How to: Chevy 63" Leaf Spring Swap

Bumpstops definitely need to be moved to hit the back of the plate. She has so much flex now. Body roll isn't bad at all. With no weight. Gonna load up some weight and test her out!! She feels fine at highway speeds hitting bumps, she feels like a new truck. Gonna drive her for a week and get back to how she feels. Also adding in another point for the shock to mount on the cross bar to bring it a little more in line

 

Shocks miss everything she fully extends. Maybe running 26x16 shocks will be better (26x18 current) I could get 2 more inches in wheel well on 33's. But u need to get some American steeles with a 5" back spacing to puch the tire away from frame. She's pretty close if I air down she rubs frame now

 

Now time to do a long travel on the front end!

 

I think if the lower shock mounts were on the axle it would be so much more effective. Weld some chock tabs right inside the U-bolts. You could possibly run a longer shock and they would have more dampening effect. Just my opinion of course.

 

We'll see how much room is left after anti wrap bar and truss, might move to a fuel cell, waiting till front gets fixed. One thing at a time, lots of work just to get here definitely gonna run it all winter and wheel in the summer see how this set up feels. Will keep up reviews on how she drives, empty and weighted. Also did the abs delete and she brakes AMAZINGLY if anyone has question happy to answer. It's pretty great on how it breaks now. Straight forward. No bs. The drums are still drums but at least they stop perfectly. She's set up for the disc in the rear. Just need to more $$$$$

 

What size shock you running?

 

26×18 I have a set of 24x16 but I don't want to use my shock as limits straps like the last lift did

 

18” shocks?

 

Yes, came off a 2020 gladiator, new. Had 1 mile on them. cheap af. Got 16" shocks too

 

i think he means 26” extended and 18” compressed length.

 

Yea 26 fully extended 18 fully compressed

 

So what’s the length of the shock? 12” 14” 16”

 

Any chance you measured how high the front tire was off the ground before the rear tire started to lift?

 

That sounds like an 8” shock

 

Cant be he’s got a ton of flex for only a 8” shaft

 

it only has 8” of shock travel but because it’s at such an angle it allows for much higher wheel travel.

edit. This does come with drawbacks. If a shock is expected to be run near vertical running it at 45 degrees is going to cut its effectiveness in half. If the shocks are valved very stiff it may not be an issue. Off road low speed rock crawling it’ll probably be fine but on the road at speed it’s probably going to feel under damped.

 

im on 12s

 

Those are some drool worthy shocks.

 

I want 14 bypasses

 

I did not get a measurement I will try again. She waz up to my knee. Probably 2'. Basically the amount of travel I've gained is probably about a foot or two more. She feels super stiff flexing because the frame is super stiff. I don't feel the body roll more than a jeep. Like it's not as top heavy so I don't feel like I'd roll. She feels so great at speed though. I just put about 250lbs and drove at about 70 hitting all the pot holes I could find. Trying not to be super aggressive in turns rn. No problems here though!!. Feels better with more weight actually. The springs are rated at 1300lbs and the shocks come off a heavier truck too. so It should feel better with a nice bumper, and air tank, maybe put a small water tank back there. Gonna get a shop to re due the exhaust when I install the anti wrap and truss.