4wd vs 2wd spring mounts - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

sailed2japan · 04-05-2009, 01:39 AM

Alright, I'm lifting my 2wd C20 and I have a set of 3" lift springs for the front and 3" blocks for the rear, but i don't want blocks. I'd like to lift it up and maintain what little ride quality it has. So my question is: if Iswap in some 4x4 spring hangers, how much lift could I see from them?

b454rat · 04-05-2009, 09:53 AM

Just by swapping the spring hangers front and rear, that should give you 3-4"....I'm doing the same to my truck, making it 4wd rather than lifting it. I'm using 63" springs, so if I have to move hangers around, might as well get the taller ones, cause I don't want to run blocks either.

sailed2japan · 04-05-2009, 11:23 AM

Cool, That's what I was hoping to hear. Now the question is how big of tires I can fit under it. I have a line on a good deal on some 315/75r16's which are about 35" tall and 12.5" wide. Do you think they will fit?

Mike_D · 04-05-2009, 03:44 PM

I've got a couple of suggestions for you before you lift your truck. I just lifted my 78 c20, I used a 2" lift coil and a ball joint spacer.

1. 3" lift coil will physically fit but you'll run into alignment issues. I suggest that if your set on a 3" coil you will need to fab an upper arm or buy one.

2. I would sugest a 1.5" spring and a balljoint spacer. This combo will allow you to run a 33" tire. Allow though if you are set on running a 35" tire, then you will need to trim a lot off the rear front fenders. The other option is to run a set on fiberglass fenders. I used to run a 1.5" coil/balljoint spacer on a 78 blazer, fiberglass fenders and a 1" wheel spacer. Combo looked very cool.

Mike_D · 04-05-2009, 03:53 PM

1" wheel spacer was only used because I had the upper arm tabbed for dual shocks and the wheel hit the tabs at full lock.

b454rat · 04-05-2009, 06:05 PM

Could probly fit 40s in the rear with no issues. The front, 35s might be pushing it....

sailed2japan · 04-05-2009, 09:55 PM

I've already got the lift kit. It just so happened to be on the parts suburban I bought. It had 3 " blocks in the rear, so I am assuming that the front coils are 3". Now, I've never heard of using a ball joint spacer how does this work? does anyone have any pics?

Prerunner1982 · 04-07-2009, 02:14 PM

For the rear you could do a shackle flip and retain the stock springs (or use 1/2 ton springs) for a softer ride, but still gain 2.5" lift. You could do it yourself by cutting up your stock rear spring hanger, replacing the rear spring hanger with a front (front of the rear spring) spring hanger, or.. with one from Off Road Design (http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/shacklekit.htm)

sailed2japan · 04-07-2009, 09:45 PM

Will the fronts mount in the same holes as the rears?

Prerunner1982 · 04-08-2009, 09:38 AM

I want to say they should pretty much just bolt up. If they are off it shouldnt be too much. Should be able to measure the two and compare. Also, if you are going to be doing this and have the 52" leaf springs, might as well get some 56" leaf springs as they will provide a bit softer ride and more travel. The 52" & 56" were options on these trucks. My 82 had the 56"s and my 87 had the 52"s.. The holes are already in the frame so it's just a matter of bolting the mount into the right holes and installing the springs.

sailed2japan · 04-08-2009, 10:28 AM

would the 56's loocate the axle different? I would assume that the center pin would be 2" off fromone to the other.

sailed2japan · 04-08-2009, 10:34 AM

The other question I had is if this will effect my load carrying capacity. Not regularly, but often enough, I out a ton (litteraly) of crap in the back of my truck.

Prerunner1982 · 04-08-2009, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailed2japan

would the 56's loocate the axle different? I would assume that the center pin would be 2" off fromone to the other.

Since they were an option on these trucks they would still position the tires within the fenders.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailed2japan

The other question I had is if this will effect my load carrying capacity. Not regularly, but often enough, I out a ton (litteraly) of crap in the back of my truck.

Are you referring to the shackle flip? or the longer springs? As far as the shackle flip goes, I do not know. I didnt get around to doing a flip on my truck before I had to retire it. There are some guys in the 4x4 section here that do run the shackle flip and should be able to answer this question.

04-05-2009, 01:39 AM	#1
sailed2japan Jonny Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Outside the Box, Austin,TX Posts: 741	4wd vs 2wd spring mounts Alright, I'm lifting my 2wd C20 and I have a set of 3" lift springs for the front and 3" blocks for the rear, but i don't want blocks. I'd like to lift it up and maintain what little ride quality it has. So my question is: if Iswap in some 4x4 spring hangers, how much lift could I see from them? __________________ 1966 C30, Cummins, stacks, and a flat bed in progress... "Honor.....simply put, A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve is someone who, at one time in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including his life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it." -AEC Hundley USNR

04-05-2009, 09:53 AM	#2
b454rat Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Binghamton, NY Posts: 3,454	Re: 4wd vs 2wd spring mounts Just by swapping the spring hangers front and rear, that should give you 3-4"....I'm doing the same to my truck, making it 4wd rather than lifting it. I'm using 63" springs, so if I have to move hangers around, might as well get the taller ones, cause I don't want to run blocks either. __________________ 2000 GMC CCSB 454/4L80 6” lift SAS 1999 Chevy CCSB 454/NV4500 6” lift 1999 GMC Yukon 350/4L60 4" SAS

04-05-2009, 11:23 AM	#3
sailed2japan Jonny Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Outside the Box, Austin,TX Posts: 741	Re: 4wd vs 2wd spring mounts Cool, That's what I was hoping to hear. Now the question is how big of tires I can fit under it. I have a line on a good deal on some 315/75r16's which are about 35" tall and 12.5" wide. Do you think they will fit? __________________ 1966 C30, Cummins, stacks, and a flat bed in progress... "Honor.....simply put, A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve is someone who, at one time in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including his life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it." -AEC Hundley USNR

04-05-2009, 03:44 PM	#4
Mike_D Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Bay, Ca Posts: 36	Re: 4wd vs 2wd spring mounts I've got a couple of suggestions for you before you lift your truck. I just lifted my 78 c20, I used a 2" lift coil and a ball joint spacer. 1. 3" lift coil will physically fit but you'll run into alignment issues. I suggest that if your set on a 3" coil you will need to fab an upper arm or buy one. 2. I would sugest a 1.5" spring and a balljoint spacer. This combo will allow you to run a 33" tire. Allow though if you are set on running a 35" tire, then you will need to trim a lot off the rear front fenders. The other option is to run a set on fiberglass fenders. I used to run a 1.5" coil/balljoint spacer on a 78 blazer, fiberglass fenders and a 1" wheel spacer. Combo looked very cool.

04-05-2009, 03:53 PM	#5
Mike_D Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Bay, Ca Posts: 36	Re: 4wd vs 2wd spring mounts 1" wheel spacer was only used because I had the upper arm tabbed for dual shocks and the wheel hit the tabs at full lock.

04-05-2009, 06:05 PM	#6
b454rat Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Binghamton, NY Posts: 3,454	Re: 4wd vs 2wd spring mounts Could probly fit 40s in the rear with no issues. The front, 35s might be pushing it.... __________________ 2000 GMC CCSB 454/4L80 6” lift SAS 1999 Chevy CCSB 454/NV4500 6” lift 1999 GMC Yukon 350/4L60 4" SAS

04-05-2009, 09:55 PM	#7
sailed2japan Jonny Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Outside the Box, Austin,TX Posts: 741	Re: 4wd vs 2wd spring mounts I've already got the lift kit. It just so happened to be on the parts suburban I bought. It had 3 " blocks in the rear, so I am assuming that the front coils are 3". Now, I've never heard of using a ball joint spacer how does this work? does anyone have any pics? __________________ 1966 C30, Cummins, stacks, and a flat bed in progress... "Honor.....simply put, A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve is someone who, at one time in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including his life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it." -AEC Hundley USNR

04-07-2009, 02:14 PM	#8
Prerunner1982 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 5,906	Re: 4wd vs 2wd spring mounts For the rear you could do a shackle flip and retain the stock springs (or use 1/2 ton springs) for a softer ride, but still gain 2.5" lift. You could do it yourself by cutting up your stock rear spring hanger, replacing the rear spring hanger with a front (front of the rear spring) spring hanger, or.. with one from Off Road Design (http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/shacklekit.htm) __________________ Jon 1982 Chevy Silverado 350/th350.... RETIRED 1993 Jeep XJ 2 door(Cherokee) 4wd 4.0ltr/AX-15 (5spd)/NP231 .... Oklahoma Roll Call

04-07-2009, 09:45 PM	#9
sailed2japan Jonny Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Outside the Box, Austin,TX Posts: 741	Re: 4wd vs 2wd spring mounts Will the fronts mount in the same holes as the rears? __________________ 1966 C30, Cummins, stacks, and a flat bed in progress... "Honor.....simply put, A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve is someone who, at one time in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including his life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it." -AEC Hundley USNR

04-08-2009, 09:38 AM	#10
Prerunner1982 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 5,906	Re: 4wd vs 2wd spring mounts I want to say they should pretty much just bolt up. If they are off it shouldnt be too much. Should be able to measure the two and compare. Also, if you are going to be doing this and have the 52" leaf springs, might as well get some 56" leaf springs as they will provide a bit softer ride and more travel. The 52" & 56" were options on these trucks. My 82 had the 56"s and my 87 had the 52"s.. The holes are already in the frame so it's just a matter of bolting the mount into the right holes and installing the springs. __________________ Jon 1982 Chevy Silverado 350/th350.... RETIRED 1993 Jeep XJ 2 door(Cherokee) 4wd 4.0ltr/AX-15 (5spd)/NP231 .... Oklahoma Roll Call

04-08-2009, 10:28 AM	#11
sailed2japan Jonny Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Outside the Box, Austin,TX Posts: 741	Re: 4wd vs 2wd spring mounts would the 56's loocate the axle different? I would assume that the center pin would be 2" off fromone to the other. __________________ 1966 C30, Cummins, stacks, and a flat bed in progress... "Honor.....simply put, A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve is someone who, at one time in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including his life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it." -AEC Hundley USNR

04-08-2009, 10:34 AM	#12
sailed2japan Jonny Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Outside the Box, Austin,TX Posts: 741	Re: 4wd vs 2wd spring mounts The other question I had is if this will effect my load carrying capacity. Not regularly, but often enough, I out a ton (litteraly) of crap in the back of my truck. __________________ 1966 C30, Cummins, stacks, and a flat bed in progress... "Honor.....simply put, A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve is someone who, at one time in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including his life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it." -AEC Hundley USNR



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