52 inch or 56 inch springs

[jasonda]

I am building a 68 chevy k20 4x4 pickup that I am running 76 axle housings and springs under. I am going to buy a lift kit for it but there is an option for 52 or 56 inch springs. My springs measure 51 1/2 inches with no load on them but I was told that you order your length based on loaded springs. Can anyone clarify how to determine what length springs I might have or what might determine that. Thanks

[turp mcspray]

You will need the short ones. 56" didn't come along untill 73.

['68 Newtricks]

I can't argue that 73 was the first year but I can say I've seen many trucks throughout the 70s & 80s that got 52s. I can say for sure my cousins 85 k20 had 56s and my donor '89 k20 Burb had them. So maybe it's a k10 VS K20 thing, but I've seen 1500 burbs with the longer ones too.

You measure along the arch to get length. I had 52s in my 85 blazer, but replaced them with 56s.

[swamp rat]

The 52" are correct..