Amount of lift with 1 ton springs? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

thirdstreettito · 09-20-2012, 07:12 AM

If I go from my saggy as hell stock front 1200lb springs to newer 1 ton 1400lb springs how much will it lift the front? I'm guessing about 3"? The reverse arch it has right now is about 2".

New springs:

PS: Will I have any shackle or pinion angle problems?

b454rat · 09-20-2012, 07:15 AM

Really doubt your gonna get 3" out of those. It's only a 200# difference, I don't think you will see an inch. Even the 1 ton springs will have a negative arch, just not as pronounced as the old ones.

thirdstreettito · 09-20-2012, 07:39 AM

Alright, thanks

b454rat · 09-20-2012, 07:53 AM

If you need lift you could get an add a leave, I've seen them give 2 1/2". Or put 52s in it, just need to move the forward spring mount to the next set of holes....but that gives aboot 4" of lift.

**special-K** · 09-20-2012, 08:00 AM

We'd need to know how much your original springs have drooped to know how much more the new springs will give. Are you certain yours are drooped? I agree,the 1t springs will give about an inch over 3/4t. If you're going to end up getting into add-a-leafs you might as well just stay with your original springs.

86454k30 · 09-24-2012, 10:11 PM

I had an 87 V20 with 80K original miles that I thought I would "lift" with a set of K30 3 leaf front springs that had 30K original miles.....yeah... A LOT of work for 1/2" of lift.

SunSoaked · 09-25-2012, 10:14 AM

I just did almost the same thing. I put 1 ton springs off an 87K30 onto my
69 K10. The front springs are 3 inches longer. I kept the D60 centered in the wheelwell and chose to move both front and rear perches 1.5 inches outward. I had to use the 87 front perches because the front "loop" on the new springs would not fit inside the "cup" of the 69 mount. The loop was too large OD. The loop is a safety feature (military wrap) of the newer springs.

There is a snowball effect here. I then had to separate the lower part of the mount from the upper part tp keep the radiator core support in the original position. While I was at it, I fabbed some 2 inch steel blocks that are welded inside the mounts between the frame rails and brackets and reinforced the brackets (hangers) diagonaly. This gave me 2 inches of lift without using aftermarket springs.

I used diy4x HD 6 inch shackles (again 2 inches longer than stock) to maintain the D60s pinion angle (2 in lift on both front/rear mounts). Also if you only lift one mounting point the net effect is half (1 inch). The shackles are super HD 3/8th thick steel with 1/2 inch bolts

Overall it appears I got about 3-4 inches of lift without using aftermarket springs, add a leafs, or blocks.

Lots of work-sort of. But I am able and have the tools. I'm also starting with a bare frame so I dont mind. I enjoy the challenge.

09-20-2012, 07:12 AM	#1
thirdstreettito Resident of Here Join Date: May 2008 Location: Wesley Chapel, FL, USA Posts: 7,716	Amount of lift with 1 ton springs? If I go from my saggy as hell stock front 1200lb springs to newer 1 ton 1400lb springs how much will it lift the front? I'm guessing about 3"? The reverse arch it has right now is about 2". New springs: PS: Will I have any shackle or pinion angle problems? __________________ ~Bradley~ 2004 Black GTO LS2/T56 too much to list Miss having a truck

09-20-2012, 07:15 AM	#2
b454rat Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Binghamton, NY Posts: 3,469	Re: Amount of lift with 1 ton springs? Really doubt your gonna get 3" out of those. It's only a 200# difference, I don't think you will see an inch. Even the 1 ton springs will have a negative arch, just not as pronounced as the old ones. __________________ 2000 GMC CCSB 454/4L80 6” lift SAS 1999 Chevy CCSB 454/NV4500 4” SAS 1999 GMC Yukon 350/4L60 6" SAS

09-20-2012, 07:39 AM	#3
thirdstreettito Resident of Here Join Date: May 2008 Location: Wesley Chapel, FL, USA Posts: 7,716	Re: Amount of lift with 1 ton springs? Alright, thanks __________________ ~Bradley~ 2004 Black GTO LS2/T56 too much to list Miss having a truck

09-20-2012, 07:53 AM	#4
b454rat Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Binghamton, NY Posts: 3,469	Re: Amount of lift with 1 ton springs? If you need lift you could get an add a leave, I've seen them give 2 1/2". Or put 52s in it, just need to move the forward spring mount to the next set of holes....but that gives aboot 4" of lift. __________________ 2000 GMC CCSB 454/4L80 6” lift SAS 1999 Chevy CCSB 454/NV4500 4” SAS 1999 GMC Yukon 350/4L60 6" SAS

09-20-2012, 08:00 AM	#5
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Amount of lift with 1 ton springs? We'd need to know how much your original springs have drooped to know how much more the new springs will give. Are you certain yours are drooped? I agree,the 1t springs will give about an inch over 3/4t. If you're going to end up getting into add-a-leafs you might as well just stay with your original springs. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

09-24-2012, 10:11 PM	#6
86454k30 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Spokane, Washington Posts: 596	Re: Amount of lift with 1 ton springs? I had an 87 V20 with 80K original miles that I thought I would "lift" with a set of K30 3 leaf front springs that had 30K original miles.....yeah... A LOT of work for 1/2" of lift.

09-25-2012, 10:14 AM	#7
SunSoaked Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Yuma Arizona Posts: 1,525	Re: Amount of lift with 1 ton springs? I just did almost the same thing. I put 1 ton springs off an 87K30 onto my 69 K10. The front springs are 3 inches longer. I kept the D60 centered in the wheelwell and chose to move both front and rear perches 1.5 inches outward. I had to use the 87 front perches because the front "loop" on the new springs would not fit inside the "cup" of the 69 mount. The loop was too large OD. The loop is a safety feature (military wrap) of the newer springs. There is a snowball effect here. I then had to separate the lower part of the mount from the upper part tp keep the radiator core support in the original position. While I was at it, I fabbed some 2 inch steel blocks that are welded inside the mounts between the frame rails and brackets and reinforced the brackets (hangers) diagonaly. This gave me 2 inches of lift without using aftermarket springs. I used diy4x HD 6 inch shackles (again 2 inches longer than stock) to maintain the D60s pinion angle (2 in lift on both front/rear mounts). Also if you only lift one mounting point the net effect is half (1 inch). The shackles are super HD 3/8th thick steel with 1/2 inch bolts Overall it appears I got about 3-4 inches of lift without using aftermarket springs, add a leafs, or blocks. Lots of work-sort of. But I am able and have the tools. I'm also starting with a bare frame so I dont mind. I enjoy the challenge. Attached Images



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