Diy 4x

[CG]

I was looking at their B52 kit and saw it came with 6 inch shackles. But there isn't anything I could find that gave the actual final lift specs. So I'm curious if anyone here has used this kit and what was the lift.

I can always email them, but sometimes getting an answer from someone that has actually used the kit IRL is best.

[74CustomK20]

I had it on my 77 1 ton I've been working on. It was an actual 4" with 6" shackles but I never drove in it.

[CG]

Four inch isn't a lift size I ever wanted but my 68 GMC had one on it when I got it and I have gotten used to it. I know I like the ride better on the longer springs. Those were on my 73 K20.

[BLAZERMAN]

I think anywhere from 4" to around 8" should be achievable using stock springs. There is such a wide variation of the 52" spring from different years and models it just comes down to knowing which spring you need to get the 4" lift you want. I've thought about using them myself but would like to hear from others who have used them on the 67-72 trucks to get their impression of them.
And from the looks of the front hangers I doubt you'll be able to mount tow hooks?

[b454rat]

The kit itself doesn't give you any lift. All it is is a mounting point for the springs. Since 52s are longer than 48s (or whatever yours is), the mounting points are moved. Lift is whatever springs you use, but as mentioned is gonna be different with all the different springs out there. Generally it's 4"....

['63GENIII]

Ive got the B52 kit on the '63. It may not be apples to apples but here is all of the info as best as my memory will allow. You're results may vary. LOL

I used the B52 kit with the 6" shackles , front core support bushings from a '72, springs from a '73 K10 (5 leaves I think) and poly bushings that came with the springs. I measured before and after and appeared to raise the front of the truck by approximately 1/2 to 3/4" from the stock location. The springs have very little positive arch but are not flat or inverted by any means. I did use the multiple bolt holes to adjust the axle 1" forward from stock so that the wheel was better centered in the fender well.

As far as how the ride is now compared to before with the 45" springs? There is no comparing. My old set had an add a leaf which while giving a little lift, made the ride unbelievably stiff. My barometer is that my wife will now ride in it and has even asked to drive it a few times since the swap. I really like the new set up although I would STRONGLY recommend a front sway bar if you do not already have one. Pucker factor of 12 without the bar!

If you run poly bushings in your springs I would also recommend the greaseable bolts as mine squeak like crazy unless its raining. Drives me crazy.

The tow hooks will work if you trim off the little gusset in the front and re drill the hanger for the hooks. In retrospect, I would have had DIY4x4 send me the hangers without holes so that I could have drilled my own where necessary.

Their hardware is second to none and IIRC, the brackets were at least double the thickness of the stock hangers if not thicker.

['63GENIII]

If you would like, I could take some pics and measurements since I have the sheetmetal off of the front end as we speak. Let me know.
Chris

[74CustomK20]

Oh crap I just realized you were asking about the front...

[jeffahart]

Originally Posted by '63GENIII

I really like the new set up although I would STRONGLY recommend a front sway bar if you do not already have one. Pucker factor of 12 without the bar!

I would sure like to see pics if you have some. Did it developed a bad attitude after the installation, or were you having issues already.

I can say when I originally had 4" lift HD springs in my front it handled great and was really planted to the road. Now I have the Skyjacker Soft Rides and it's kinda mushy for my liking, front end bobs, but it still stays where I put it and tracks nice. I had considered this kit myself awhile back. I was thinking about this because I am contemplating going back to HD front springs.

How's that gear vendor... I'm getting one after I rebuild the 465 and 205! I recently chickened out of buying a used on ebay!

Aside from that hijack I am also interested in finding out about the DIY B-52

['63GENIII]

Originally Posted by jeffahart

I would sure like to see pics if you have some. Did it developed a bad attitude after the installation, or were you having issues already.

I can say when I originally had 4" lift HD springs in my front it handled great and was really planted to the road. Now I have the Skyjacker Soft Rides and it's kinda mushy for my liking, front end bobs, but it still stays where I put it and tracks nice. I had considered this kit myself awhile back. I was thinking about this because I am contemplating going back to HD front springs.

Aside from that hijack I am also interested in finding out about the DIY B-52

The new springs allow for a ton more travel whereas the old springs didn't move at all with a 396, hydraulic winch and a winch bumper up front. The body roll with the new springs was a little too much to get used to. The sway bar from a mid 70s K series got it back under control. Ill try to post a link to my Spring Swap thread.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=670974

Sorry for the hijack CG.

[CG]

Interesting. So I could possibly get away with only having a 2.5 inch lift depending on what springs I use. Ill have to email the guy and see what he recommends.

Im not going to do anything with my truck yet. Just determining which truck I want to keep, and some of that depends on how much I need to spend on each to get it to where I want.

Would love to see pics of the one that doesn't have the front sheet metal on.

[downeyballz]

Diy4x stuff is top notch. The spring arch and shackle length will determine the lift. I don't see any reason they you couldn't use a shorter (4") shackle is you wanted to get a lower ride height. give them a call, there very helpful over the phone.

I have the DIY4X rear shackle flip with 63" springs and love it. very well built. I plan on doing the b52 kit over the winter

[obijuan]

Shorter shackles may hit the frame.

['63GENIII]

Originally Posted by CG

I was looking at their B52 kit and saw it came with 6 inch shackles. But there isn't anything I could find that gave the actual final lift specs. So I'm curious if anyone here has used this kit and what was the lift.

I can always email them, but sometimes getting an answer from someone that has actually used the kit IRL is best.

I'll get some pics up in the next day or so.

['63GENIII]

Originally Posted by obijuan

Shorter shackles may hit the frame.

I would agree. I only have approximately 2.5" between the frame and spring eye. If I had to guess, my shackle angle would be 5 deg to the rear from center. Not a whole lot I don't think.

['63GENIII]

Originally Posted by CG

Interesting. So I could possibly get away with only having a 2.5 inch lift depending on what springs I use. Ill have to email the guy and see what he recommends.

Im not going to do anything with my truck yet. Just determining which truck I want to keep, and some of that depends on how much I need to spend on each to get it to where I want.

Would love to see pics of the one that doesn't have the front sheet metal on.

Here you go CG. Not really the best pics but you get the idea. If you need more detail, let me know.

I would agree with downey as well. My front end is all DIY while the rear 63" spring swap is 1/2 DIY and 1/2 ORD. While the ORD stuff is pretty bulletproof, the DIY stuff looks as if it should be on a bomb shelter. Each of the front leaf hangers weighs around 10 -12 lbs. Nice stuff with good hardware.

['63GENIII]

Just looked at the pictures again and my frame looks like Swiss Cheese! I removed the brackets for frame paint. All but 3 or 4 holes there end up with bolts through them LOL!

Heres one last pic of the 6" shackle..

[downeyballz]

looks good. I bet a 4" shackle would clear fine as the factory shackles are pretty short. But a longer shackle in the back is better for your caster angle anyway.

63genIII - off topic; did you experience more wheel hop/ axle wrap after putting the 63" springs out back?
I added soft 63" springs & 4.56 gears w/ posi. this combination created a wheel hop problem.

['63GENIII]

Originally Posted by downeyballz

looks good. I bet a 4" shackle would clear fine as the factory shackles are pretty short. But a longer shackle in the back is better for your caster angle anyway.

63genIII - off topic; did you experience more wheel hop/ axle wrap after putting the 63" springs out back?
I added soft 63" springs & 4.56 gears w/ posi. this combination created a wheel hop problem.

I'm sure the shorter shackles could be made to work with careful attention to the final resting ange of the shackle itself. My factory ones looked like they could touch. IIRC they never did.

Wheel hop or axle wrap hasnt been a problem at all. I still have the factory overload in place, no lift block, 4:11s and a 5spd. Not that it's a common occurrence by any means but the 35s can be hazed with no noticeable hop.

[CG]

Finally actually getting around to decided my spring issue. I "joined" DIY4X so I could get an email response, nothing yet. And havent gotten through to a person yet via phone. I watched his vids and one Q and A vid he has for the B52 kit says, no the kit itself does not cause a lift, its the springs. Next line he says so if you are using a stock spring you will get 4 to 5 inches of lift ... LOL, Im confused. Id love to have about a 2 to 3 inch lift all around with the longer springs for more comfortable ride, but I think its time to start shopping for the best deal on stock style springs with the exact lift I want.

I have the stock rear spring for my truck. Probably cheaper to just install those with some blocks and get a 2.5 inch lift springs for the front. My 4x4's wont see any crazy off road stuff. I think his stuff is more suited to the real off road crowd anyway.

Thanks for all the input on the B52 stuff

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS2YLzBpy94

[b454rat]

He says no lift if using STOCK front springs, but 4-5" if using STOCK rear 52s.

[Brad54]

Originally Posted by '63GENIII

If you would like, I could take some pics and measurements since I have the sheetmetal off of the front end as we speak. Let me know.
Chris

I think I can speak for a lot of us now, and a lot more in the future who are looking at this site, when I say "YES! WE WOULD LIKE!!"



-Brad

[Brad54]

Originally Posted by '63GENIII

Just looked at the pictures again and my frame looks like Swiss Cheese! I removed the brackets for frame paint. All but 3 or 4 holes there end up with bolts through them LOL!

Heres one last pic of the 6" shackle..

The video linked in another post, says that you can leave the rear shackle mount in the stock location with 6-inch shackles and 52-inch springs.

Yours is moved rearward.

Can you elaborate on that at all?

-Brad

[b454rat]

60-66 4wd trucks have really short front springs, like 45-46" or something like that. So with the 52s up front, using the stock hole for the shackle would put too much angle on the shackle, so had to move it rearward.

[sweetk30]

Originally Posted by CG

Finally actually getting around to decided my spring issue. I "joined" DIY4X so I could get an email response, nothing yet. And havent gotten through to a person yet via phone. I watched his vids and one Q and A vid he has for the B52 kit says, no the kit itself does not cause a lift, its the springs. Next line he says so if you are using a stock spring you will get 4 to 5 inches of lift ... LOL, Im confused. Id love to have about a 2 to 3 inch lift all around with the longer springs for more comfortable ride, but I think its time to start shopping for the best deal on stock style springs with the exact lift I want.

I have the stock rear spring for my truck. Probably cheaper to just install those with some blocks and get a 2.5 inch lift springs for the front. My 4x4's wont see any crazy off road stuff. I think his stuff is more suited to the real off road crowd anyway.

Thanks for all the input on the B52 stuff

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS2YLzBpy94

kirt might be at blazer bash this weekend . . . he is over on ck5.com as a vendor and replys there a lot .

i have been a customer and 100% happy with his stuff and custom made to my spec stuff .