle. So, for example, if the angle between the front and rear shafts of a 2 piece is negative (angles down) 7 degrees, make the rear shaft to pinion yoke angle positive 7 degrees. 3) If at all possible, tack weld in the new coil spring pads onto the rear end housing while you've got it all bolted up at ride height. Make sure everything is exactly as it'll be when you drive it, or as close as you can. Box is on, springs, shocks, panhard are all bolted up. I tried to bolt it all up, mark the correct location for the pads on the rear end housing, and then remove it to weld...after the weld, I was off a degree or 2. I shimmed to correct. 4) Measure again after the pads are welded and the whole thing is bolted back together. If there is any discrepancy, correct it using pinion angle shims (available via CPP). If you're off by more than 6 degrees, shims may not be a good idea because it'll bind the ubolts and put side to side pressure on them, instead of all up and down pressure, which they're designed/sized to handle. Here's a picture of where to measure pinion angle for a 2 piece driveshaft:
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01-12-2009, 03:08 PM | #39 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sylvania, Alabama
Posts: 288
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Re: Rear suspension leaf to coil swap?
Got a question guys. Will a frame that has coils from factory have the holes for the leaf spring brackets?
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72 swb pickup http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/100_0958.jpg 1967 chevelle ss 1966 mustang getting a l33 ls motor 1969 chevy dump truck 1989 mustang 6.0 ls best time of 1.29 at 5.91 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtbooZoGZmQ |
01-13-2009, 05:54 PM | #40 |
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Location: Weatherford, TX
Posts: 225
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Re: Rear suspension leaf to coil swap?
No. My '67 Frame did not have the holes I had to drill them. I used several reference points along the frame (such as the trans crossmember rivets) to measure where the center point of the rear differential should be. I also measured two other leaf spring trucks from the end of the frame to the nearest mounting hole on the rear bracket. In addition, I made sure the rubber bumper stops hit dead center on top of the axle. Mine is not on the road yet, so I can't give you the final verdict, but I think I got it right.
Last edited by truckintexas; 01-13-2009 at 05:55 PM. |
01-17-2009, 08:06 AM | #41 | |
70 Chevy 3/4t
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Kokomo,IN USA
Posts: 1,230
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Re: Rear suspension leaf to coil swap?
Quote:
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Find a job you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life. 1998 Yamaha V-Star 650 1970 Chevy 3/4t, I6 (rebuilt), 4 speed Kokomo,IN |
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01-17-2009, 08:35 AM | #42 |
The LuvShack Garage
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Maple Grove, TN (West Side)
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Re: Rear suspension leaf to coil swap?
__________________
Owner/Op: "TN Classic Transport Carriers" The Toy: "Square Vette" 72 Hybrid Blazer Toy Barn: "LuvShack" 40 x 60 x 20 Shop Tow Piggy:"Maddy" 88 Silverado 3500 Hauler: "Feathers" 14 Aluma 8218T |
01-17-2009, 04:53 PM | #43 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sylvania, Alabama
Posts: 288
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Re: Rear suspension leaf to coil swap?
Got a question guys......will the leaf springs out from under a 73 up truck the same as a 72 leaf spring setup.
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72 swb pickup http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/100_0958.jpg 1967 chevelle ss 1966 mustang getting a l33 ls motor 1969 chevy dump truck 1989 mustang 6.0 ls best time of 1.29 at 5.91 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtbooZoGZmQ |
01-17-2009, 05:39 PM | #44 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
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Re: Rear suspension leaf to coil swap?
I believe the 73 up have wider leafs (2.5" vs. 2.25").
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67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol. |
01-17-2009, 05:57 PM | #45 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sylvania, Alabama
Posts: 288
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Re: Rear suspension leaf to coil swap?
not worried about the width, more of the length of the spring itself
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72 swb pickup http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/100_0958.jpg 1967 chevelle ss 1966 mustang getting a l33 ls motor 1969 chevy dump truck 1989 mustang 6.0 ls best time of 1.29 at 5.91 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtbooZoGZmQ |
01-18-2009, 12:21 PM | #46 |
A guy with a truck
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Germany, for now
Posts: 5,921
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Re: Rear suspension leaf to coil swap?
They will work. My truck was 73-87 stuff before I swapped back to coils...
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02-19-2009, 07:27 PM | #47 |
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Location: co
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Re: Rear suspension leaf to coil swap?
Hey Guys I know this thread is a little old at this point but I just came across it as I am planning on swapping my C-20 with the trailing arms from a C-10 and running air bags in the back. My question is are the frames from a C-10 and C-20 similar enough in the area where the coil springs would mount to the frame match where the trailing arms cross the frame? If that makes sense ? Also when I mount the bags do I need any type of adapters? The bags I have are similar to the Firestone 2600's?
BTW this thread has answered alot of my questions so far. Great info here!! |
02-19-2009, 10:03 PM | #48 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
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Re: Rear suspension leaf to coil swap?
Quote:
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67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol. Last edited by SCOTI; 02-19-2009 at 10:04 PM. |
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