I'm finally getting serious about the 1 ton swap. I gotta 14 bolt rear and a Dodge D60.

So it seems that some have waggy's up front and 57" fords in the rear. Has anyone DONE the 63 chevy's front and back? Pros - cons?

I allready know that some will scream SEARCH and some will say " try this or that and if that dont work, try something else."


So...... in the interest of some kind of tech discussion, lets hear what REALLY works , what to avoid and what is gonna make heeps and toys wanna buy you a beer.

63" are too long IMO. Your approach and departure angle would suck.

Hey Tater. I'm in Austin too. I would love to help....I plan on doing the swap in the future.

63" are too long IMO. Your approach and departure angle would suck.


What departure angle? A quick mesurement places the rear spring eye of a chevy 63" near the end of the frame. The stock location of the hanger is about 6"- 8" towards the front. Thats a hell of an angle for the shackle. Good droop potential. The toy boys use them and run 38" tires. I'm going 39.5" or so.

I know that a 63 " chevy spring up front is not gonna work. The "fangs required for that would look like a West Virginia inbreed.

i can't see why it wouldn't work. I run the fords on the front of my scout and they seem to flex well(hadn't had it on any trails yet). And the aprroach angle is good with the offset pin.
Dewey

I agree with Ben, it will kill your angles.
I have Ford rear springs on the front and wouldn't want to go any longer.

When you say FORD springs do you guys mean F-150 or what?

F 250 I think. Their 3" by 57' or so. Offset center pin.

the 4wd rear f-150 springs are the 3" flexy ones, 2wd f-150's are 2.5"

i think the f-250's are stiffer.

Now we are getting somewhere.

So how about a combo of 63" chevys/rear and 57" fords/front?

57" would be too long in the front too. You don't need long springs to flex well. Wagoneer and Wrangler springs work good. I guess the F150's would be ok in the back, but I haven't used them. I use springs that are 46" long front and rear and I've never been stopped by a lack of flex.

Is this on an 80/800 or a Scout II? The 80/800 frames are really not suited to long springs because they drop down so much in the middle.

I'd almost pay to see somone put 63" chevs on a scout front and rear :laughing:

Now we are getting somewhere.

So how about a combo of 63" chevys/rear and 57" fords/front?

I believe that's what Abba did for his rears..

I don't know much about springs--I am building a 14 bolt rear and plan to build a 14 bolt front (WMS) to put on my '77 traveler which already has new rancho 3" lift springs. If the axles are "full width", that is chevy pick-up width, are the springs ok in stock location? Not building a rock buggy, just a street/trail/mud runner.

Or, even more rad, put the 14 bolt axles on my scout 800 with new, stock springs that are already on it!

Choices, choices.

78 Scout II


I don't know much about springs--I am building a 14 bolt rear and plan to build a 14 bolt front (WMS) to put on my '77 traveler which already has new rancho 3" lift springs. If the axles are "full width", that is chevy pick-up width, are the springs ok in stock location? Not building a rock buggy, just a street/trail/mud runner.

Or, even more rad, put the 14 bolt axles on my scout 800 with new, stock springs that are already on it!

Choices, choices.

Spring hanger/perch width is 1" wider on full size axles IIRC. So a little outboarding is in order.


I'm sure the waggy springs can handle the weight but not convinced the wranglers will.

I don't know much about springs--I am building a 14 bolt rear and plan to build a 14 bolt front (WMS) to put on my '77 traveler which already has new rancho 3" lift springs. If the axles are "full width", that is chevy pick-up width, are the springs ok in stock location? Not building a rock buggy, just a street/trail/mud runner.

Or, even more rad, put the 14 bolt axles on my scout 800 with new, stock springs that are already on it!

Choices, choices.

Why on earth would you build a 14 bolt front?

Why on earth would you build a 14 bolt front?


the WMS guys run the 14 bolt fronts b/c they all run 44" meats or bigger, and built motors and drive pretty hard...i don't know what this guy is doing, but in their case it makes pretty good sense.

anyway. back to springs.

you can run f150 springs in the front, you just have to use the 7" offset to your advantage and then you will have a better approach angle. Im pretty sure you will have to extend your frame though.

I run waggy springs in the front, just some junkyard waggy leaves and they flex great and have a pretty good approach angle...better than when i had scout leaves up front but i also have bigger tires now. I still run the scout leaves out back, but i would like to change to some wider springs. I was planning on f150 springs and using the offset to extend my wheelbase and have a great departure angle from the leaves.

i was looking at the yj cj springs for getting the lift and flex im looking for out of my scout. but after a lot of looking around i think i would be better off extending the frame in the front (this also allows for a which mounting point and miscelaneous tow/recovery points) and using the 4wd F150 springs with the offset set forward as everyone is talking about. also i am planning on using them in the rear as well with the offset set back. i like the way binder did the fender cutting out back, and with the F150 rears in the rear of my scout it should set the rear axle back a significant amount and may cut my fenders the same.

my only worry with using 150 springs in the front and rear is that it may not (most likely WILL not) sit level or even close to leve with same length shackles. i am planning on removing my fangs and doing a shackle flip in the front, but i dont want to have to run 9" shackles out back to compensate. i know binder, you said you had 250 springs in front. they are offset as well? what length shackle did you use? and how much did you extend your frame and wheel base as a result?

Callen

i know binder, you said you had 250 springs in front. they are offset as well? what length shackle did you use? and how much did you extend your frame and wheel base as a result?

Callen

My shackle/ spring mounts are all moved around and changed. On the front springs the shackle is in the rear and about 6" or so. They are way behind the stock spring mount location and pivot near the top of the frame, the bolt goes through the frame. The front is a fixed mount and only about 3" or so. My frame is stock length (about the only stock thing on the whole rig) with the front cross member removed and replaced with a winch mount. I think the wheel base is about 104" or so. :)

Just ran the hammers, 3 scouts were running rancho lift SII (56"?) rears up front with 36-38 inch tires. killer flex.... Approach angle did not seem to be impaired. Frame expension mandatory, maybe 10" or so.. PM Joe V from this board for more info.

I mounted up 57" ford springs in the front one time, but they were too long and screwed up my approach angle. I ended up going with 44044's and couldn't be any happier.

I couldn't tell ya what leafs to run in the rear. :D

Just ran the hammers, 3 scouts were running rancho lift SII (56"?) rears up front with 36-38 inch tires. killer flex.... Approach angle did not seem to be impaired. Frame expension mandatory, maybe 10" or so.. PM Joe V from this board for more info.

does rancho sell these springs seperately?

if so, anyone got the p# off hand?

there is some 4" cj springs on Ebay for $150. the guy lives near me, i was thinking about getting them from him. what do you all think? would these be better than the F150 spring idea?

Callen

Just ran the hammers, 3 scouts were running rancho lift SII (56"?) rears up front with 36-38 inch tires. killer flex.... Approach angle did not seem to be impaired. Frame expension mandatory, maybe 10" or so.. PM Joe V from this board for more info.

Hmm, haven't heard anyone doing SII rear springs in the front... wow, LONG springs (SII springs are 58", so lift spring would be even longer flatened out).


I personly wouldn't want anything more than the 47" 44044's unless it had a huge offset....

I need the 14bolt front because i hope to run 49" tires with a sm465/brownie4aux/np205 married combo behind a 345 binder or a 350 rat.

a 350's a mouse.... not a rat......