How to: Chevy 63" Leaf Spring Swap

Them springs will settle a lot

 

Pair the 63’s with a good set of coilovers and “ride like a Cadillac” takes on a whole new meaning. @Timbo's Customs can vouch for me on that.

 

I set my up travel to 6 1/2”, hoping that it’ll settle about 1 1/2” and I’ll end up with 5” up travel.

This was my best guess

 

That should be fine.

 

Get those springs flexing to get them broken in.

 

Thank you @Timbo's Customs and @Trident904 for all of your input and advice. I know I sent plenty of private messages and had lots of question. Also thanks to this thread and the people posting in it.
It’s all appreciated

 

@SMKYTXN i just noticed you’re in Houston. I might be moving to Cypress soon. If I do, I’ll have to look you up and check out your setup.

 

Go for it. I'm still working on her, but I'll have her back at the house in a month or two.

 

My 63’s are actually starting to sag a little. They flex really well i think because they are so soft. Idk if I should put the overload leaf back in or try and add a random AAL? What do you guys think?

 

How bad is the sag?

 

It used to be ass high, now its level ish. The passenger side is down about 1/2” from the drivers side. Idk, maybe im just mind dealing it, but id like it a little firmer as well.

 

Have stock leafs around ? Cut down a leaf and put it in the pack

 

I have some scraps. I was thinking that. I may clean and paint the overloads and try them. Should help with axle wrap, might lessen the up travel but still droop well.

 

You can also take a magnetic angle finder and put it against the pinion. write down that degree number. Then put it on the flange on the back of the t case. Right down that angle. Subject the difference and order that degree of axle shin.

 

Hey you guys been reading about the 63" swap to do on my 1st gen, I see everyone mount the front hangers under the frame and the shackles mounted outside the frame. Why the reason? My shackle mounts under the frame so the leafs are parallel with the frame.

 

Your Frame is different. The 05 and up the rear frame is tapered in the back so we have to put the outriggers on. Or it would look like /\ for ours

 

I fixed my shackle hangers yesterday. Took a grinder and trimmed the front of the hangers, then welded a new set of hangers against the front of them. The vibrations are gone and the ride height is so much better. It was almost 3” ass high when I first did the swap. Now it’s ~1.5” ass high.

 

Any pics of towing/hauling with the 63's? I tow 8', 14' and 16' trailers often......1,000s of pounds of tables, chairs, dirt, stone and whatever else my Mexican family feels like working on. Currently have Dakars with the extra leaf in. I carry about 200lbs in bed at all times.

 

3 leaf pack with no over load. My 18' horse trailer full when we moved. definitely squatted

 

I finally put my overloads in. Ride is less caddy like, should ride nice with a few hundred pounds in the bed. Axle wrap is totally gone, the squat feel on take off is gone. Love it so far.