Ok guys... I have searched and read, searched and read, and on multiple sites. I think I am educated enough to solicate further feed back on suspension.
My vehicle is a 78 k10 shortbox. 8 lug dana 44 front. 14 bolt sf rear. 4bt cummins, NV4500, NP241. about 4" lift and 33" tires. Don't plan on going any higher or bigger tires. This is a good driver, hunting and backwoods exploring pickup. Gets down the forest service roads and trails excellent and hauls dirtbikes great. Doesn't see hardcore rocks. Goal -Flex is good, but I am really wanting a nice ride.
When I got the pickup it had about a 4" lift. Had some plastic blocks in the rear about 3.5 inches thick, beneath the factory 52" rear springs. It sat nose high in the front with some 6 leaf lift springs with yellow bushings. I am guessing superlifts mega high spring rate ones? When I did the motor and drivetrain swap, I thought these springs might be great with the heavier motor. I pulled out the 350/465/205 combo and the front height did not change. Dropped in the 4bt/4500/241 combo and the front height did not change! These springs are stiff!
Now for the avice-
Rear- currrently running a DIY4x shackle flip and with perches re-drilled to move rear axle back and 1.5". Stock 52" springs. Rides plenty rough, but may be bearable to try some greasable bolts/bushings and live with it. Will 56s provide a much better ride in the rear?
Front- Currently running the 6 leaf lift springs that the truck came with but I removed the lower two leaves and replaced with a zero rate moving the axle forward 1". This did help with the ride, but now the srings are starting to "W" and I will have to replace soon. They still ride really rough. No sway bar and have a SKY crossover setup already.
Would 52s be to soft and squirly for my usage? I have read that some people don't like them on the road for a daily driver and I am worried that may be compounded by having the 4bt up front. I don't care if there is some body roll, but I don't want it insane. If 52s are what I do, then this woud provide incetive to do 56s in the rear and move the factory 52s up front.
Option two- and the one I am leaning toward is - tuff country EZ ride (HD pack?), and move the factory shackle mount forward to get a better shackle angle. Re-drill the axle perch to keep it in its current location of 1" forward. And maybe run greasable bushings.
Mostly need suggestions from those of you with 52s. And think about how I use my truck and what 52s would be like with an extra 250 pounds of diesel engine up front. Or are some of you running 52s as a daily driver and a 6.2 diesel?
My vehicle is a 78 k10 shortbox. 8 lug dana 44 front. 14 bolt sf rear. 4bt cummins, NV4500, NP241. about 4" lift and 33" tires. Don't plan on going any higher or bigger tires. This is a good driver, hunting and backwoods exploring pickup. Gets down the forest service roads and trails excellent and hauls dirtbikes great. Doesn't see hardcore rocks. Goal -Flex is good, but I am really wanting a nice ride.
When I got the pickup it had about a 4" lift. Had some plastic blocks in the rear about 3.5 inches thick, beneath the factory 52" rear springs. It sat nose high in the front with some 6 leaf lift springs with yellow bushings. I am guessing superlifts mega high spring rate ones? When I did the motor and drivetrain swap, I thought these springs might be great with the heavier motor. I pulled out the 350/465/205 combo and the front height did not change. Dropped in the 4bt/4500/241 combo and the front height did not change! These springs are stiff!
Now for the avice-
Rear- currrently running a DIY4x shackle flip and with perches re-drilled to move rear axle back and 1.5". Stock 52" springs. Rides plenty rough, but may be bearable to try some greasable bolts/bushings and live with it. Will 56s provide a much better ride in the rear?
Front- Currently running the 6 leaf lift springs that the truck came with but I removed the lower two leaves and replaced with a zero rate moving the axle forward 1". This did help with the ride, but now the srings are starting to "W" and I will have to replace soon. They still ride really rough. No sway bar and have a SKY crossover setup already.
Would 52s be to soft and squirly for my usage? I have read that some people don't like them on the road for a daily driver and I am worried that may be compounded by having the 4bt up front. I don't care if there is some body roll, but I don't want it insane. If 52s are what I do, then this woud provide incetive to do 56s in the rear and move the factory 52s up front.
Option two- and the one I am leaning toward is - tuff country EZ ride (HD pack?), and move the factory shackle mount forward to get a better shackle angle. Re-drill the axle perch to keep it in its current location of 1" forward. And maybe run greasable bushings.
Mostly need suggestions from those of you with 52s. And think about how I use my truck and what 52s would be like with an extra 250 pounds of diesel engine up front. Or are some of you running 52s as a daily driver and a 6.2 diesel?
