Doin the 63" Chevy leaf swap.

[Woods-Rider]

Does the E-brake cable on the pass side go over or under the springs? I put it over thinking it would be more protected but there isn't much slack for down travel. I just can't remember how it was before i took it apart.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I had to build and extension for the ebrake cable mount where it attaches to the front hanger to relocate it back to the stock position. My cables are ontop of the springs. Right now i'm running my stock block with the chevy leafs and an extended shackle that measures 7.5" eye to eye for around 6" of lift.

Install is looking good, wait till you flex it out, you'll love it. The on road ride is much improved aswell compares to the stock leafs.

 

[Woods-Rider]

Did you leave the overload leaf? was your pack from a 2wd or 4wd?

 

[bobbywalter]

you can run some angle at the bottom of the rail and drop the hanger as well you know to dump the blocks and tune the lift to needs.

 

[Woods-Rider]

Slow progress today. I need to make a trip to Napa to pick up some longer U-bolts and decided to go with the belltec 6400 shackles, but i need to coordinate with my brother to use his truck. should wrap things up today though and ill post up some before and after flex shots.

 

[Woods-Rider]

anyone have any pics of their E-brake bracket after this swap?

 

[Woods-Rider]

Got everything together minus the bed and took it for a test drive. It was REALLY stiff but thats what i expected since i left all 4 leafs and the overload on. So now ill go back and take some off, just have to decide which ones and how many.

 

[Hondafreak08]

so i really want to do this swap. Let me get ths right 88-98 chevy 1500 4x4 or 2wd 63'' leafs.. And use the stock ranger shackles/brackets.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Did you leave the overload leaf? was your pack from a 2wd or 4wd?

I believe mine were out of a 2wd, i removed the overload and have 3 leafs left in my pack.

I don't have any pics of my e brake hanger extension, but its just a piece of flat par that is 6" long welded to the stock bracket.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

you can run some angle at the bottom of the rail and drop the hanger as well you know to dump the blocks and tune the lift to needs.

Either its been a long day or I don't quite understand what you're getting at bobby...?


Oh and hondafreak...to complete this swap you need a set of the 63" leafs, you need to remove the front spring hanger from the frame and move it 6" forward, you will also need a set of extended shackles.

 

[Woods-Rider]

so now its all done minus the bed still since i need my bros help to get it on. With the 5 leafs is was really stiff and didnt flex too well since my shock was maxed (just over 12" of travel).Oh and i threw on some Belltech 6400's.

So i went back to the drawing board and took out a leaf and the overload which left me with three leafs. It rides like a caddy now! all tires are still on the ground in (unlike in the pics above) and looks to have the same flex. I am pretty confident that it will perform better with the bed weight back there also. It is yet to be seen as to whether or not i will need some longer shocks. still have about 3" left with the three leaf setup and no bed weight.I dont have too many pics yet but will get more hopefully soon.

Here are some before flex pics for comparison even though the bed is on in these.

 

[bobbywalter]

you can tune the ride by removing leafs...or adding thinner leafs ect....


and then set ride height by lowering the front spring hanger on the frame

and maybe adding a longer shackle, or lowering the rear shackle hanger.

dodge dakota rear shackle hangers will raise ride ht over an inch. but remember your d shaft angles...

to support lowering the spring hangers bottom holes past the rail, put plate to the side of the frame that extends down past the rail and or angle on the bottom of the frame to support the two lower mounting holes on the spring hanger. similar to a fullsize chevy.

alot of people do that to shitcan the factory block.

 

[Woods-Rider]

Here is a back to back comparison from before the swap and after. before I had stock leafs with 6" of stacked blocks. after i have the stock 2" block, 3 63" chevy leafs and Belltech 6400 shackles. FYI, i know in the before pic the tire is not off the ground but there is no weight on it, i could pull up on the bumper very lightly and it would lift.
Before is on the top, after is below for each view

 

[Redneckryder]

ok---i am not trying to hijack, but could you get the 63 inchers, and re-arch them to fit the ranger mounts?

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

that would be a pretty big arch and most likey ride like crap and not flex at all, which would defeat the purpose of the swap the first place.

Woods-rider - looks good, gained some flex too. Are the shocks to short now? Also, how long are the belltech shackles eye to eye?