1st Gen Leaf Spring Options: Max Travel?

I carry a lot of weight, so I figured the 63s would give me more flex and more capacity. Jury is still out, haven't taken the new set up on any test runs yet

 

Bringing this thread back to the top with a couple more questions...
Initially Alcan, Deaver, or Atlas looked like great options. But they were going to be $900-$1200. Seeing the price on those options pushed me towards the 63 swap since I have the ability to do that myself. Since the project was going to involve installing new hangers and shackles anyways, I considered using a Deaver J66 pack that was on hand. From what I understand about that leaf pack, it seems that wouldn't be able to handle the weight required on longer trips so that seems like a bad idea. Would the J66 have enough capacity on the lighter truck to handle more added weight or is that going to result in cutting everything off and doing it again?
Assuming the J66 pack won't work, the plan now is to do the 63 swap. All the hardware is on hand: Slag Factory 63 swap kit, tubing for inboard shock mounts, Gen 1 Raptor shocks, extended brake line, bump stops, shock mount tabs, U bolt bracket, everything. Just need to snag some 63s and start working.
Looking for some input on the details of the 63 pack. From what I understand the early 2000s half ton packs are ideal. Is that correct?

 

Any pack will really do; you're likely to modify (remove leafs) it for your use anyway. Personally, I'd look for a 5-leaf pack, so you have the most flexibility in modification. Mine came off a '93 K2500.

Zane @Speedytech7 wrote up one of these too, but here was the process he and I used on my swap, including a bit of a discussion on leaf pack options.

Step-by-Step: Chevy 63 Leaf Spring Swap on a Tacoma – ADVENTURETACO

• Chevy 63 leaf springs - there are many variants of these leaf springs, and the pack needed for any Tacoma will be dependent on the configuration of the Tacoma. Pick up a pack that is "close" to suiting your Tacoma, then add/remove leafs in order to get the ride stiffness and height desired. Note: These should run between $15 and $100 for a pair of packs at a junk yard/pick-n-pull.
  • Leaf packs from a '88-98 Chevy/GMC 1500/2500 2WD/4WD truck are generally stiffer than the newer packs and will work well for Xtra and DoubleCab Tacomas.
    • 3+1 (3 leafs + 1 overload leaf) - from 1/2-ton 2WD/4WD trucks. These are the softest springs, with the least load carrying capacity (but generally still plenty for any 1st gen Tacoma).
    • 4+1 - from 3/4-ton 2WD/4WD trucks. A compromise between the 3+1 and 5+1 options.
    • 5+1 - from 1-ton 2WD/4WD trucks. These are the stiffest springs, with the most load-carrying capacity.
  • Leaf packs from a newer '99+ models are softer than the older springs, 2 leaf and 3 leaf varieties are great for a single cab Tacoma. These were also found in '91+ leaf spring-equipped 1500-3500 Tahoes and Suburbans.

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The project is started. Bed, shell, bumper, tow package, and spare tire/carrier have all been removed. Everything else will come off tonight and hopefully the front hangers will be laid out as well. The pack I got has 5 leaves + overload. It looks like using the bottom leaf (not overload) plus the top two will make the equivalent of the typical 3 spring pack. Any input on ride height? I'd like to keep it pretty low to avoid having to lift the front much. The plan is to french the front hangers in, and maybe the shackle hangers too.

 

Everything is tacked in place now. It has the main spring in with a spacer beneath to simulate the thickness of the other leaves, I haven't put them in and checked ride height anything yet. The pinion angle is a little off, about 5 degrees. Does the pinion angle usually require correction with this swap or not? Most build threads don't mention having to do so. Right now the plan is to correct it with a shim.

 

How off is it? may change a bit more with weight on it BTW

 

From what I measured last night with a digital level it's 5 degrees. That makes sense, when I get the final spring configuration settled on at ride height I'll take a final measurement.

 

There are no correction measures on my set up.

 

Should be able to get everything coated and through final assembly this week. With that, I'm looking for some details on how many leafs and which ones are needed. Looks like @turbodb and @El Taco Diablo ended up with 4 leafs. This truck will have a topper on most of the time, but no rack or RTT. All of my armor is aluminum as well as the swingout with a 35" spare. Typical loads for hunting trips may be 300 lbs, 800lbs absolute max with two guys, gear, and animals headed home. I was thinking that the 1/2 ton Chevy configuration with only 3 leafs (main leaf, longest second leaf, and the shortest leaf) may work for this truck. Is is the extra weight capacity or axle wrap that leads most guys to use the added leaf (3rd from top)?

 

I have ended up with four leafs on my pack, but they aren't the first four I started with. When Zane kindly readied the pack for me, he'd removed the second leaf from the bottom. That rode too low, so I put that leaf back in, restoring it to a full 5-leaf pack. That added a couple inches even with the weight I carry, so I ended up removing the third leaf from the bottom; back to four leafs, but a different four than I started with.

see: Perfecting the Chevy63 Leaf Pack

What exact combination of leafs you'll use will vary based on both your truck, but also based on the specific leaf pack you get (and its history). There's no way to really tell prior to get it installed on your truck, and looking at it. I'd recommend planning on taking the leafs out at least once after the initial install, to get the pack "right."

 

I'm running 5 leafs now. I started off with 4 but it didn't seem to be enough. And it was bottoming out too much whoops.

After I tested, I put the 5th leaf back in, raised my bumps a little, lowered my lower shock mounts, and added some pressure to the hydro bumps.



Axle wrap isn't really a thing for me lol.

 

Thanks for the input! Looks like I better start with 4 leafs, probably the top three plus the shortest bottom one.

 

Mine sits like this fully loaded (minus gas cans).


That's with all tools, spares, camp gear, cooler, 6 gallons of water, recovery gear and a 37 inch spare. There's a rear winch mounted too.