How to: Chevy 63" Leaf Spring Swap

I’m about to cut this bitch up. Either you get flex pics or part out list. no in between.

 

Fellas fellas fellas. Front mounts are tacked. All clear and ready on the back portion. But I got a question for those running 14” shocks and 4” shackle. What’s the sweet spot for the fucking outrigger!!! I want to stay at my current 2” rear

 

I’m 150 miles from home sitting on top a mountain in my truck with the heater running 2 bars of service and don’t have a tape measure anywhere or I could tell you

 

Big dick energy

 

Congrats for diving into the point of no return haha ... those first cuts are a big nerve wracking haha. FWIW I have 5" shackles and my outrigger is right up against the rear bumper mounts. You do have some flexibility moving the shackle hangers on the base (bottom) of the outriggers. At least for me, this is where I tacked, lowered, took a look and repeated until I picked a spot and burned them in but I did it in 2 steps. repeat for the outrigger. then many more repeats on the actual hangers.

 

Hell yeah brother seems like that’s the general area of consensus

 

Sad News fellaz!

there will not be a part out sell. I repeat no part out sell.

I believe I nailed it. Guys.

edit: I did ended up ordering 5” shackles. Originally I was on 4” and needed the 5” to correct for extra pack flex.

 

Sitting at 24” on both sides from center of hub to OEM bottom part of fender flare. Gained about 1” from my previous height from top of tire to OEM fender flare.

Love the ride and I got all the droop. I might order 5”/6” shackles for when I do the BAMF towers and the 14” 7100’s

 

Alrighty after setting a bunch of weight in the bed the top of the leaf is about 1/2” from the bottom of the shackle mount. And after going over some bumps the top leaf made contact with the shackle mount and pissed me off. So correct me if I’m wrong but if I order the 6” shackles (I am currently on a 4” shackle) then there will be more room between the top leaf and bottom of shackle mounts. Am I correct? Should I do 5” shackles?

 

It didn’t contact when you tack welded it in and cycled the suspension with one leaf before you fully welded it? Man you gotta taste the sauce while you’re making it. It’s not completely magic. Just busting your balls. I have a 5” on my 13’ and 96’. I would guess 6” might get you there, but I would work my way there starting with a 5”. Sounds like you want every drip of up and keeping it low as you can. You might be able to bump it early. Doesn’t sound like your shocks are sorted yet and that’s also a limitation. So quick answer yes but you might do better with 5”.

 

broooo I did cycle the shit box! I was at 45• but shit settled too much with the added weight. Yeah I know the shocks are currently my limiting down travel factor and indeed waiting for them 14” shocks to again pull the pack apart, set the block, set shocks, set bump stop and set limit straps. This shit is fun brother

 

Or should I try installing the overload spring?

 

Maybe. I think a longer shackle is gonna work too. When we set up my truck we did it with the normalish weight on it. It sits perfect loaded down but has probably 2-2.5” of rake empty. Adding a 4th leaf cut to stock Chevy got me where I wanted to be at ride height and nothing bound. Gonna bust your balls again…. It’s in the secret magic sauce recipe fine print

 

Weight that was on it. Weight that was in it. Not sure how much extra weight you added but mine is pretty heavy.

 

Hey hey hey that secret sauce has many twist and turns. Fuck this, I’m gonna link the soab! Lmao. New shackles will be ordered. Tempted to order the 6” and drill extra hole in case I want to go for 5”

 

Not enough I guess :’)

 

14” shock is all you can stuff under the bed. So if this 6” shackle idea doesn’t work out just chop the frame off behind the cab and find another TW thread for recipes.

 

I know man. These is truly one of those projects/mods that set the crowd apart. But yeah we’ll make this shit work if not then I’ll cut the shackle mount, extend the outrigger and paste a new one.

 

OCD kicked in and after looking at 1457 pictures I believe I’m spot on but should have gone for 5”/6” shackles so I’ll order both and go from there lol

 

Im running 5" shackles. From center bolt of frenched hangars to center bolt of top rear hangar im at roughly 61". My outriggers are 3" foward of foward most upper rear bumper bolt with the hangar flush with the rear of the outrigger.