52 inch springs

[c20 diesel]

I am converting a 1965 c30 to 4x4 ,
question: I would like to go with 52 inch front springs. ,My understanding is to use the.
4x2 85 c10 rear springs on the front is that correct. how wide would these springs be

looking for stock ride hight no lift.
will the 52 work for me.
looking for softer ride.

[Captainfab]

Member '63GEnIII has 52's and 56's on his '63 4x4 and can answer your questions. If he doesn't chime in here by tomorow, I will send him a PM.

IMO, that is the way to go in converting a C series to a K series.

['63GENIII]

Hey there. Yes I have 52s front and 63s in the rear of my '63. You're looking for stock height as in stock 2x4 or 4x4 height? The 60-66 stock height 4x4s sit a little higher than later years I think. For reference, my stock springs 41" front / 52" rear had enough to clear 35" BFGs without rubbing. The 52" / 63" spring swap raised the truck 1/2 to 3/4 at the most. Heck, I haven't measured it since I did the swap so it may have settled a bit since. To me its the same height as before.

The 52" springs came off of a '73 or '74 K10. They've maintained a slight positive arch since installed and ride much softer than the stock 41" springs with an add a leaf. They are 2.5 wide.

While they do ride much smoother than the original springs, they also allow much more travel in doing so. Street / freeway driving can be a little spooky if the body roll isn't controlled. I adapted a sway bar off of a mid 70s K series and the body roll is normal now. I STRONGLY recommend the front bar. Front bar = good, front and rear = also good - maybe better, rear bar only = not good.

[Brad54]

I'm bumping this one up.
63GenIII: You wrote the stock rear springs are 52" and the new front springs are also 52"... is there a reason we couldn't swap the stock rear springs forward to the front, and then just buy a set of later 63" springs for the rears?

-Brad

['63GENIII]

Hey Brad. I don't see why not. In my case, I still had the grease pins in the rear 52s so I found a set in CL out of a 73 k10. Those springs had poly bushings. I'm not sure that the grease pins would have worked in my case. I've only seen the swap done with rubber or poly bushed springs.