Drag Link Angle-Level vs Spring

[dieseldude4bt]

Paralle with the springs not the ground, It moves with the springs not the ground. You are trying to keep the angle the same as the spring moves through it's arc.

[dieseldude4bt]

Originally Posted by dieseldude4bt

Paralle with the springs not the ground, It moves with the springs not the ground. You are trying to keep the angle the same as the spring moves through it's arc.

Let me explain my statement.
I don't install 4" and higher lifts, OP was asking about using latter axle on stock reached springs. I installed an '84 dana 60 under my '63 on the original springs
and wanted the drag link to be parallel to the springs so that as the slightly positive arched springs flattened and grew the drag link would also get longer in it's ark keeping changes to a minimum.
I have done the same thing on my '42 Dodge carryall with '93 springs and steering box it works for me.

[aotte1]

Measured my drag link angle, it is 11 degrees unloaded ( no body or engine,trans, etc.) . A few photos below. Again this is a '64 K10 with stock springs rearched, maybe 1 to 1 1/2". Have know idea how close to stock these 50 year old spring are now. From looking at the front spring rear shackle angle, trk may be raised some now, when built may be back to stock. The Dana 44 axle and power steering is all out of a '79 K10. Used Captain Fabs PS bracket. This application of the '64 frame/springs, along with the '79 axle/steering components, makes the drag link have more angle, because the '64 springs have more arch then stock '79s . The 60-66 K trucks sit higher then the 67-72 K trucks stock. Also, the location of the steering box in a '79, relative to a '64, may be different, making the drag link angle different too?

Thanks for all the comments, real world experience helps greatly, and agree, fully built trk drag link angle is how it will drive. Special K thanks for your photo, especially helpful. Do you have a similar photo of a stock '79ish K10?

May do a test as is, compressing each spring to represent suspension deflection and see how it effect steer ability. Will use one or two big tie down straps around spring and frame, to compress the suspension.

NOTE: Other trks built with Dana 44 have different steering arms and their lift or drop is different. Have one that is flat-ish, not lower as GMs are. Will try to find and post photo again. Photo is posted in different thread. Suggestion that it may be a 3/4 ton Ford Dana 44 from the mid 70s?? or International from other members here. Just a different option, if you need less steering arm change, then the 6" one provide.