Experimenting w/56" rears & wheelbase-52" fronts; finally some flex testing

[mrk5]

I'd move that diff 1.5" forward...

Rene

I'm still wrestlin' with doing that. That's why I bought the ORD zero-rate, so that I had some adjust ability. Otherwise I would have made my own as just a straight deal. I was playing on the computer and moving it back forward 1.5" does "look" better. I'm really waiting to see how it looks and works with the XLs.

 

[gmc4cw]

in the full side shot it looks like your front shackle is right where the collector flange on the header is. is that so? I have this problem and am trying to find a set of headers that tuck up higher. Do you remember what you are running so that I can avoid them.

 

[mrk5]

They actually clear just fine. There might be a problem on the newer, 87+, truck with the bigger bolts and shackles.

They are Thorley Tri-Ys. I know quite a few guys are running them here. Not sure how many have problems with clearance.

 

[gmc4cw]

aren't tri-y's really expensive?

move the axle forward some it looks weird being back that far.

 

[79k20350]

aren't tri-y's really expensive?

move the axle forward some it looks weird being back that far.

With cheap headers youll get cheap quality/ results

 

[gmc4cw]

I wheeled my truck 3 times this year. Even if I went once a month would that justify real expensive headers? If I drove it on the street I would spend the money. sorry for the hi-jack.

 

[79k20350]

I wheeled my truck 3 times this year. Even if I went once a month would that justify real expensive headers? If I drove it on the street I would spend the money. sorry for the hi-jack.

Then run shortys or live with it. Theres not much you can do about it.

 

[gmc4cw]

there is always something you can do about it. Shorties are expensive too. I wheel with a guy who has Hedman's that are out of the way but he doesn't remember what model they are.

 

[mrk5]

Yeah, the Thorleys are expensive relative to others. But just looking at the flange to the heads, and you get an idea why. Warped flanges is one the biggest differences in quality of headers.

I think the headers you're talking about are for a Chevelle IIRC.

 

[muddybuddy]

any updates bout how ur going to run ur 56's?

 

[mrk5]

any updates bout how ur going to run ur 56's?

I like the 6" shackles, so I'll run those.

I'm going to keep the springs reversed like they are. The only thing I may do is change to zero-rate to move the axle back forward 1.5". I'm still on the fence about that, though. I'll decide for sure once I get the XLs on the truck.

I'm also going to add a leaf back in the pack and run 6 leaves with the overload.

Other than that, I'm anxious to get the truck back on the trail.

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

anyone tired 63s out back and 56s up front?? i got a weird idea for mounting the 63s out back but i aint tellin b/c when it goes to full droop ima look at around 1-1 1/2ft droop before the spring starts to . and for the 56s up front would it be easier to do a reverse shackle and mount the springs w/ the short side towards the front??

 

[sandawgk5]

anyone tired 63s out back and 56s up front?? i got a weird idea for mounting the 63s out back but i aint tellin b/c when it goes to full droop ima look at around 1-1 1/2ft droop before the spring starts to . and for the 56s up front would it be easier to do a reverse shackle and mount the springs w/ the short side towards the front??

You cannot reverse the shackle on the front, besides it is already a compression shackle. Several people on here have put 56s in the front with the short side forward. It move the front axle forward the same as 52s but you do not have to move the upper shackle mount in the frame to correct the angle of the shackle. Also 63s in the rear has been done several times and there was a huge write up aboot it a year or so ago.

Ira

 

[79k20350]

anyone tired 63s out back and 56s up front?? i got a weird idea for mounting the 63s out back but i aint tellin b/c when it goes to full droop ima look at around 1-1 1/2ft droop before the spring starts to . and for the 56s up front would it be easier to do a reverse shackle and mount the springs w/ the short side towards the front??

If your talking about revolver shackles... they bring the ghey

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

nope something i learned from a guy on a ranger forum back when i had one(2 months ago). if i get around to it soon u will see.

 

[spoolnaround]

anyone tired 63s out back and 56s up front?? i got a weird idea for mounting the 63s out back but i aint tellin b/c when it goes to full droop ima look at around 1-1 1/2ft droop before the spring starts to . and for the 56s up front would it be easier to do a reverse shackle and mount the springs w/ the short side towards the front??

I am getting ready to do just that. I have 56" springs in the rear now that are going up front and am going with JY 63's in the rear. A local spring shop will re arch old springs for about $70 here.

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

ur doing which one?? 56s up front? confused as heck right now man lol. i just wish i had some free time to get underneath and mess w/ stuff lol.

 

[mrk5]

Just a little update.

I added one of the leaves back in and I actually gained about an 1" of lift. I now have 5 leaves plus the leaf with the retainers and the overload.

I'm surprised it made that much difference. I measured before and wrote the number down, but I'm still wondering If I misread the tape. But then that would probably mean no change, and I'm not sure I'd believe that either.

Someone had asked about the wheelbase. It measures 111" with the stock front springs and the 56s installed backwards. That's center to center on the axle tubes.

I have decided I'm definitely keeping the rear axle where it is now. I'm going to do some body work and hopefully come out with something like this:

 

[iwaxmyjimmy]

ha ha dude i so read the top half of that and was so wanting to see the pics and i was like wtf its photoshopped and then i re read it and was like oh ok. man looks good though ima follow the same route as u and run 52s up front and 56s out back. but i wont be apart of the one ton club for a while. uve got some great info in the thread so props to u on that. im not even gonna bother buyin a susp lift now b/c o fhow much lift u get from the 52 swap up front. also what size shackle did u end up using? and u didnt swap side correct?

 

[Brians89K5]

Just a little update.

I added one of the leaves back in and I actually gained about an 1" of lift. I now have 5 leaves plus the leaf with the retainers and the overload.

I'm surprised it made that much difference. I measured before and wrote the number down, but I'm still wondering If I misread the tape. But then that would probably mean no change, and I'm not sure I'd believe that either.

Someone had asked about the wheelbase. It measures 111" with the stock front springs and the 56s installed backwards. That's center to center on the axle tubes.

I have decided I'm definitely keeping the rear axle where it is now. I'm going to do some body work and hopefully come out with something like this:

what truck did you pull those springs from and about how much lift did you pull from the setup? I've been going round and roung on getting those for the rear and sticking a set of 52's up front for some more flex but can't seem to commit. I think I may start with the 56's out back and then do the 52's up front. Right now with my 6 inch lift from rough country I still have troubles rubbing on full flex with 36 inch tires.....I have cut my fenders already as well. Any Imput?

~Brian