Ok, this 86 k25 is going to be "crawl-a-fied"...on a budget. So, leafs it is.

I yanked the 14FF from the ass-end of my old crew cab last weekend, got the 63" leafs to. Which got me thinking, why does no one run 63's up front?

I have an 8 pack of 63's in the rear of the K25 that I'm going to build, so the rear is covered. If 63's are pointless, I can track down some 56's.

My front hanger will look something like Corey's on Crazy Daze, just in case you are wondering how I intend to fit 63's.

I'm sure this all sounds rediculous to those of you who know leafs, but I'm just thinking a 63 will flex more than a 56.

Corey, and anyone with flexy leafs, please get in on this thread.

If you have pics of a 63" leaf set-up, post up a pic or two.

JOKER

My 57s flex like crazy and are nice and stable. The thinner main leafs on 63s will probably bend up front. Ford springs with an offset centerpin have a better approach angle too.

how much flex do you want with leaves... i just put 52's on the front of my rig, have yet to drive it but i already have more than 14" of shock travel. i cant imagine much more flex being all that usefull. anything more i would expect to be sloppy and get a ton of axle wrap.

how much flex do you want with leaves... i just put 52's on the front of my rig, have yet to drive it but i already have more than 14" of shock travel. i cant imagine much more flex being all that usefull. anything more i would expect to be sloppy and get a ton of axle wrap.

I could see some massive side to side movement with the steering as well.

There was a guy in the toy forum with 63s front and back.

Fair enough :p

Since Mr. Young seems to know what's going on, 57's it is.

Are your 57's from a Chevy, or aftermarket?

I'm going to try for 46" XML's, front axle 10" forward, lots of trimming...and no lift, but I will most likely end up with 2"-4".

Thanks for steering me in the right direction Corey, g-wizz, NorCal and dirt chicken.

I'll finish up my drift truck then spend some coin on this thing:D

I believe 57s are from a ford

I believe 57s are from a ford

how bout these

http://www.generalspringkc.com/index.php?p=catalog&parent=78&pg=1

56 are plenty huge......the only real advantage i can see to the 63's is ride...but that is sooo much work to make them work

the only think i could see being an issue with 57s is that they are a 3" wide spring. where as 52s and 56s are narrower and the same width as your stock front springs. 52s and 56s should flex about the same. depending on how you do the swap there is more or less fab to do either. most people when doing 56s keep the rear shackle in the stock location and move the front mount way forward, with the axle overall moved forward 4". with 52s people usually move the front hanger the same as 56s but also move the swing shackle forward as well. me personally i just put 52s and didnt move the rear at all, and the axle is maby an inch or two forward. so all my steering is still strait and decent. i can post pics if you want, but what i plan to do with my rig is prob different from your plans.

and ride quality is usually determined by spring rate and shackle angle, not the overall length of the spring.

I run Ford Excursion 57" rear springs, they will have a traction bar half leaf on the bottom. The width and thickness of the leafs will make them last longer, they have good rubber bushings too. I got 3 sets from a local offroad shop that had them in the used parts pile. The shackle mount is stock, the front hanger is about stock level and the springs give about 4" of lift.

how bout these

http://www.generalspringkc.com/index.php?p=catalog&parent=78&pg=1

thats a nice link

Thanks everyone.

G-wizz, slang some pics!

Corey, I've asked once already, but, lets say I can get 1600r20's cheaper than any other tire, should I worry about gears in my 1 tons or axle shafts first?

Remember, budget crawler, nothing too ridiculous, and only a 350 in the truck right now.

1600R20s on wheels will weigh about 400+ lbs each. They will be worthless unless you have double beadlocks and run them at 0 psi. 46s would be better for 1 tons.

Well sh*t Corey, thanks for ruining my day!

Haha.

So, in theory, I won't have to move my axle quite as far forward as you have. Not to mention, I can get away with a little more up-travel without the tires tangling assholes with the firewall :D

Ordering the front wheels for my Sambar from MRW this weekend, so maybe I'll get the 20's coming in the same box :)

As for tires, Hundy, where are you?

the only think i could see being an issue with 57s is that they are a 3" wide spring. where as 52s and 56s are narrower and the same width as your stock front springs. 52s and 56s should flex about the same. depending on how you do the swap there is more or less fab to do either. most people when doing 56s keep the rear shackle in the stock location and move the front mount way forward, with the axle overall moved forward 4". with 52s people usually move the front hanger the same as 56s but also move the swing shackle forward as well. me personally i just put 52s and didnt move the rear at all, and the axle is maby an inch or two forward. so all my steering is still strait and decent. i can post pics if you want, but what i plan to do with my rig is prob different from your plans.

and ride quality is usually determined by spring rate and shackle angle, not the overall length of the spring.

Just to add this:

the stock front springs on a chevy are 3" wide. If you run a 52/56 you might need (2) 1/4 inch washers on the sides of the spring bushings to compensate for the width difference. 52's and 56's are 2.5" wide. IF a 63 is 3" wide, it will bolt up directly without any spacers but,

63" springs up front is absolutely ridiculous. a 56 would be more then enough length and give you just as much flex but with less modification and trouble. a 52 is sufficient for any kind of wheeling...if you need more, go 4-link.

63" springs up front is absolutely ridiculous. a 56 would be more then enough length and give you just as much flex but with less modification and trouble. a 52 is sufficient for any kind of wheeling...if you need more, go 4-link.

Quoted for truth, don't get sucked into the whole deal that "more flex = a more capable rig".

The longer springs will flex more but they will have much more axle wrap and will significantly affect clearance. I run 52's in the front (four link in the rear) and I hit my front springs ALL the time.

I have all the flex I could want, 64's would be awful in the front IMO.

Hell, I get wrap from my front 52's, if this isn't enough flex for you you're doing it wrong :flipoff2: (before I linked it, 52's front and rear, 42" IROKs for reference)

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a64/77k5/avatar1.jpg

My 52" fronts have a metric shit ton of flex. Anything longer would seem worthless IMHO.

Thanks for the pic 77k5.

Just to add this:

the stock front springs on a chevy are 3" wide. If you run a 52/56 you might need (2) 1/4 inch washers on the sides of the spring bushings to compensate for the width difference. 52's and 56's are 2.5" wide. IF a 63 is 3" wide, it will bolt up directly without any spacers but,

63" springs up front is absolutely ridiculous. a 56 would be more then enough length and give you just as much flex but with less modification and trouble. a 52 is sufficient for any kind of wheeling...if you need more, go 4-link.

are you sure about the stock springs being 3" wide, cause i used some of the stock leaves from my old front lift springs in in my 52" pack. i dont think they are 3" wide. i could measure but im lazy

I am also running ford 57" in the front. While using the stock chevy rear hanger in the stock location I was able to move the axle 6" forward. It flexes a lot, I had to add an antiwrap bar.

I'll pick up some 57's one of these weekends.

I'm not basing this choice on any real-world testing of course, just that fact that Mr. Young runs them. That's right, I'm only doing it to be cool.:smokin:

On a serious note, thanks for the input so far guys, pretty damn helpful.

Since I'm not at a wrecking yard right now with a measuring tape, can someone who actually has the 57" ford springs measure how wide they are and report back? It would be greatly appreciated.

Since I'm not at a wrecking yard right now with a measuring tape, can someone who actually has the 57" ford springs measure how wide they are and report back? It would be greatly appreciated.

Here:
1st one is the leaf width 3.02"
2nd is the front bushing width 3.48"

are you sure about the stock springs being 3" wide, cause i used some of the stock leaves from my old front lift springs in in my 52" pack. i dont think they are 3" wide. i could measure but im lazy

Now that you pointed that out...

The leafs might be 2.5" but the bushing is 3 inches. The hangers are 3" wide in front.:flipoff2:

good catch.

Thanks Corey, you knew that I was talking to you when I asked for the measurement :p

i wheel with a guy who has 63's up front,rocks,and 49's.major axle wrap!

Your buddy is a tool for underestimating the un-sprung weight of rocks :p

Thanks for the info though.

Look up dodge van springs on that general spring web site, they look very worth while. They look to have a good center bolt location.

Look up dodge van springs on that general spring web site, they look very worth while. They look to have a good center bolt location.

Speaking of center pin locations... is anyone aware of springs that move the axle forward a few inches?

I'm thinking it will make my 10" forward move a bit easier.

XJ rears are 5 5/8" offset. But they have weak factory spring rates. With the right bastard pack it would work. 95+ S10 blazer packs are 3" offset 52" over all and about the same rate as the 2 leaf 64" 1/2 ton 99+ chevy springs.

XJs are SOA, S series are SUA and have more arch.

XJ rears are 5 5/8" offset. But they have weak factory spring rates. With the right bastard pack it would work. 95+ S10 blazer packs are 3" offset 52" over all and about the same rate as the 2 leaf 64" 1/2 ton 99+ chevy springs.

XJs are SOA, S series are SUA and have more arch.

Thanks for the information :D