My experience ordering springs from Alcan Spring

[Zeus33rd]

$1050 for 2 8" lift fronts and 2 4" lift rears, plus $150-170 shipping. $265 ea for the fronts and $260 each for the rears. It takes 3-4 weeks and they don't charge your card till the springs ship.

The guy I talked to, Jason, was frickin awesome. He asked me a LOT of questions about the truck, what size tires and what type rims and axles it has, (to figure unsprung weight) why I only wanted 4" rears, (shackle flip) how much the truck weighs, what shocks I planned on, how much the winch/bumper I plan on weighs, how much I think I might be carrying in the back....etc. I had front, rear and over all weights for my truck, he seemed really happy to have that info right away. Said with the 4" rears and shackle flip I'd have a really nice performing spring. I told him I already have the Bilstein 5100 shocks, said that's exactly what he was gonna suggest. Talked about adding air bags or Timbrens in case I needed to haul/tow really heavy stuff. Answered every question I had right away, it was obvious he knew exactly what he was talking about.

After my experience trying to order BDS springs, I was not looking forward to a possible repeat. Everything I read about Alcan's customer service was good, and this was no exception.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Aren't the Alcans a super soft spring for extreme amounts of flex? Why would you choose such a spring for a DD/tow rig? Just curious is all, not trying to bust your balls.

 

[blazinzuk]

They can be, but they are a custom built spring pack. So you can build them a little stiffer for a daily driver or a little softer for a wheeler.

I bet the springs he gets are going to be I have never heard a bad word about alcan

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Aren't the Alcans a super soft spring for extreme amounts of flex? Why would you choose such a spring for a DD/tow rig? Just curious is all, not trying to bust your balls.

Why would you do 8" of lift or custom springs for such a thing either? Neither will make it a better DD or tow rig.

To each their own.

 

[Zeus33rd]

Alcan's can be ordered how ever you want them. Mine are being built to carry the same weight rating as the stock springs, but ride a little nicer too. I did make a little compromise towards ride quality....for the heavier weights, I plan on Firestone bags or the Timbrens.

I asked about how many leaves in each spring, he said they wouldn't know till the spring was built, but 6-7 for the fronts and 9-10 for the rears was typical.

 

[Zeus33rd]

Why would you do 8" of lift or custom springs for such a thing either? Neither will make it a better DD or tow rig.

To each their own.

It isn't going to be either one of those things. I have a DD and don't need a tow rig. This is a weekend street queen....a drive around and say "hey look at me!" truck.

Custom springs for a couple reasons. Mainly because BDS customer service sucks ass. I'll never talk to those assholes and the shipping company they use ever again. And these Alcans were only about $150 more than the same from BDS. The other reason is because I want this truck to ride and handle relatively nice on springs that aren't going to sag 2" over time. I plan on keeping it for a looong time, none of the other spring makers had a spring that would do what I want. They either ride like an empty dump truck or like an old Caddy on worn out shocks.

~edit~
I forgot about the tires. 39" Michelins and I'm not willing to take the sawz-all to this truck. 8" springs to keep them out of the fenders.

 

[Fordum]

an old Caddy on worn out shocks.

Whoa, Hoss. I know what you mean, but don't knock an old Caddy with worn out shocks.
You get in the back with an enthusiastic young lady, and its way better than a waterbed....

Or so I remember.......

 

[Zeus33rd]

Wow man....you doin ok? I think that was one of the shortest replies I've ever seen you type.

 

[Smokinthehippies]

NICE!

this is exaclty what i was hopoing to see when you told me you were gonna be ordering from them.

sounds like it went awesome. make sure to keep us updated with pics and opinions when you get them in.

 

[KansasTwister]

Wow man....you doin ok? I think that was one of the shortest replies I've ever seen you type.

thats what she said

 

[Zeus33rd]

NICE!

this is exaclty what i was hopoing to see when you told me you were gonna be ordering from them.

sounds like it went awesome. make sure to keep us updated with pics and opinions when you get them in.

I'll have a build thread started the first part of November when I get back to Cali on leave. So a couple more months. I've got three weeks to build the truck before I'll have to drive it all the way back to Georgia...I've got a LOT to do, so there will be daily updates and pictures for almost 3 weeks straight. I've been ordering so many parts the last few months, that I don't really remember what all I've ordered. I think I'm up over $6k now with the tires. When my gramps told me there was almost 30 packages waiting for me there, I knew it was time to slow down. Gramps also said he's gotten to be on a first name basis with the UPS driver on that route.

~edit~
You should ride up to Grass valley while I'm there, drink some beer and watch me turn wrenches and burn some MIG wire.

 

[Fordum]

Yep, doing fine. Just kinda got lost in the memories for a minute.

Plus wanted to post the latest installment of Intervention.

I like that song.

Plus I like the "group" doing it, and figure if I can get more people interested in them, maybe they will produce more stuff.

I have a girl, friend, out in Ca. who is a past sporting clays champion. She told me she knew the guy who writes and performs all their stuff.
He is a big shooter, and she has shot with him before.

I told her the next time she saw him tell him I wanted a sequel to Intervention.

He done sequels to others, God's janitor, what-have-you, but not that one.

I also told her he needs to re-release it with the music lower. Its too loud in this one, and you have to strain to hear the words.

I wish they had it online. You and the guys you are hanging with right now would really get a kick out of it.
Its similar to what you are doing.

If you get a wild hair and want to download it, its 99 cents from Amazon.

The name is Celestial Navigations, the album is Ice, and of course the name of the song is Intervention.

The one just before it, Reginald, I think its called, is NSFW.

UhOh, looks like you got me started again......

 

[Smokinthehippies]

I'll have a build thread started the first part of November when I get back to Cali on leave. So a couple more months. I've got three weeks to build the truck before I'll have to drive it all the way back to Georgia...I've got a LOT to do, so there will be daily updates and pictures for almost 3 weeks straight. I've been ordering so many parts the last few months, that I don't really remember what all I've ordered. I think I'm up over $6k now with the tires. When my gramps told me there was almost 30 packages waiting for me there, I knew it was time to slow down. Gramps also said he's gotten to be on a first name basis with the UPS driver on that route.

~edit~
You should ride up to Grass valley while I'm there, drink some beer and watch me turn wrenches and burn some MIG wire.

damn sounds like that should be a fun three weeks!
i might have to just do that. you said its in november?
are you getting stationed in georgia and leaving GV? or just a trip?

 

[Zeus33rd]

I'm stationed at Ft. Stewart in Georgia. When we leave here, it's back to Ft. Stewart for a couple weeks of re-integration training, then most of November for 30 days post deployment leave. I'm from Cali and Grass Valley is home, so that's where I'm taking leave. 3 weeks or so hanging out, shooting guns, drinking to much and building the truck, then I'm allowing my self a week to drive the pig back to Georgia.

Would be kinda cool to have a few guys from here and other forums around to hand me wrenches and drink my beer. I miss hangin around people that don't wear ACU's at work.

 

[NorCal69]

Would be kinda cool to have a few guys from here and other forums around to hand me wrenches and drink my beer.

I'll be the first to offer up my services by handing wrenches and drinking Your beer.

Grass Valley is not that far from the "ville".

 

[Smokinthehippies]

I'm stationed at Ft. Stewart in Georgia. When we leave here, it's back to Ft. Stewart for a couple weeks of re-integration training, then most of November for 30 days post deployment leave. I'm from Cali and Grass Valley is home, so that's where I'm taking leave. 3 weeks or so hanging out, shooting guns, drinking to much and building the truck, then I'm allowing my self a week to drive the pig back to Georgia.

Would be kinda cool to have a few guys from here and other forums around to hand me wrenches and drink my beer. I miss hangin around people that don't wear ACU's at work.

so after your leave are you back to GA or are you getting stationed somewhere else later on? i wouldnt have a problem drinking beer for you.
i think i'll have to stay away from the wrenches tho. based on past performances, when i get involved in wrenching, usually pop rivets and zip ties are involved hahaha.
(not sure those would make it out to georgia)

I'll be the first to offer up my services by handing wrenches and drinking Your beer.

Grass Valley is not that far from the "ville".

holy frijoles, GV is about a solid 3 hrs north of me. but i'm sure i could find an excuse to go way up there.

 

[Zeus33rd]

I'll be the first to offer up my services by handing wrenches and drinking Your beer.

Grass Valley is not that far from the "ville".

Sweet. The more the merrier.

You're right, Oroville is only like....30 mins or so? from Grass Valley. When I worked for High Angle Driveline years ago, I commuted to Paradise from Grass Valley for a month before I moved to Paradise. Drove through Oroville everyday. Funky town.

so after your leave are you back to GA or are you getting stationed somewhere else later on? i wouldnt have a problem drinking beer for you.
i think i'll have to stay away from the wrenches tho. based on past performances, when i get involved in wrenching, usually pop rivets and zip ties are involved hahaha.
(not sure those would make it out to georgia)


holy frijoles, GV is about a solid 3 hrs north of me. but i'm sure i could find an excuse to go way up there.

Damn....3 hours? I don't know why, but I had convinced myself that Sunnyvale was just an hour or so south, Sacramento area. lol, I guess not!

And I'm headed back to Georgia...for the foreseeable future at least. The earliest I could see myself getting out of there and closer to the west coast would be sometime after 2012. That's when my re-enlistment window opens. I can try to re-enlist for somewhere closer to home. Ft. Irwin, CA or Ft. Lewis, WA perhaps. I would really like to go to Ft. Carson, CO though.

 

[Smokinthehippies]

its right in SJ. i'm down by Scott(4x4high)

 

[K85 Octane]

remember the bags
you don't want to test their strength this way

 

[4X4HIGH]

its right in SJ. i'm down by Scott(4x4high)

I haven't seen Joe in several years now so maybe i'll go as well and we can "ride share" up there together. Of course that all depends on if our schedules will work together to make that happen. I've been up to Joe's gramps house a couple times and the first time I was there was when I first met Joe and drove up to help him with his 454 he was building.