Leaf spring question

[SuperHerk]

I recently purchased a 71 GMC with a leaf sprung rear axle. The previous owner decided to warp them with a torch trying to lower it, so i need to get some new ones (obviously). My question is, do any other years of gm trucks have the same leaf springs? Im considering doing a coil spring swap at some point, so i dont really want to drop 400-450 on a set of new ones.

[bw4sale]

I don't get it. So, they lowered it by heating the springs and then put a 3 or 4 inch block in there to raise it back up?

[SuperHerk]

Originally Posted by bw4sale

I don't get it. So, they lowered it by heating the springs and then put a 3 or 4 inch block in there to raise it back up?

Haha yeah I know. I guess he didn't like it like it so low the axle was riding the frame.
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[SuperHerk]

C'mon! Somebody has got to know.

[KQQL IT]

Measure spring eye to eye. If its 52". A leaf out of a 73-87 light duty 1/2 ton will fit.
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[SuperHerk]

Originally Posted by KQQL IT

Measure spring eye to eye. If its 52". A leaf out of a 73-87 light duty 1/2 ton will fit.
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thanks man

[bw4sale]

BTW - I converted a frame from leaf to coils once. It was pretty easy.

[SuperHerk]

Originally Posted by bw4sale

BTW - I converted a frame from leaf to coils once. It was pretty easy.

I've heard that. Almost completely bolt in (after you drill the wholes obviously...), right? I just haven't seen the brackets and all that for sale anywhere. Definitely interested in it though, if you got a line on a set up.

[bw4sale]

The best thing to do would be to find a donor frame. The things you'll need off of it are:

1) Trailing arms
2) Trailing arm brackets (the crossmembers are the same and the holes are already there, just have to drill out the 6 rivets that hold each one on, fun, fun. I bolted them to the new crossmember with grade 8 bolts)
3) Crossmember that sits over the rear axle with - This is mainly for shock mounts and support. The cups and such for the springs, too. I actually didn't do this because I was putting in a C-notch and bags. So, I had a bar fabbed up across there to mount my shocks to and left the one that sits further forward in there.
4) The springs of course
5) Either a trailing arm rear axle or weld the perches onto your axle

That's all I can think of. May have left something off.

I did this swap because t/a frame had significant rust in the kick up in the back, and I had an extra short leaf frame from a parts truck I had bought. Here's some pics of mine.

T/A frame rust



Leaf frame



with c notch and fabbed shock bar-crossmember is also notched to clear drive shaft


t/a brackets bolted on


That may have been more than you wanted to know. If you have anymore questions about the swap just let me know. Oh, I've also got an extra crossmember with the t/a brackets still on it just sitting in my garage. I've been meaning to post it up for sale if you're interested. But like I said, the easiest and cheapest ways would be to find a donor truck.

[SuperHerk]

Definitely not too much info! I'm currently just trying to get this thing road worthy as my daily, but i think that t/a suspension is in it's future. I'll keep my eye out for something locally (because i'm sure shipping would be ridiculous). I had seen a couple threads on the swap but nothing with it all broken down, so i appreciate that.

[SuperHerk]

oh, and do you mean the crossmember with the upper coil buckets/ shock mounts? if so i might be interested depending on price/shipping. Never to early to collect parts i guess.