Blocks, Springs, Shackle Flips....Oh My! (Another suspension question.)

[budbeater]

My truck is a 71 K20. I have had it for just over a year and I am starting that whole rebuild thing. Before I dive into sheet metal repair I have to go from a 4" lift to a 6" lift to avoid recutting the fenders. The previous owner cut the fenders and that lead to a total cab rot-out.

I am planning on a 6" Tuff Country Suspension Kit. I am doing this for a couple of reasons 1. They are a local business and I believe in supporting my local economy 2. They seem to have a very recommended product.

My question is: DO I GO ALL SPRING, SPRING/REAR BLOCK, SPRING/SHACKLE FLIP/FLATTER REAR SPRING?

All spring would be (in my opinion) the easiest.

Spring/ Block would be the cheapest.

Spring/Shackle flip would be the most aggressive for off road.

The next question would be "How do you use your truck?"

The truck needs to be an "everything" vehicle. It will NOT be a RockCrawler or even a Hardcore Moab vehicle. My idea of hard 4wheel use will be torn up fire roads, muddy/rutty hunting trails, water crossings, dirt, snow.

I have to use this vehicle to tow a car trailer (race car and trailer weight about 6000lbs). I would like it to be 8000lb capable, but that isn't a deal breaker. I am wondering if the 6" Tuff Country springs will have significant sagg under 3-4 tons of towed load? Or would blocks be better? The towing is not an every week event.

Main use of the truck is daily 6 mile drive to work. I don't mind the 3/4 ton ride, but the bounce gets old some days.

I am not sold on the shackle flip idea, but tell me the positives (does it ride better, does it tow better?)

Thanks for the input

Budbeater

[LONGHAIR]

As far as the towing aspect goes.......The actual tongue weight is really all that matters to the springs. The real limitation to towing capacity is more about braking. Assuming that the load is properly situated on the trailer, the suspension wouldn't notice much difference. With a lifted truck, I would pay particular attention to the hitch and the distribution of weight on the trailer.

Personally I would go with "all spring" the blocks and/or shackles just serve to add leverage against the springs in a towing application.

[bowtier]

I just got my truck finished, '86 lwb 3/4 ton. My buddy & I put 6" tuff country springs in front, and 4" springs with homemade (read HEAVY DUTY) shackle flip, & ORD greaseable bushings. It turned out really good, I'll take pics as soon as I can. The ride is definitly better than it was although still very firm it's not so spine shattering stiff. As for towing, I'm not sure because I haven't hooked to anything yet but when I was in the bed jumping around the back shackles flex to the rear, as the springs get loaded they get longer & the shackles allow them to move freely.

As for recommendations.....well...like I said I haven't towed with it yet but it seems like it'll be fine and I won't be afraid to test it when the time comes. I would not go with the blocks for towing, bad leverage. The safest bet would be the 6" springs I think, but I'll try to get some pics of my shackles so you can see what I mean by heavy duty.

[toroflow]

All springs. Avoid those cheesey shackle flips, as well as blocks, especially if you use it for towing.

[bowtier]

Avoid those cheesey shackle flips

Whatever dude, I sense jelousy.

There is nothing "cheesey" about my shackle flip & I'd bet dollars to donuts my shackles are:

A) Stronger than stock

B) More flexible than stock

C) Better looking than stock

so NANA NANA NANA on yer CHEESEY stock shackles.

[784X4GUY]

Since your going to want a all around driver, I would go with a all spring lift. I have never really cared about blocks even though I had them on all my previous trucks lol. And honestly cant talk about shackles since I have never had those either. But good luck to you....Later...Mike

[JIMs70GMC]

If you do go blocks and experience accelerated u-joint wear, there are several differenet ways to correct from ladder/traction bars to some more elaborate set-ups that use a brace and 1 shackle.

[toroflow]

Yes, I am extremely jealous!! I hate my rear lift springs, and wish I could get rid of them and oakie-up install a rear shackle flip!!

The point is, the dude says he wants to tow up to 8,000 pounds...I don't know how well shackles in a shackle flipped set-up (no matter how thick or strong they are) will hold up to the side loading (sway) that will come with towing that much weight. A stock position shackle is less likely to be affected than a shackle flipped shackle in side loading. Best bet is to go with all spring.

[bowtier]

Best bet is to go with all spring.

And I agree, says so here :

The safest bet would be the 6" springs I think

But my shackle flip is still not cheesey

[ClassicJimmy]

Interesting......I too was thinking along the same lines as Bud. I'm not planning on towing anything substantial with my rig (71 GMC Jimmy). I am however planning on making a daily driver capable of all around off roading. So, same question as Bud, but different rig & purpose. I'm leaning towards 6" of lift, but thought I'd go with the shackle flip & flatter springs for a softer, flexier ride, Wad'ya think? Thanks!

[bowtier]

Wad'ya think? Thanks!

That's what I did, 100% satisfied. As pointed out above the shackle flip may not be the best for heavy towing. But that's not me, I have the same purpose as you daily driver/player, not a real worker, but I am by no means afraid to load her up. Because although it is "softer/flexier" than it was, it's still a brute.

[budbeater]

So, what I am getting here is:

1. No to the blocks
2. Springs are likely the way to go.
3. Shackles could work, but might be questionalbe under heavy tow load.


What about ride hight compression under load? Do the 6" Tuff Country springs dip considerably? I don't want my 3/4 ton truck to look like an overloaded F-150 while towing.

BBB

[bowtier]

Tuff country springs are supposed to be the same capacity as stock for carrying load I think, I found a spot online that showed the spring rates for each application and as the application got heavier the spring rate did too. So based on that you should be good, and if it does sag too much for you it's pretty easy to add-a-leaf for a stiffer spring pack. Although IMHO you'll be good cause those springs are stout & as longhair said the actual tongue weight is not that much if you load the trailer right.

[budbeater]

Thanks bowtier, that sounds good.

Budbeater

[1967k30]

I found a nice riding setup that will flex well and looks like it will ride awsome. 79' Furd f250 rear springs with a shackle flip. I used the front hangers off the rear of the Furd and the spacing was just right.

[budbeater]

Isn't that heresy?

Budbeater

[b454rat]

It doesn't make a difference towing with a shackle flip. The shackle is still gonna see all the weight of the truck and whatever is in the bed or is being towed. Only difference is the position of it. You won't see a difference in side to side either. Not inless you use a 12" long shackle made out of sheet metal. If you are using the stock shackle, it will act and react the same as a regular setup. I have a shackle flip on my 89, though I don't tow with it, it drives no different than any other truck that I drove. Only thing that I notice driving is that I have no sway bars, so going around a corner the truck will lean. I've had it on some pretty steep hills sideways, never had any problems. If you read the description in ORD's site about the flip, it will tell you that there is no difference towing with this. And for the blocks, I'm not really a huge fan either, but when I lift my truck it will be getting some blocks. It's alot cheaper, and I think I will need to move the axle back anyways from the shackle flip, so I can get the offset centerpins. The truck rides good for being a 1 ton, and i don't want to change that. Rear springs are $500 for 63s. Going to make a simple ladder bar so i won't have any axle wrap. Look at the older Fords, they use a factory block for the rear. They have holes in them for the u-bolts to go thru, so no way for them to get spit out.

[drink2mny]

Hey budbeater, I can tell you I had no issues with my shackle flip that was on my '86 blazer. I used the front shackle off of the rear springs from a '74 blazer. Gave me a 4in added to my stock springs with an add a leaf.
I had a total of about 6 1/2" of spring lift.
It put my pinion right on the money. I never had any problems with it. I have jumped it and rock climbed and mudbogged with it. If you go to the blackbird's site and or the fisrt page of the lets see your 4x4 you will see I didn't treat her kind.

I have also towed with them and never had a problem.

If and when I get another lifted truck I will do the same thing. It had a good enough ride for a blazer with one ton running gear.

I'm not sure if all of these will work but here are some past links that talked about this


http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...threadid=81271

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...threadid=81459

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...threadid=75444
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...threadid=77878
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...threadid=83104

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...threadid=75444

You going to go with your own choice, but I loved the shackle flip..

[drink2mny]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...20&postcount=5