52" & 63" springs on 64 k10 swb

[jwalt2gfd]

I am really looking for info on using 52" springs in front and 63" springs in the rear of my 1964 swb 4x4. I read some threads on this and about the point I feel this is the thing to do I read about bad body roll and such. My truck will be used on the road 90% of the time and I am looking to improve the ride as much as possible. Any feed back on someone who has done this and can pass on their ride experience would be appreciated. Thx.

[Captainfab]

A stock type '73+ front sway bar should take care of most of any body roll.

['63GENIII]

What the Captain said is spot on. I may add a rear as well now that the front is in. Body roll was a little pucker inducing before the front sway bar though.

[jwalt2gfd]

Thx guys. I am still uncertain about the 52" springs and what to get them from. It seems like guys are using the 52" rear springs and moving them to the front. Wouldn't the rear spring be much weaker in rate than a front spring and if so is this why the body roll is increased?

['63GENIII]

Thats correct. They are quite a bit softer than the 45" springs. Mine came from the rear of a '73 K10. The 63" springs came off of an '07 Silverado 2wd.

[Brad54]

Haven't heard of this before.
Does it require moving the spring perches?
What's the benefit of the longer springs?

-Brad

[argonaut]

Lower spring rate and more torsional compliance yield a softer ride and more suspension travel.

['63GENIII]

Originally Posted by Brad54

Haven't heard of this before.
Does it require moving the spring perches?
What's the benefit of the longer springs?

-Brad

Not so much moving of the perches but the spring and shackle hangers. I did move the perches on my axles but that was BC I used a completely different rear axle than I started with. The existing axle would have kept the perches in the same locations.
As Jason said, "more torsionally compliant, more travel and softer ride.

['63GENIII]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...RyWlbHAwPd8hbA


Hopefully this link works.

[Captainfab]

Since it sounds like you aren't looking for max flex in your truck, I would consider using 56" springs in the rear. They are a little easier to fit to the frame on short wheelbase trucks. Those are typically found under C/K 20's. You will want to remove some of the leafs though. You can purchase a lot of the brackets you will need from http://www.diy4x.com
Kurt doesn't make anything specific for the '60-'66's but the '67-'72 components should work well.

[argonaut]

I used Kurt's shackle flip brackets for 67-72, along with spring hangers from a 70, with 56" leaf springs in the rear of my 64 subruban. Fronts I used old Rancho 4" lift Springs and removed the smallest two of the five leafs. Used some cheap "hydro" shocks. It rides pretty nicely.

[Brad54]

Thanks!

[Dismas]

There is a thread on this site, in the 4x4 tech forum, from a guy who did this, should still be near the top