Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15

[BigRed76]

Yeah I would probably go with some 3/4 ton 63" springs to keep the load carrying capacity. Did the 63" springs interfere with your bumper brackets at all?
And I'm in South Loveland up on HP hill, and it is indeed a nice place.

[dieseldude4bt]

Did you get your drive shaft vibration issue fixed?

['63GENIII]

Originally Posted by dieseldude4bt

Did you get your drive shaft vibration issue fixed?

For the most part yes. When I installed the TC, I must have been in a hurry because it was way off. I've got it corrected as best I can right now. Occasionally it will have a slight vibration when Im lugging 4th but other than that, its been great. I almost think that the divorced T cases need some sort of brace to keep it a little more rigid. Thats another project for another day. The DS vibration almost drove me insane. Just had to keep on messing with it.

[Dsuper5]

Hi 63genIII

Could you please let me know the parts number for the REAR Shackles and hangers ? I am trying to say all the parts which attach the REAR springs to the frame. Read trough your tread several times and could not positively identify them.

Just removed all the rear suspension parts on my 64 4x4 suburban and the Hangers i have wont do it.

Thank You
Eddy

['63GENIII]

Originally Posted by Dsuper5

Hi 63genIII

Could you please let me know the parts number for the REAR Shackles and hangers ? I am trying to say all the parts which attach the REAR springs to the frame. Read trough your tread several times and could not positively identify them.

Just removed all the rear suspension parts on my 64 4x4 suburban and the Hangers i have wont do it.

Thank You
Eddy

Will do Eddy. I think I just found the receipts for them the other day while cleaning the garage. Ill take a look in a few.

['63GENIII]

Ok Eddy, I found the receipts. For the front hanger of the rear springs, I used an ORD GU28010 - 1 which is listed as a "shackle flip kit for 67-72 GM

For the rear of rear hangers, I used DIY 4x4 item #00590ka "first gen shackle flip and switch w/ 4.5" shackles."

I used the ORD up front and had to flip the spring front eye to the rear since the bigger eye on the front of the spring created a clearance issue with the hanger (which really wasn't sized to anchor the front of the spring anyway).

That said, I didn't know that the differences in frame widths that occurred throughout the years were compensated for by moving the hangers inward or outward so that the spring perches on the axles remained somewhat the same. I wasn't aware of this possible problem because the 2005 14BFF needed new spring perches anyway. Im guessing that you are trying to re use your existing spring perches so I would recommend taking some measurements. If you need measurements off of mine, I can get them tomorrow.

[Dsuper5]

Top new springs bottom old ones.

[Dsuper5]

Cool i found them, Thx a lot will make it easier i hope. Updates will be posted as available.

[jwalt2gfd]

I was wondering what year of truck did you get the 63" springs from? I am just getting ready to start my 64 k10 build and I am looking at doing the same spring swap you just did. Great work and pics.

['63GENIII]

Originally Posted by jwalt2gfd

I was wondering what year of truck did you get the 63" springs from? I am just getting ready to start my 64 k10 build and I am looking at doing the same spring swap you just did. Great work and pics.

Pretty sure that they came off of an '07 Silverado 1500.

[BigRed76]

Originally Posted by jwalt2gfd

I was wondering what year of truck did you get the 63" springs from? I am just getting ready to start my 64 k10 build and I am looking at doing the same spring swap you just did. Great work and pics.

I'm sure there are many variations, but GM started using the 63" springs in 88 on the GMT400 trucks.

[jwalt2gfd]

One more question, what year truck had the 52" springs, are these rear springs or did chevy have a 52" front spring. If they are rears what spring rate did you go with. Thanks for the help.

['63GENIII]

Originally Posted by jwalt2gfd

One more question, what year truck had the 52" springs, are these rear springs or did chevy have a 52" front spring. If they are rears what spring rate did you go with. Thanks for the help.

Not sure of the rate. They came off of a '73 K10. Never saw the truck. Thats just what the guy said. They were used and the guy powder coated them. Unfortunately, The 2nd smallest leaf has a crack in it which i suspect was there before PC. I will probably look into a set of stock replacement as I can feel the difference from left to right when Im driving. Drivers side is a little softer. Either that or I really did gain 30 lbs over Christmas! LOL

[1972RedNeck]

Subscribed for future reference...

[jwalt2gfd]

1972redneck, what does that mean?

[jwalt2gfd]

Hey 63genIII, is this a short or long bed truck?

['63GENIII]

Originally Posted by jwalt2gfd

Hey 63genIII, is this a short or long bed truck?

Its a long step

[Dsuper5]

Hey Chris
So after driving your truck with the new setup how is the "sway" if any? I am at the point to decide 3/4 ton or 1/2 spring, doing this swap on a 4x4 Suburban witch is heavier to begin with but also has a higher center of gravity, I am running a sway bar in the front with quick dis-connects if needed on the trail.
You also mentioned limiting straps for droop, any results yet? Thanks for your write up !
Eddy

['63GENIII]

Hey Eddy, I really like the ride of the 52"- 63" combo. Its probably the closest thing that I can get to a "new truck" ride without having to buy a new truck. As far as the body roll, before the installation of the front sway bar, pucker factor was at 11 all the time. Kinda creepy to say the least. With the addition of the '74 sway bar, it is much more predictable although Id still like one for the rear as well for the street driving that I do 90% of the time. Ive never ramped this thing but with as much droop as I saw when I was building it, and knowing that the travel of my shocks is limited, I would get strapped if I ever thought about wheeling it harder than an occasional fire trail or the like.
Unfortunately, last Thursday a compression test revealed 0 (yes zero) lbs on cylinders 3 and 4 on the 396. You'll probably see an "L29 Fuel Injected 454 Transplant" thread from me before any more tune ups or tweaks to the spring swap.

[BigRed76]

Originally Posted by '63GENIII

Hey Eddy, I really like the ride of the 52"- 63" combo. Its probably the closest thing that I can get to a "new truck" ride without having to buy a new truck. As far as the body roll, before the installation of the front sway bar, pucker factor was at 11 all the time. Kinda creepy to say the least. With the addition of the '74 sway bar, it is much more predictable although Id still like one for the rear as well for the street driving that I do 90% of the time. Ive never ramped this thing but with as much droop as I saw when I was building it, and knowing that the travel of my shocks is limited, I would get strapped if I ever thought about wheeling it harder than an occasional fire trail or the like.
Unfortunately, last Thursday a compression test revealed 0 (yes zero) lbs on cylinders 3 and 4 on the 396. You'll probably see an "L29 Fuel Injected 454 Transplant" thread from me before any more tune ups or tweaks to the spring swap.

That's unfortunate to hear about your compression issues, but who can say no to a fuel injected 454?!

['63GENIII]

Originally Posted by BigRed76

That's unfortunate to hear about your compression issues, but who can say no to a fuel injected 454?!

No doubt Zach. As I look into the L29 more closely, I realize Im going to have to really watch myself and try no to get carried away. I just need to freshen up the one I have... and get a better cam... and springs for the cam... wait, Brodix makes good heads for this thing? Oh crap its starting all over again!

[BigRed76]

Originally Posted by '63GENIII

No doubt Zach. As I look into the L29 more closely, I realize Im going to have to really watch myself and try no to get carried away. I just need to freshen up the one I have... and get a better cam... and springs for the cam... wait, Brodix makes good heads for this thing? Oh crap its starting all over again!

Very true. Don't let an engine swap turn into a frame off resto they are much more fun when you can actually drive them.

[Dsuper5]

Hey Chris, thanks for the feed back!
So far with the front 3/4 ton 83 Suburban gear (2.5 Skyjacker soft ride) I am really happy no ROLL at all, rear we will see, i will try the 3/4 tons first, see how that will work. My wheel base is 115inch. yours is (correct me if i am wrong) 127inch. that might be a factor for ride comfort as well.
My Burb should be good for Moab UT and the like when done, but are we ever done with them.....?
Bummer for the 396, but then again:
A L29 454 sounds like a ton of fun!

[Brad54]

Well, this just made my impending '62 K-10 project a lot more involved!!

Being a '62 with the different frame width than the '63-up trucks, I'm wondering if there is a reason I can't just move the original spring hangers to accommodate the longer springs?

(Mine will be fairly light-duty, with Dana 44s front and rear. I'll keep 'em until I break one, then will upgrade to a Dana 60 I guess. Same with the stock transfer case.)

-Brad

[Dsuper5]

a little feed back from my spring swap! Thanks again for your help.