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How to: Chevy 63" Leaf Spring Swap

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by dakotasyota, Jun 13, 2015.

  1. Sep 17, 2019 at 7:47 AM
    #681
    ovrlndkull

    ovrlndkull STUKASFK - HC4LIFE

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    It just has a badass name too missing link really that sounds a lot more fancy than 3 link, 4 link, trailing arm (sounds like you broke some shit). Have you seen these. I am debating
    https://www.alcanspring.com/orbit-eye.htm
     
  2. Sep 17, 2019 at 7:48 AM
    #682
    Trident904

    Trident904 Touching Drum Sets

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    Modded it so much it turned into a 4Runner
    Fully drooped and the 5" shackles don't go beyond 90 degrees.
    [​IMG]

    Fully flexed and shackle still doesn't go beyond 90 degrees.
    [​IMG]

    Here she sits at ride height. Notice the shackle angle.
    [​IMG]

    Shackle angle at full stuff on 35's.
    [​IMG]

    And an action shot just for shits and gigs.
    [​IMG]
     
    Ricardo13x likes this.
  3. Sep 17, 2019 at 7:48 AM
    #683
    SearArtist

    SearArtist GX poor

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    Whatever comes out of the junkyard...cause $60 for a set if cheap AF.

    The junk yard near my parents house has tons of 88-98 GM trucks.
     
  4. Sep 17, 2019 at 7:49 AM
    #684
    Trident904

    Trident904 Touching Drum Sets

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    Ahh, I see what you're saying.
     
  5. Sep 17, 2019 at 7:51 AM
    #685
    Jerneyman

    Jerneyman Well-Known Member

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    **Armor** Home Fabbed Hybrid Front Bumper Home Fabbed Rock Sliders Home Fabbed IFS Skid Plate Home Fabbed Mid Skid Plate Home Fabbed Transfer Case Skid Home Fabbed High Clearance Rear Bumper **Suspension** ADS Front Coilovers (Extended Travel, 700lb coils, Remote Resi) Total Chaos UCAs Chevy 63 Swap w/ custom shock hoops 14" Bilstein 7100s **Wheels/ Tires** Spidertrax 1.25" Wheel Spacers Front/Rear TRD Rock Warrior Wheels 285/75/16 BFG KO2s **Electrical** Pelfreybilt Auxiliary Fuse/Relay Panel Blue Sea Fuse Box Bussman 100 AMP Breaker **Recovery** Smittybilt 9.5k Winch **Lights** 20 Inch Single Row LED Bar Rigid Side Shooters (Flood/Pair) w/ CBI Offroad Ditch Light Brackets Rigid Duallys, Amber for fog lights **Miscelaneous Mods** Rear Diff Breather Relocation RAM Mount A-Pillar Mod w/ Garmin Power Cable DRT Fabrication Cab Mount Relocation Pinch Weld Mod (Mini Sledge Special) Short Rise Bed Bar for Tire Storage/ Hi-Lift Mount
    Looks like you've got it set up for your application and it works quite well. For me, that 45 degree angle would not have worked due to the ride height I wanted and the springs I used.

    I think everyone here can agree, no one will have the same measurements or setup. That's the beauty of the 63 swap, you can't just copy folks and it work out, you actually have to think through all of it.
     
  6. Sep 17, 2019 at 7:51 AM
    #686
    Trident904

    Trident904 Touching Drum Sets

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    I ended up junking the new springs I got from SDTruckSpring because they were trash. I bought 3 full sets of springs from the junk yard and tore them all down and built a new set with the best pieces from them all.
     
  7. Sep 17, 2019 at 7:52 AM
    #687
    Trident904

    Trident904 Touching Drum Sets

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    Exactly. I made the initial mistake of getting new springs online and had problems with them from the get go. Junkyard springs are where it was at for me.
     
    Jerneyman[QUOTED] likes this.
  8. Sep 17, 2019 at 7:53 AM
    #688
    JBTacoma

    JBTacoma Well-Known Member

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    ovrlndkull[QUOTED] likes this.
  9. Sep 17, 2019 at 7:55 AM
    #689
    Jerneyman

    Jerneyman Well-Known Member

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    **Armor** Home Fabbed Hybrid Front Bumper Home Fabbed Rock Sliders Home Fabbed IFS Skid Plate Home Fabbed Mid Skid Plate Home Fabbed Transfer Case Skid Home Fabbed High Clearance Rear Bumper **Suspension** ADS Front Coilovers (Extended Travel, 700lb coils, Remote Resi) Total Chaos UCAs Chevy 63 Swap w/ custom shock hoops 14" Bilstein 7100s **Wheels/ Tires** Spidertrax 1.25" Wheel Spacers Front/Rear TRD Rock Warrior Wheels 285/75/16 BFG KO2s **Electrical** Pelfreybilt Auxiliary Fuse/Relay Panel Blue Sea Fuse Box Bussman 100 AMP Breaker **Recovery** Smittybilt 9.5k Winch **Lights** 20 Inch Single Row LED Bar Rigid Side Shooters (Flood/Pair) w/ CBI Offroad Ditch Light Brackets Rigid Duallys, Amber for fog lights **Miscelaneous Mods** Rear Diff Breather Relocation RAM Mount A-Pillar Mod w/ Garmin Power Cable DRT Fabrication Cab Mount Relocation Pinch Weld Mod (Mini Sledge Special) Short Rise Bed Bar for Tire Storage/ Hi-Lift Mount
    For sure. I bought mine at a junkyard as well. Ended up with a 3+1 pack. Originally, I found a set but they turned out to be a 2+1 set. Soon realized after reading more that literally no one used those. So even if you get 63s, you still need to be careful that they're the "right" leaf pack for job.
     
    Trident904[QUOTED] likes this.
  10. Sep 17, 2019 at 7:59 AM
    #690
    SearArtist

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    :drool::drool::drool:

    I noticed they don't list a price for them...probably expensive as hell.

    Wouldn't be worth it for a DD anyway.
     
  11. Sep 17, 2019 at 7:59 AM
    #691
    Trident904

    Trident904 Touching Drum Sets

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    Yup. I ultimately ended up having an additional leaf that I could add in depending on load for longer trips and it worked out pretty good.
     
    Jerneyman[QUOTED] likes this.
  12. Sep 17, 2019 at 8:02 AM
    #692
    SearArtist

    SearArtist GX poor

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    You had a 3+1 originally and then switched to a 4+1 right?
     
  13. Sep 17, 2019 at 8:07 AM
    #693
    Trident904

    Trident904 Touching Drum Sets

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    Yeah, but never ran the overload. I went to 4 leafs but only dependent on load and length of trip. I bent up a 3 leaf set at AOP which prompted the 4 leaf pack when I'm running heavy.
     
  14. Sep 17, 2019 at 8:09 AM
    #694
    SearArtist

    SearArtist GX poor

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    Gotcha, wasn't planning on using the overload in either scenario either.

    I have the heavy ass rear bumper with swingout, and don't really plan on adding any more additional weight in the rear for now, so I'm not sure if the 3 leaf will work or if I should suck it up and go with a 4 leaf from the get-go. I still want to maintain my cushy ass ride too.
     
  15. Sep 17, 2019 at 8:19 AM
    #695
    ovrlndkull

    ovrlndkull STUKASFK - HC4LIFE

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    My brand new springs from sdtrucksprings have been flawless :anonymous:
     
  16. Sep 17, 2019 at 8:19 AM
    #696
    Trident904

    Trident904 Touching Drum Sets

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    With all the extra weight, go with 4 leaf. When you are doing the 63 swap, calculate ride height with all your gear loaded so you don't screw yourself and have to redo a bunch of stuff.
     
  17. Sep 17, 2019 at 8:20 AM
    #697
    ovrlndkull

    ovrlndkull STUKASFK - HC4LIFE

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    Mines not bad at all I personally think its a lot smoother than the deavers I had
     
  18. Sep 17, 2019 at 8:20 AM
    #698
    Trident904

    Trident904 Touching Drum Sets

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    I think I got a bad set from them.
     
    ovrlndkull[QUOTED] likes this.
  19. Sep 17, 2019 at 8:21 AM
    #699
    ovrlndkull

    ovrlndkull STUKASFK - HC4LIFE

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    Mine all spring is used as well but I still have q a bit more bump I can use and droop. Shocks are my limiting factor right now.
     
    Jerneyman[QUOTED] likes this.
  20. Sep 17, 2019 at 8:23 AM
    #700
    Jerneyman

    Jerneyman Well-Known Member

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    **Armor** Home Fabbed Hybrid Front Bumper Home Fabbed Rock Sliders Home Fabbed IFS Skid Plate Home Fabbed Mid Skid Plate Home Fabbed Transfer Case Skid Home Fabbed High Clearance Rear Bumper **Suspension** ADS Front Coilovers (Extended Travel, 700lb coils, Remote Resi) Total Chaos UCAs Chevy 63 Swap w/ custom shock hoops 14" Bilstein 7100s **Wheels/ Tires** Spidertrax 1.25" Wheel Spacers Front/Rear TRD Rock Warrior Wheels 285/75/16 BFG KO2s **Electrical** Pelfreybilt Auxiliary Fuse/Relay Panel Blue Sea Fuse Box Bussman 100 AMP Breaker **Recovery** Smittybilt 9.5k Winch **Lights** 20 Inch Single Row LED Bar Rigid Side Shooters (Flood/Pair) w/ CBI Offroad Ditch Light Brackets Rigid Duallys, Amber for fog lights **Miscelaneous Mods** Rear Diff Breather Relocation RAM Mount A-Pillar Mod w/ Garmin Power Cable DRT Fabrication Cab Mount Relocation Pinch Weld Mod (Mini Sledge Special) Short Rise Bed Bar for Tire Storage/ Hi-Lift Mount
    As are mine. Dropped out, I can max out my 14 inch shocks which is why I run limiting straps. But I see no reason to cut my bed and run longer shocks. 14 inches is quite a bit of travel for the rear end of these trucks anyway.
     

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