what's the deal with 63" chevy springs

[83 chif]

I've heard them mentioned before but don't remember why. Do they give our FSJ's some lift? Please fill me in here. thanks....

- Doug

[mudslider]

i got me some for better flex. i havent installed them yet but that is the primary reason for the 63" springs, better flex.

[blt2krl]

The primary reason most has gotten them is for moving the wheelbase back 4 - 5 inches.

[Tad]

I picked mine up for both those reasons.
Those are some long springs when compared to the stock 52" post mount setups.
I'm not sure about the lift they might provide for your 83 Doug, but comparing them to the older/shorter springs I have, looks like maybe 2", meaning I'll have to do a little something up front to balance it out with a stock SOA (I think).

[Crazy_Jeepman]

I went with the 63" Chevy springs for the flexier spring, as well as they are a lot easier to get than a stock FSJ spring. I relocated my spring hangers to keep my axle centered in the wheel well. I was no after lengthening my wheelbase.

[FSJeeper]

Originally posted by Crazy_Jeepman:
I went with the 63" Chevy springs for the flexier spring, as well as they are a lot easier to get than a stock FSJ spring. I relocated my spring hangers to keep my axle centered in the wheel well. I was no after lengthening my wheelbase.I play with both Chevy's and FSJ's. The Chevy guys use the 63" rear springs for flex. And some are using rear 56" Blazer springs for flex and lift in the front. I have heard nothing but good from both swaps.

[zinertia]

This sounds interesting, can someone help me with year range/vehicle for the 63" as well as year range for the 56" Blazer springs?
thanks

[jeeprunner81]

yes I want to know also whats up with the springs and what they come off of and were are some pics of what others have done

[83 chif]

hmm....i'm pretty interested. thanks for all the info, but i'm going to need some mo' info.

[Tad]

Originally posted by jeeprunner81:
yes I want to know also whats up with the springs and what they come off of and were are some pics of what others have doneI'm not installing mine for another 8-9 weeks or so, but I'll shoot some pic's of the various rear springs I have around here.
The ones I just picked up have these markings:
Painted Numbers: 16520356 (this looks factory)
Stamped: 680B (I can not tell if that is a "zero" or an "O")
Stamped Number: 4 (I think this refers to the number of leaves)
Hand Written: 92 Chevy 1/2 ton PU

[mudslider]

got mine from a early 90's silverado

[Crazy_Jeepman]

My Chevy springs are out of a 89 Chevy 1/2 ton pickup. Spring hangers are relocated under frame and I kept the axle centered in the wheel well. Here is my J10 sitting on Chevy 63" rears, SOA with Rancho 44044's up front.

http://www.crazy-jeepman.com/images/J10Tall5.JPG

[Tad]

Pete,
Did you measure how far back that center pin was?
I know RB said it was something like 4" back from the stock wag/chero spring pin location.

I just threw all these on the table, that sucker is 5 1/2" back from the 70wag, 81wag, 85wag, 79K20 pin location.
(no, they are not reversed, it's actually in the center, yes, I took pic's).

[Crazy_Jeepman]

Pretty sure that 5" or better is what the differance was, laying on the floor. However setting the front hanger ahead to compensate for that differance did not work, for some unknown reason, I wound up clamping the spring at ride height and centering it that way, amazing how that center pin can move around so much!

[83 chif]

cool....that explains it. Thanks...

[Tad]

Ok, I am fudging a bit on the '70 springs (could not find a complete pack) guess I gave them away.
http://members.cox.net/tad4sale/springs.JPG

If you need that pic, copy/paste/download/whatever.
I am taking down/changing some of my hosting service as the wag project comes into play.

[Slick Willie]

Originally posted by Crazy_Jeepman:
Spring hangers are relocated under frame and I kept the axle centered in the wheel well. You have any under body pictures of this? The front was already under the frame, right? It's the rear that you shifted over? Seems like that would make the springs sit at a slight /\ angle.

[Crazy_Jeepman]

Originally posted by Slick Willie:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Crazy_Jeepman:
Spring hangers are relocated under frame and I kept the axle centered in the wheel well. You have any under body pictures of this? The front was already under the frame, right? It's the rear that you shifted over? Seems like that would make the springs sit at a slight /\ angle.</font>[/QUOTE]No........Stock both the front and rear hangers are set outboard of the frame. The springs are square with wheels, frame, whatever LOL

My Mockup Hangers
http://www.crazy-jeepman.com/images/SpringHangers.JPG

[Slick Willie]

Originally posted by Crazy_Jeepman:
Stock both the front and rear hangers are set outboard of the frame. Gotcha. C'mon Jeep, you know that's not strong. :D For some reason I was thinking that the front shackles on the rear springs were mounted directly under the frame. That wouldn't work from the factory. :rolleyes:

[Elliott]

Jeep had a lot of experience with narrower frames and suspension mounting on the FC rigs, I think they were likely shooting for something that would provide greater load carrying stability then their earlier rigs or their current competitor's trucks. I think it was a superior design in that regard, but it's not as flexible for some of the offroading the truck is used for today.... of course the frames don't crack as much either. JMO Most of the trucks guys build to offroad with aren't intended to carry max payloads so inboarding the springs probably will add a significant amount of rear end flex that JTrucks can certainly benefit from having... as opposed to zero.

[Lazarus]

mounting the springs under the frame provides a greater mechanical advantage for the truck to compress the springs easier, also it allows the tire/axel to move farther up and down with less travel at the spring creating a lot more flex. I want to go one step more on my rock truggy and mount the springs on the inside of the frame to maybe get some awsome flex out of it (will never see anyting over about 20mph) with some really flexxy long springs, im also shortening the wheelbase by 12" in the rear and lengthening the front by about 3 inches... it will be really trick when its done but all ive done so far is a shackle flip in the rear, pulled the rusted out bed off, cut the front fenders and attempted to get it runnin, ive owned it for about a year now and it probably wont be done for several more unless I get some decent money rolling in soon....

[Tigger4X]

Originally posted by Crazy_Jeepman:
[QB]My Chevy springs are out of a 89 Chevy 1/2 ton pickup. Spring hangers are relocated under frame and I kept the axle centered in the wheel well. Here is my J10 sitting on Chevy 63" rears, SOA with Rancho 44044's up front. [QB]~

How would this work out under my '76 Chero :confused:

I'm looking mostly for the flex and not to really push my wheelbase back in the rear. Well, maybe an inch or two at max.

Thanks :cool:

[Crazy_Jeepman]

Originally posted by Tigger4X:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Crazy_Jeepman:
[QB]My Chevy springs are out of a 89 Chevy 1/2 ton pickup. Spring hangers are relocated under frame and I kept the axle centered in the wheel well. Here is my J10 sitting on Chevy 63" rears, SOA with Rancho 44044's up front. [QB]~

How would this work out under my '76 Chero :confused:

I'm looking mostly for the flex and not to really push my wheelbase back in the rear. Well, maybe an inch or two at max.

Thanks :cool: </font>[/QUOTE]Should work out fine, I did it with my Cherokee before I scrapped it.

[Tigger4X]

Originally posted by Crazy_Jeepman:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Tigger4X:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Crazy_Jeepman:
[QB]My Chevy springs are out of a 89 Chevy 1/2 ton pickup. Spring hangers are relocated under frame and I kept the axle centered in the wheel well. Here is my J10 sitting on Chevy 63" rears, SOA with Rancho 44044's up front. [QB]~

How would this work out under my '76 Chero :confused:

I'm looking mostly for the flex and not to really push my wheelbase back in the rear. Well, maybe an inch or two at max.

Thanks :cool: </font>[/QUOTE]Should work out fine, I did it with my Cherokee before I scrapped it.</font>[/QUOTE]~

What year Cherokee did you have?

Were you able to accomplish the same result on your Chero as you did on your truck?

Do you have any pics or anything to help me in the attempt to duplicate yours?

THANKS JEEPMAN!! :cool:

[Crazy_Jeepman]

My Cherokee was an 80. I used 3 leaf front springs because I did not want it to be as high, with the stock 7 leaf. Putting the Chevy springs under the frame is not a problem. I will be taking some Pics and can get the measurement you need to move the spring hangers to center the axle. One thing that was never mentioned when doing the shackle flip with Chevy springs, was the fact that the spring pack was not level with the ground or the frame. I set mine up so the bottom of the spring pack is level with the ground, parallel with the frame.

[ April 04, 2006, 06:22 AM: Message edited by: Crazy_Jeepman ]

[Tigger4X]

Originally posted by Crazy_Jeepman:
My Cherokee was an 80. I used 3 leaf front springs because I did not want it to be as high, with the stock 7 leaf. Putting the Chevy springs under the frame is not a problem. I will be taking some Pics and can get the measurement you need to move the spring hangers to center the axle. One thing that was never mentioned when doing the shackle flip with Chevy springs, was the fact that the spring pack was not level with the ground or the frame. I set mine up so the bottom of the spring pack is level with the ground, parallel with the frame.~

All of my senses are tingling with anticipation of gittin' all flexy. I really appreciate all the info BIG time! :cool: