best front springs

[blazin_blazer]

i have a 1985 k10 that i put the diy4x shackle flip on rear of it, and was wondering which front spring would be the best match? price is a factor here.

the truck will see very little, if any off road, mostly fire trails or field rows. i think the shackle flip is supposed to be around 4" of lift, so I've been looking for 4" front springs, i am planning on just a little more lift up front, where i will use a zero rate to raise another inch up & mainly, move axle forward an inch or 1.5". that should also fix the slight rake these trucks came with from the factory & get tires out of the firewall at the same time. i found online a set of skyjacker 4" for $129 for BOTH front springs (w/free shipping for next few days) they are at jc Whitney, while everywhere else I've looked lists any 4" fronts at $150+ a side +shipping...what do you think about these I've linked?? thoughts? are these a waste of money? or?? anyone with experience?...well, they are saying they have a lifetime warranty, so, i think i'm ordering a set today, but would like to hear what ya'll have to say about these springs.

also i'd like to know what size tire will i be able to run with this setup. 36x12.50 or will 38x12.50 fit with 5" of total lift?? or should i stay even smaller w/ 35's? i'll probably go irok radials or tsl sx's(bc they just look sexy), but im open to other suggestions for aggressive looking "street" tires. now remember this will be a mall crawler, so very little twisting it up, if any. im thinking the last 38x12.50 i bought, was closer to 36" than 38" on a 10" wide rim, so i'm not sure yet on tires, i want to see some different lift tire combo's, so i guess im going to go check out pics in the sticky thread "how will my truck look with xx lift & tires" here's the springs i'll be ordering today.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/skyjacker-leaf-spring/p3069956.jcwx?skuId=1139005&filterid=d50263y1985g82j1

edit:truck has 3/4 ton 8 lug axles & i have a set of 17" hummer aluminum wheels i want to use, so my tires will be 17's, i think it would be cool to run 36x13.50x17 or 37x14x17 irok's , or maybe the 36x12.50x17 tsl sx's since they look more aggressive with its sidewall lugs or will radials serve me better since it will see alot of road time. like the irok radials in 35X14.50R17LT, 36X13.50R17LT, or 37X12.50R17LT..just bouncing ideas around, i'd like to hear how & what you would do, the truck is still all stock except for the rear shackle flip.

 

[Greg72]

What axle gears do you have?

Slapping on a big set of tires without the right gearing is going to turn that truck into a real turd on the road, and you'll definitely pour a lot more heat into the transmission too.

Pick the tire diameter that you want, then work backwards from there to design the rest of the setup...


-G

 

[blazin_blazer]

it has a sm465/np205 out of an 83 1 ton & 4.11 rear/4.10 front both out of a 84 3/4 ton. it has a toasted sbc in it for now, i have a 454 on engine stand that i've started tearing down, i also have a 366, that has forged crank & ive been told the rods are also forged steel in it . but im going w/the 366 crank/rods, along with some forged pistons (@9.5:1 to 10:1 comp) balanced. a 268 or 272 comp cam k-kit & performer rpm intake all in my 454 block w/781 heads to make a stout 427 bbc.

i really just wanted to know if those springs w/zero rate up front, will be pretty close to same lift as my diy4x shackle flip out back.

then i just chose to ask if 37's will fit said 4" lift + 1" zero rate up front & shackle flipped rear or would i need 36's or even smaller 35's..truck is/will be a mall queen as its super clean & tight...the doors can be pushed closed with the lightest push with fingers, almost new everywhere, no rust, so no offroading for this 1. just want to build this 1 as a poser. i have another truck that will get the wee beat out of it, that way i may can keep the nice truck nice

 

[boz42]

i really just wanted to know if those springs w/zero rate up front, will be pretty close to same lift as my diy4x shackle flip out back.

In my experience you will not need a zero-rate to level it. The 4" springs will most likely get the job done. There are many vairables to it though so it is near impossible to say.


Truth be told all of the info you are looking for should be a pretty easy search.

 

[80' 427]

I have a 427 built with a 366 crank. Don't waste your time. The 25 cubes will more than make up for the crank and you aren't going to break a cast crank anyway. Just build the 454. If you are going to change the stroke at all go 4.25 instead. My 427 runs very hard but in a truck you want cubes and tq not hp at 7500. Fyi all chevy v8 rods are forged. The 366 has what is called "truck" or thumb rods and are slightly stronger. Not really worth the time when after you get new bolts and have them sized you could be close to a nice set of aftermarket rods that are lighter and way better.

 

[Greg72]

If your not going to wheel it at all you can put almost any tire you want. I ran a set of 35's on my old '87 K5 with NO lift... They were sitting around doing nothing so I just bolted them on for fun. Everything cleared with the tires pointed straight ahead, but I had to nip the front fenders slightly to get them to clear when turning.

In retrospect it was a pretty stupid idea since the truck wouldn't really stay in OD with 3.73 gearing and those tires. I sold it before I ever got around to regearing it.

With the sm465 and 4.10s you'll be fine on the highway, but even with a healthy BBC it's still going to seem a bit pokey with a large tire setup.


-G


BTW -> I had to laugh when you said "price is a factor" at the beginning of this thread and then mentioned that you are planning to build a BBC a few paragraphs later!

 

[454Sub]

Yea, I would stick with 35s or 36s with the 4.10s. Anymore than that and its still going to be bogging and all that, regardless of the BB.

And the factory 454 crank will be fine, its not like your going to be twisting it to 7500 rpm. But I would recommend getting ARP rod bolts and putting them in the factory rods, as the rods arnt really all that weak, but the bolts were. Do that and have no fear. And a side thought, why go with super pricey forged pistons? Your not using NOS or forced induction are you? But I do understand your want of them, as I installed them on my BB, and I dont have NOS or FI.