spring suspension????

[BIGBlack87K5]

Hey guys i was wondering what it would take to put regular coil suspension with a 4 inch lift instead of 4" lift leafs on my 87 k5.
I dont really mind the rough ride but it would be nice to be able to keep a drink in the cup holder haha and i would like more articulation.

I was thinking like a jeep tj set up cuz my brother has one , it seems pretty simple and he gets great articulation even with the sway bar connected compared to my blazer. then again I am not a suspension guru

 

[Phewson1]

Coils

If youknow how to weld, know basic geometry, and can fabricate tubing, then it shouldn't be a problem. The hardest part will be the brackets and shorter but equal trailing arms. If you look at the jeep, the locating or trailing arms are paraell to each other. You will need to desiderata if you want a 3 or 4 link setup. Driving on the pavemnt will be scary if it is not exactly perfect. Sway bars will be a must, and the longer the coil spring, the larger all the other componets need to be. Check out 4x4 extreme( the tv show on spike) they have a pretty detailed DVD on a complete tube truggy they built with complete one off coilover 4 link suspention.

 

[BoondocK5]

Lots of guys have done it. Ballistic Fab has all the brackets and shtuff to make it happen. ORD has a project truck that has the coil spring set up all ready on it. they are selling the suspension and everythign right now on the ORD site.

 

[Phewson1]

Good to know, You still need to weld that kit on?

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

You can't just throw some links between the frame and axle and assume it will work, there is lots of geometry that goes into where links are placed.

If you just throw them wherever they fit you might get a nicer ride with the coils but everything else will be terrible; the truck hopping or rising/squating when you hit the throttle, instability, the axle moving side to side in turns etc.

You can get leaves that are plenty soft if that's what you want.

If you're interested in links, they're a better setup but require much more effort and time in design.