52" & 63" springs on 64 k10 swb - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

jwalt2gfd · 02-20-2016, 01:33 PM

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** · 02-21-2016, 01:25 AM

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

'63GENIII · 02-21-2016, 01:54 AM

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 · 02-22-2016, 02:48 PM

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 · 02-22-2016, 03:31 PM

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 · 02-22-2016, 05:47 PM

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

-Brad

**argonaut** · 02-22-2016, 11:43 PM

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

'63GENIII · 02-22-2016, 11:55 PM

Quote:

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 · 02-22-2016, 11:58 PM

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

Hopefully this link works.

**Captainfab** · 02-23-2016, 01:14 AM

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** · 02-23-2016, 01:41 AM

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 · 02-23-2016, 01:47 AM

Thanks!

Dismas · 02-23-2016, 04:34 AM

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

02-20-2016, 01:33 PM	#1
jwalt2gfd Registered User Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Peoria, Arizona Posts: 24	52" & 63" springs on 64 k10 swb 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.

02-21-2016, 01:25 AM	#2
Captainfab 60-66 Nut Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Posts: 23,252	Re: 52" & 63" springs on 64 k10 swb A stock type '73+ front sway bar should take care of most of any body roll. __________________ Power Steering Box Adapter Plates For Sale HERE Power Brake Booster Adapter Brackets For Sale '63-'66 HERE and '67-'72 HERE and '60-'62 HERE and "60-'62 with clutch HERE Rear Disc Brake Brackets For Sale. Impala SS calipers HERE Camaro Calipers HERE D52 Calipers HERE 6 Lug HERE Hydroboost Mounting Plates HERE

02-21-2016, 01:54 AM	#3
'63GENIII Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Carlos, Ca. Posts: 3,048	Re: 52" & 63" springs on 64 k10 swb 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. __________________ Chris '63 k15 long step Vortec 7.4 - L29 Blackbear tune, Five 0 Motorsports injectors, Chris Straub Cam, NV4500, divorced 205 52" front and 63" rear spring swap D44 / 14bff - disc axles Milemarker 9K and 10.5K hydraulic winches 63" & B52 Spring Install http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ng+swap+thread NV4500 Reverse Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=reverse+build L29 - 7.4 Vortec Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&highlight=L29

02-22-2016, 02:48 PM	#4
jwalt2gfd Registered User Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Peoria, Arizona Posts: 24	Re: 52" & 63" springs on 64 k10 swb 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?

02-22-2016, 03:31 PM	#5
'63GENIII Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Carlos, Ca. Posts: 3,048	Re: 52" & 63" springs on 64 k10 swb 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. __________________ Chris '63 k15 long step Vortec 7.4 - L29 Blackbear tune, Five 0 Motorsports injectors, Chris Straub Cam, NV4500, divorced 205 52" front and 63" rear spring swap D44 / 14bff - disc axles Milemarker 9K and 10.5K hydraulic winches 63" & B52 Spring Install http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ng+swap+thread NV4500 Reverse Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=reverse+build L29 - 7.4 Vortec Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&highlight=L29

02-22-2016, 05:47 PM	#6
Brad54 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Athens, Georgia Posts: 1,458	Re: 52" & 63" springs on 64 k10 swb Haven't heard of this before. Does it require moving the spring perches? What's the benefit of the longer springs? -Brad __________________ '61 Suburban daily driver: off the road due to 180-pound 8-pt buck! '62 K-10 long-step project '61 C30 Camper, aka "Valdez" There's no cool like Old School

02-22-2016, 11:43 PM	#7
argonaut Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 1,813	Re: 52" & 63" springs on 64 k10 swb Lower spring rate and more torsional compliance yield a softer ride and more suspension travel. __________________ Jason M. @argonaut62 1972 K5 Blazer CST, Turquoise 1966 K20 Short Fleet Pickup, Big Ugly 1964 C10 Short Fleet, Gertrude 2001 Porsche 911 Carrera 1996 Ford Bronco XLT 1980 Jeep Wagoneer 2008 Honda CBR1000RR 2005 Honda RC51 1981 Honda CB750C No dis-assemble Johnny Five! No dis-assemble!

02-22-2016, 11:58 PM	#9
'63GENIII Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Carlos, Ca. Posts: 3,048	Re: 52" & 63" springs on 64 k10 swb https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...RyWlbHAwPd8hbA Hopefully this link works. __________________ Chris '63 k15 long step Vortec 7.4 - L29 Blackbear tune, Five 0 Motorsports injectors, Chris Straub Cam, NV4500, divorced 205 52" front and 63" rear spring swap D44 / 14bff - disc axles Milemarker 9K and 10.5K hydraulic winches 63" & B52 Spring Install http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ng+swap+thread NV4500 Reverse Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=reverse+build L29 - 7.4 Vortec Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&highlight=L29

02-23-2016, 01:14 AM	#10
Captainfab 60-66 Nut Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Posts: 23,252	Re: 52" & 63" springs on 64 k10 swb 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. __________________ Power Steering Box Adapter Plates For Sale HERE Power Brake Booster Adapter Brackets For Sale '63-'66 HERE and '67-'72 HERE and '60-'62 HERE and "60-'62 with clutch HERE Rear Disc Brake Brackets For Sale. Impala SS calipers HERE Camaro Calipers HERE D52 Calipers HERE 6 Lug HERE Hydroboost Mounting Plates HERE

02-23-2016, 01:41 AM	#11
argonaut Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 1,813	Re: 52" & 63" springs on 64 k10 swb 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. __________________ Jason M. @argonaut62 1972 K5 Blazer CST, Turquoise 1966 K20 Short Fleet Pickup, Big Ugly 1964 C10 Short Fleet, Gertrude 2001 Porsche 911 Carrera 1996 Ford Bronco XLT 1980 Jeep Wagoneer 2008 Honda CBR1000RR 2005 Honda RC51 1981 Honda CB750C No dis-assemble Johnny Five! No dis-assemble!

02-23-2016, 01:47 AM	#12
Brad54 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Athens, Georgia Posts: 1,458	Re: 52" & 63" springs on 64 k10 swb Thanks! __________________ '61 Suburban daily driver: off the road due to 180-pound 8-pt buck! '62 K-10 long-step project '61 C30 Camper, aka "Valdez" There's no cool like Old School

02-23-2016, 04:34 AM	#13
Dismas Registered User Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 34	Re: 52" & 63" springs on 64 k10 swb There is a thread on this site, in the 4x4 tech forum, from a guy who did this, should still be near the top



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