How to: Chevy 63" Leaf Spring Swap

Opted for another pack out of a 98 for 140$ will pull the overload and throw an extra leaf of my current homemade pack. Shape looks good and will be replacing bushings with

$81 Energy Suspension 3.2128G Rear Spring Set

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CN95VU going for BAMF shock relocation diy kit and bilstein 14” 7100’s SB’s. Looking fwd to share the shitshow.

 

Wow these ride so smooth (3+1). Just had to flex it out to get them broken in. Happy I made the switch. Didnt think id get this much more flex just swapping leafs on 14" shocks, you can def tell difference from OE length.

 

Hey fellas, I got access to a really good deal on a pair of new Bilstein 7100 14”s short body with the 360/80 valving(mounted on BAMF towers). I’m planning of running the 3 leafs and maybe an anti wrap 4th. I don’t carry weight aside from an ice chest and will be adding a full size 35” on the bed. Should I be good or that valving it’s gonna be a shit show?

I ask here due to the majority of the comments not liking those shocks come from people using them on original leaf length.

 

I am running the same shocks and towers but I'm pretty sure my valving is 255/70 with a camper shell+35+misc stuff in the bed and it rides pretty good. The tire in the bed helps. I'm guessing 360 is a typo -my guess is that would be really stiff but 280/80 is probably not much different.

 

Anyone else with a first gen see splines at full droop? Tires are centered this is my third 63 swap and the first time I've had one with splines show at full droop.

 

Unfortunately is the 360/80 valving. Seems like it’ll be extremely stiff and will need to do the revalue and will end up paying more that just hl getting them from summit racing.

 

Anyone use anti-wrap leafs? If so, what part of the leaf springs do you use and how short did you cut it? I was thinking of using the overload spring as an anti-wrap. Not sure if that's a good idea...lol

 

People have added an extra 1/2 leaf on top from the oem pack to prevent wrap or you could go HD and add the anti wrap bar kit from ruffstuff(this seems to be the route I’ll be taking) cheers!

 

Yea, an RS anti wrap bar kit is the route I'll go eventually too. Looking for a temporary solution until then. The oem leafs are more narrow I believe so may shift left and right?

 

Check post #944

 

I'm sure this is your old setup since you're 3 linked now but do you remember if you had any issues with this antiwrap setup? Was this from a tacoma leaf? and how short was it cut? I have a spare chevy 63 leaf sitting so I was thinking of using one of those leafs or an overload spring? Are these ok too?

 

I took a the bottom leaf from another pack and cut it where the factory Chevy overload spring made the marks. At the time I put my OEM overload spring under it. I ran it like that for a couple years. This year I dropped the truck about an inch in the front and pulled out the overload spring. I haven’t experienced any axle wrap yet. My truck is pretty heavy and sees what I would consider normal trails with dirt and rock, but I’m not rockbouncing it either.

 

The OEM overload is a little narrow. Maybe once a blue moon I had to beat it back straight. It wasn’t all crazy cockeyed. Maybe poking out a 1/4”.

 

Nice! I may just do that. My purpose is to lower the truck as well while preventing some axle wrap. I'm current on 4 leafs no overload so I'm going to remove 1 leaf.

 

https://www.hopp.bio/supreme-fab-works?utm_id=120209545444460617

here is a Chevy 63 kit. What’s everyone’s thoughts?

 

I'm running those they're mint

 

I've never really looked, mine probably gets close but I also don't have 14" shocks so I have some limiting id bet

 

Seems expensive for no more than you get, but I'm sure it's much easier than figuring out the placement of the hangers and welding everything.

 

Yup. Cool concept.

 

The guess work is where all the magic happens.