Exploder SAS... Jeep leaf???

[UrbanRedneckKid]

I'm going to start collecting parts for my next SAS. Plans...
99 5.0 EB Sploder....... Have
79 FW D44 front ......... Have
90's Sterling rear.........need
Manual 4wd t-case swap...need
SOA rear w/ 2" block....have
35/12.50R20................need
Front leaves???............need

Building as a daily driver, I know don't shun me, I have toys, tired of being lame on the street.

So here's my question. What Front leaf springs would be the best for this heavy SOB, and still net me around 8-9" of lift?
The pictured Ex below, has stock 5 leaf Waggy springs, but was reported to have settled 3" with a 4.0....

The springs I had in mind were the 7 leaf 2.5" CJ/YJ Superlift...

What I got...

What I'm going for, except w/ 20"s...

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

Nobody has messed around with Jeep springs...?

 

[Ford78]

Iv got the rancho 44044 jeep wagoner leaf springs in the front of mine. i like them so far.

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

Well... At first I thought your truck was taller than what I wanted, but then again... I have a SUV with a V8, and my running boards and fender flares will make it look lower.

I pictured your truck, when it was on the 35"s with the flares and boards, I think that might be about right... Right? And it would probably only squat about an inch or so being as the spring rate is 300ppi...?

 

[Ford78]

You could always use a shorter drop brakets/shackles for the leaf springs to lower your height.

 

[bobbywalter]

i had issues with these and a v8 setup and winch. in retrospect it may have been the initial shackle setup that was the problem. they worked great on stock 4.3 blazer and 4.0 rangers though, so i was surprised about my issues. had i went front shackle off the bat it may have been better. i folded up stock rbv rears like a cheap tent as well which pissed me off to no end. so i had to hybrid some dodge stuff cause i could not get waggy stuff again cheap enough. the unsprung weight of the 60 had some impact as well.


i have beat up and w'd everything i have used with it. cant explain some of it, the diff side can only go up 3.5 inches before it taps out....maybe a shorter bump on the passenger side would keep it in control...


currently i am 3600 on my front axle. chevy 52 springs.

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

So what are you saying Mr. Bob?

I need a bastard spring pack w/ front shackles...?

I haven't had good luck with my bastard 64"s in my Ranger... I don't really wanna deal with that on the Sploder.

Any thoughts on using oem Explorer leaves w/ an add-a-leaf? I could go get 2 right springs from Pick and Pull, or C-list.

 

[bobbywalter]

weigh the sploder front and rear.


call a few shops like deaver/alcan and tell em what you have. if i could afford alcan i would prefer them. the idea of fawking up 800-1000 dollar set of leaf springs makes me ill.


if you tighten up the travel arc the waggy may be perfect in the heavier pack.


i am stuck mostly with junkyard stuff on my personal junk. my current front pack setup out front, is oem replacement k truck rears. they are straight steel with no spacers or sliderpads which makes them less then stellar in flex and ride but not indelible.

i run the bastardized packs that contain 2wd 150 stuff out back...but they are beat to death. 2 of the intermediates been back there since 03 or so and re-arched a few times with the ol bender.

start with weight and go from there.

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

Can't bring the Sploder in the shop for a while. It's full of $$$$$ projects. And I have nowhere else to set-up the scales.

I refuse to pay out the @$$ for parts, $1000 is asinine for a pair of leafs. I'm looking to spend around $100/ea at the most. Partially why I'm looking at aftermarket Jeep springs, cause they are cheap.

 

[n_bannerman]

I'm running the rancho 44044 and they are nice and soft compared to rbv coils and are a comfy soft ride but I have half the cylinders that you do.

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

Well shoot. I'm looking for something near the stiffness of the factory IFS, maybe just a little softer. And I will be retaining the sway bar, as I said before, it will be a street queen.

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

What about front leaves from a V8 equipped 1/2 ton, like 80s K10/ V10..?

Surely I could did up a set of those springs, and if I needed more height there are tons of options.


***or would length be an issue...? I definitely want to keep the front hangers behind the bumper.

 

[bobbywalter]

reg chev are fine.


maybe some 2 or 4 in lift variants.


the j20 types would be too heavy possibly but in oem form are different then the regular waggy when you look at them and measure them.


the rear 52 i have are too stout for what your planning so far but the 1500 fronts should be great if they are padded. the dodge springs suck, as they have tiny eyes.


250-300 is going rate for oem replacements. lift springs may be cheaper if you look around.