Question about leafspring lengths between LB and SB - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

74Chevy74 · 02-07-2006, 04:33 PM

I did the short bed conversion on my truck, and I have some questions to see if someone can measure something for me? I know the longbed has longer leaf springs, and now my wheels sit slightly back in the wheel well, so what I am wondering is if the center mark on the long bed springs is different than the short bed? Can someone maybe measure they're short bed from the front leaf eyelet to the center of the rearend? Can anyone chime in on this and tell me if I'm right????

**swervin ervin** · 02-07-2006, 06:02 PM

Shortbeds came with both 52" and 56". My truck came with 56. The difference is 52" springs have the center pin in the center, at 26". 56" springs still have the pin located at 26" from the front but now you have 30" at the back.

I think all long wheel base trucks used 56". Not sure on this but I think I'm right.

**Captkaos** · 02-07-2006, 06:10 PM

The long bed truck have the 56" like Mike said, Short beds had either. The axle shouldn't be any further back than before as the center location is the same. What is the wheelbase length after you shortened it?

74Chevy74 · 02-07-2006, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captkaos

The long bed truck have the 56" like Mike said, Short beds had either. The axle shouldn't be any further back than before as the center location is the same. What is the wheelbase length after you shortened it?

Yeah I don't know what is up then? I took out the 14" in front of the leaf springs and took the 5.5" off the back, and when we set the short bed on, the bolts dropped right in so I don't know what the issue can be now? Now I'm hoping it's a problem with the leafs and not something else? I haven't measured the wheelbase yet, what is the best way to do that?

Chevrolet4x4s · 02-07-2006, 07:10 PM

Measure it from the center of the fromt hub to the center of the rear hub.You do not have to remove the wheels just have someone hold the tape measure(or tape it there if you dont have a helper) at the center of the front hub and measure to the center of the rear hub. If you have the correct wheelbase (for a short wheelbase) it should be 117.5 inches
Hope this helps,
Shane
ps tell us what measurment you get.

**Captkaos** · 02-07-2006, 07:18 PM

Were they perfectly centered before? I think all of them are off a little anyway. Is it forward some? If you cut 14" out of the frame, you should be ok on the wheelbase.

Chevrolet4x4s · 02-07-2006, 10:58 PM

Hope this helps
Shane

Chevrolet4x4s · 02-07-2006, 10:40 PM

I'll post a pic of my 85 swb in a little bit

bigblock73 · 02-07-2006, 11:32 PM

I thought the spring length had more to do with the load carrying capicity (HD = 8 leafs & 56", not HD = 4 leafs & 52") than whether or not is was a swb or lwb truck?

Prerunner1982 · 02-08-2006, 03:28 PM

ok.. my 82 has 5 leafs (including overload) and they are 56"
my wifes 87 has 4 leafs (including overload) and they are 52"

BOTH are 1/2ton 2wd longbeds....

**swervin ervin** · 02-08-2006, 07:11 PM

I may be wrong but I think if a SWB came with heavy duty suspenion, it had 6 leafs (5 and 1) and they were 56". At least mine was anyway. I again think if it had standard suspension it would be 4 leafs and 52". Not sure on this though.

bigblock73 · 02-08-2006, 07:43 PM

Mike, mine has more than 6...

But your married, so I am sure you've been told you were wrong before.

**swervin ervin** · 02-08-2006, 08:26 PM

No, my wife has never told me I was wrong. Yeah, right.

MylilBowTie · 02-08-2006, 09:17 PM

I will have to recheck but I think my 84 LWB has 52in leafs 3+overload.

74Chevy74 · 02-09-2006, 11:50 AM

Ok I figured out the problem, I guess I failed to mention it was lowered with a flip kit in the rear, and when I fliped the axle it comes with a bracket that the rearend sits one, mine had an offset hole so that is why it's shifted, for some reason I never noticed it with the longbed? But the truck has only been lowered for a month or two and I don't drive it all the time yet? Anyone else done a flip kit and had this problem? I might do another post, maybe they sent the wrong brackets, I'll try and post a picture.

**swervin ervin** · 02-09-2006, 04:46 PM

No, I haven't had this problem but someone else was PM'ing me with this problem. We figured out what was wrong.

They have offset holes on purpose. When you drop it this much and flip the axle you have to shift everything back in order for the driveshaft to work and not bottom out in the tranny.

Glad you figured it out.

Mike

02-07-2006, 04:33 PM	#1
74Chevy74 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Jose, California Posts: 167	Question about leafspring lengths between LB and SB I did the short bed conversion on my truck, and I have some questions to see if someone can measure something for me? I know the longbed has longer leaf springs, and now my wheels sit slightly back in the wheel well, so what I am wondering is if the center mark on the long bed springs is different than the short bed? Can someone maybe measure they're short bed from the front leaf eyelet to the center of the rearend? Can anyone chime in on this and tell me if I'm right???? Attached Images

02-07-2006, 06:02 PM	#2
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	Re: Question about leafspring lengths between LB and SB Shortbeds came with both 52" and 56". My truck came with 56. The difference is 52" springs have the center pin in the center, at 26". 56" springs still have the pin located at 26" from the front but now you have 30" at the back. I think all long wheel base trucks used 56". Not sure on this but I think I'm right. __________________ Mike 1985 Chevy C-10

02-07-2006, 06:10 PM	#3
Captkaos www.73-87chevytrucks.com Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 6,935	Re: Question about leafspring lengths between LB and SB The long bed truck have the 56" like Mike said, Short beds had either. The axle shouldn't be any further back than before as the center location is the same. What is the wheelbase length after you shortened it? __________________ Chris Lucas 1973 Chevy C-10 1978 GMC Jimmy (2WD) - SOLD 1987 R10 twin turbo LS 1991 R3500 SRW CrewCab 1985 K5 diesel swapped project 1989 K5 2WD conversion w/ Vette susp Project Captkaos Customs 73-87chevytrucks.com

02-07-2006, 07:10 PM	#5
Chevrolet4x4s Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: WV Posts: 227	Re: Question about leafspring lengths between LB and SB Measure it from the center of the fromt hub to the center of the rear hub.You do not have to remove the wheels just have someone hold the tape measure(or tape it there if you dont have a helper) at the center of the front hub and measure to the center of the rear hub. If you have the correct wheelbase (for a short wheelbase) it should be 117.5 inches Hope this helps, Shane ps tell us what measurment you get. __________________ 1993 K1500 350 5 speed 1985 K10 Silverado Vortec 406 5 speed (in body shop) "I been drivin' this '85 pickup truck Them buddies of mine call it a bucket of rust She's a little beat up but she still runs like the wind Yeah, kinda like me I been banged and bruisedBeen around the block a time or two But I'm runnin' like new goin' places I never been No, I ain't broke I'm just broken in" 1963 Dodge Townwagon(its amazng what 30 years and zero miles will do to a vehicle ) Member#20327

02-07-2006, 07:18 PM	#6
Captkaos www.73-87chevytrucks.com Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 6,935	Re: Question about leafspring lengths between LB and SB Were they perfectly centered before? I think all of them are off a little anyway. Is it forward some? If you cut 14" out of the frame, you should be ok on the wheelbase. __________________ Chris Lucas 1973 Chevy C-10 1978 GMC Jimmy (2WD) - SOLD 1987 R10 twin turbo LS 1991 R3500 SRW CrewCab 1985 K5 diesel swapped project 1989 K5 2WD conversion w/ Vette susp Project Captkaos Customs 73-87chevytrucks.com

02-07-2006, 10:58 PM	#7
Chevrolet4x4s Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: WV Posts: 227	Re: Question about leafspring lengths between LB and SB Hope this helps Shane __________________ 1993 K1500 350 5 speed 1985 K10 Silverado Vortec 406 5 speed (in body shop) "I been drivin' this '85 pickup truck Them buddies of mine call it a bucket of rust She's a little beat up but she still runs like the wind Yeah, kinda like me I been banged and bruisedBeen around the block a time or two But I'm runnin' like new goin' places I never been No, I ain't broke I'm just broken in" 1963 Dodge Townwagon(its amazng what 30 years and zero miles will do to a vehicle ) Member#20327

02-07-2006, 10:40 PM	#8
Chevrolet4x4s Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: WV Posts: 227	Re: Question about leafspring lengths between LB and SB I'll post a pic of my 85 swb in a little bit __________________ 1993 K1500 350 5 speed 1985 K10 Silverado Vortec 406 5 speed (in body shop) "I been drivin' this '85 pickup truck Them buddies of mine call it a bucket of rust She's a little beat up but she still runs like the wind Yeah, kinda like me I been banged and bruisedBeen around the block a time or two But I'm runnin' like new goin' places I never been No, I ain't broke I'm just broken in" 1963 Dodge Townwagon(its amazng what 30 years and zero miles will do to a vehicle ) Member#20327

02-07-2006, 11:32 PM	#9
bigblock73 yeller Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 13,824	Re: Question about leafspring lengths between LB and SB I thought the spring length had more to do with the load carrying capicity (HD = 8 leafs & 56", not HD = 4 leafs & 52") than whether or not is was a swb or lwb truck? __________________ Jeff 73-87.com 73-87.com Facebook page 73-87 cab corner 6x9 speaker brackets for sale 67-72 cab corner speaker brackets for sale 47-54 cab corner speaker brackets for sale Last edited by bigblock73; 02-07-2006 at 11:37 PM.

02-08-2006, 03:28 PM	#10
Prerunner1982 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 5,904	Re: Question about leafspring lengths between LB and SB ok.. my 82 has 5 leafs (including overload) and they are 56" my wifes 87 has 4 leafs (including overload) and they are 52" BOTH are 1/2ton 2wd longbeds.... __________________ Jon 1982 Chevy Silverado 350/th350.... RETIRED 1993 Jeep XJ 2 door(Cherokee) 4wd 4.0ltr/AX-15 (5spd)/NP231 .... Oklahoma Roll Call Last edited by Prerunner1982; 02-09-2006 at 12:46 AM.

02-08-2006, 07:11 PM	#11
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	Re: Question about leafspring lengths between LB and SB I may be wrong but I think if a SWB came with heavy duty suspenion, it had 6 leafs (5 and 1) and they were 56". At least mine was anyway. I again think if it had standard suspension it would be 4 leafs and 52". Not sure on this though.

02-08-2006, 07:43 PM	#12
bigblock73 yeller Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 13,824	Re: Question about leafspring lengths between LB and SB Mike, mine has more than 6... But your married, so I am sure you've been told you were wrong before. __________________ Jeff 73-87.com 73-87.com Facebook page 73-87 cab corner 6x9 speaker brackets for sale 67-72 cab corner speaker brackets for sale 47-54 cab corner speaker brackets for sale

02-08-2006, 08:26 PM	#13
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	Re: Question about leafspring lengths between LB and SB No, my wife has never told me I was wrong. Yeah, right.

02-08-2006, 09:17 PM	#14
MylilBowTie Right turn Clyde Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 2,911	Re: Question about leafspring lengths between LB and SB I will have to recheck but I think my 84 LWB has 52in leafs 3+overload. __________________ 1974 C25 LWB: 454 4bbl Carb / TH400 / 3.73 1992 Camaro RS 305 TBI

02-09-2006, 11:50 AM	#15
74Chevy74 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Jose, California Posts: 167	Re: Question about leafspring lengths between LB and SB Ok I figured out the problem, I guess I failed to mention it was lowered with a flip kit in the rear, and when I fliped the axle it comes with a bracket that the rearend sits one, mine had an offset hole so that is why it's shifted, for some reason I never noticed it with the longbed? But the truck has only been lowered for a month or two and I don't drive it all the time yet? Anyone else done a flip kit and had this problem? I might do another post, maybe they sent the wrong brackets, I'll try and post a picture.

02-09-2006, 04:46 PM	#16
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	Re: Question about leafspring lengths between LB and SB No, I haven't had this problem but someone else was PM'ing me with this problem. We figured out what was wrong. They have offset holes on purpose. When you drop it this much and flip the axle you have to shift everything back in order for the driveshaft to work and not bottom out in the tranny. Glad you figured it out. Mike



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