Ok so ive read that when i install my spindles and the leaf springs that the front will be higher than the back and it will be pre-runnerish...If i take out my stock 2 inch blocks a substitite it for the 3 incher that came with the spindles, will the AAL and the 3 inch block level it out so it's near the same height as the front? Will my u-bolt be able to fit the new leaf and the extra inch of the block?

 

the u bolts are barely long enough for your two inch stock block and an aal, i would just install the aal it should look level then. i really dought u need that 3 inch block.

 

Zach's right, a simple addition of a new leaf will level it out (long aal's as oppsed to the short one's that don't lift as much), and I wouldn't even fuss with the blocks unless you don't mind added axle-wrap. If you need any longer u-bolts, which you shouldn't with just an aal, you can get two pairs of grade 8 bolts with all hardware from Vatozone for about $25.

 

So the long AAL's lift my truck more than the short ones? I got the short one's, is it still gonna be level?

 

no they lift the same amount.

long ones ride smoother than the short ones. i have the short ones rides fine for me.

 

Longer add a leafs do lift more. They are longer, and have more of an arch. Longer=more metal, and more metal=more resistance, therefore they lift the truck more. Short ones on my last one lifted me about an inch, long ones on this truck when I still had a "lift" lifted me about 2.25".

 

hm guess i ddint know htat. my short one added alot more than an inch.

 

The blocks are okay IF you put traction bars on. They'll wrap like nobodies business without them. I have bigger blocks on mine, and I've run it both ways and there's no way I'd use a big block without the traction bars. Of course, they help even with an added leaf -- but with tall blocks I consider them a necessity.

 

Very true John. I've never had traction bars so I don't really know just how much they can compensate for, I'll take your word for it.

 

I guess you could ask anyone who's ridden in it. 4.56 gears + tall blocks + 35's = should wrap like crazy. Doesn't though. I just wonder how long the Duff bars will hold up. If they go south, I'll get something like them fabbed up, but stronger.

The only reason I went with blocks is I could get taller blocks made at work by welding extensions onto stock blocks and it was free. I only had to buy the longer u-bolts and they were available locally.

What I'd LIKE though, is lift springs. They will be part of it at some point. I might do like Doc did and do the Chevy spring conversion.

 

I'd say just save up and get some Nationals/Deavers, you won't ever be let down by that choice.

 

Agreed. Now if I can just stop spending on OTHER things long enough to save up for the springs...

 

if you take out your stock blocks and put in three's you wont hit your bump stops in the back and your tires will rub like crazy. If you notice the stock blocks have a little triangle piece on them so that it lifts the truck but the wheels stop at the same point as if you didnt have any bocks. i suggest aal's. you wont have these problems and you wont have to buy new u-bolts.

 

That's why I made "hybrid" blocks that are my stock blocks with welded-on extensions. It's a special welding process though since the blocks are cast.

I still needed the u-bolts though. I don't like the ride with AAL's.

 

Where do we get aals from??

 

short
http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...&N=0&x=21&y=11

i think this is the long
http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...&N=0&x=14&y=12

 

Amen to that. I'm trying to figure out how to pay for repairs while still wanting to mod the truck, haha.

Any pics yet?

 

whats the spring lift, got a link to some literature? how much does it run?

 

Spring lift? What do you mean?

 

I think he was referring to my post.

For leaf sprung vehicles, it refers to a longer spring that is much more arched. This results in a spring that fits where your existing shorter spring was, but lifts the vehicle. It makes for no blocks required.

 

Yeah, its called adding leaves. You aren't replacing the leaves unless you are adding a longer one to the pack, which increases the resistance of the pack and forming more of an arch which will lift the truck. Why is that hard to understand?

 

If i wanna add my short AAL and the 3 inch block that came with the spindles, which u-bolt do i need to have it be long enough to hold everything together???

 

I don't think stock length would be long enough for all that, you're best bet is to go to Autozone, they have two pairs of grade 8 u-bolts for around 25, and if they're too long you can just cut the excess off anyways.

 

No, that's not quite what I was talking about. I meant like Deavers and the like where the entire spring is longer, then arched more. Those springs lift you but leave your shackle in it's original angle more or less, so they don't limit flex.

Arching a spring more without adding length overall (eye-to-eye) pulls the shackle in towards the axle and can limit travel in one direction (usually down).

 

Ok I dont know if its cuz its kinda late or fell down too many times or cuz I ate paint chips as a kid ( sour cream and little dutchboy) But I cant picture this leaf sprung or whatever, is there like a coil spring somewhere or are you talkin about addingmore leafs? I'm talkin about the national/deavers .... me= idiot jerk