Chevy leafs

[azyota]

I need to find a pnp over here in gilbert or somewhere close i need to track down some leafs. Does it matter what year chevy or as long as they're 63". Thanks

[akwheelin]

89 to 95 chevy 1500 4x4 or 4x2 it doesnt matter.

[tufftoy]

there is a pnp at 56th and chandler blvd. and one at extension between main and broadway.
good hunting

[azyota]

cool apreciate it. cant remember who was doing there swap but they moved the front hanger foward, how much do you move it? thanks

[ninja]

just bought some in aj and he has alot more. $90 all day long

tomahawk and south of the trail

A1 van and ?????

[azredtaco]

cool apreciate it. cant remember who was doing there swap but they moved the front hanger foward, how much do you move it? thanks

Depends on the year. Mine is a 1st gen tacoma 95-97, and moved 10 3/8" forward. I'm anal retentive so that was after several tack welds and flexing to make sure it was exactly centered where I wanted it.

Plan on measure, measure, tack, flex and measure, cut, measure, tack, flex and measure. or more, depending on how good you measure:D

Only tack it until you're absolutely sure its where you want it.

[tufftoy]

mines a 93 i went forward 9.5.

[82FICJ7]

just bought some in aj and he has alot more. $90 all day long

tomahawk and south of the trail

A1 van and ?????

Truck!

[azyota]

hey man thanks for the referral about A1 van and truck just got back with a set of leafs. Let the project begin!

[azyota]

So if i bought a set of six inch shackles like a lot of the kits come with will that set my truck way high or is that the length that the gives it the three inches of lift give or take. Or with i need to make some the same lenth as stock. Damn do i make sense?!

[ninja]

you need to play around with different holes distances until you like the lift amount

[Kaistie]

Shackles typically will give you about half the lift of the length. It also depends on the angle. Also what Steven said..

[azyota]

Parts are arriving.
Thanks for the info. More pics will be up after the weekend.

[azredtaco]

you will need a fairly long shackle with the chevy leafs just to accomodate the amount of travel they have. I'm running a 6" shackle mounted so that it sits a little flatter than 45* at ride height, maybe like 38-40*. Rides nice and soft, doesn't bottom out, and has plenty of down travel. A stock length shackle will not provide enough travel for the longer chevy leafs.

[azyota]

Here are some pics for sat. progress, i didnt want to blow your mind with all the fab work so i only put three up. More will follow.:missingto

[azyota]

Before
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm226/96toyota/011.jpg
Here's the first front mount after
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm226/96toyota/004.jpg
The whole set up for the front
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm226/96toyota/006.jpg

[azyota]

oh one thing the positioning stud that holds the leaf pack together is that a 3/8 or 5/16 i need to get some new ones.

[azyota]

need opinions, shackles are straight up and down no bed no gas tank. i moved them back the four inches. now should i cut them loose and move them forward?
Maybe i can get a number from someone out there center of front to center of back mount?
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm226/96toyota/010-1.jpg
flip kit
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm226/96toyota/007.jpg
and some other pics
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm226/96toyota/006-1.jpg
another thing what about the e brake cable do i need to reroute it?

[azredtaco]

I'd say they need to move forward. Even with no bed, empty gas tank, mine sit at 45* or so. I have a 95, and the rear shackle stayed in the same location as stock. It actually improved the angle leaving it there. Always best to tack, flex and measure before welding everything off ;)

As for the e-brake, I welded an extension to the arms that activate the drums. the other tabs along the axle can either be bent upwards, or cut and weld in a splice to raise them.

Here's how mine was sitting this afternoon. Just happened to take a few pictures :kewl:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m105/azredtaco/misc%20truck/IMG_0754.jpg

[Kaistie]

And by tack that doesn't mean a pea size weld. If you plan to drive it anywhere to flex it, be careful. Someone could stop short in front of you or cut you off. Don't want suspension parts falling off your rig going down the road. I would rather have to work harder to cut a bigger tack than be in an accident and hurt someone.
Looks good guys:xsmokin1: Anyway, to answer your original question, yes, your shackles are too vertical. The bed and tank are not going to get those shackles to the proper angle alone. The idea is to make the shackle as long as it has to allow the leaf to flatten out without bending it. Typically with the Chevy leafs I cannot see getting away with anything less than a 6-8" shackle. The leafs flex too much. Droop is one thing, its the compression you need to be concerned about.

[Kaistie]

oh one thing the positioning stud that holds the leaf pack together is that a 3/8 or 5/16 i need to get some new ones.
The hole in the end of the leaf pack is definitely not 3/8 or 5/16". Probably more like 1/2, or 9/16. 3/8 is pretty small for a spring eye bolt.

[azyota]

i thought so, the shitty part is i welded the hell out of it oh well. I ended up using the leaf pack stud out of the old toyota leafs they're a perfect size. Thanks for the input guys.

[azredtaco]

The hole in the end of the leaf pack is definitely not 3/8 or 5/16". Probably more like 1/2, or 9/16. 3/8 is pretty small for a spring eye bolt.

uh, he was talking about the center pin holding the leaves together, not the mounting bolt knucklehead:D

[azyota]

So i finally got the swap done got some pics ones got some marks red is where its hitting and the green is where im planning on cutting it? NO bad ideas about cutting the leaf keepers??? shouldn't be a problem? upper shock mounts are gonna have to be moved and the shackles are a little flatter than expected, but i do have a loaded tool box, spare tire and rack... rack maybe coming out.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm226/96toyota/002-1.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm226/96toyota/003-1.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm226/96toyota/004-2.jpg
BUT i do lovvvvvvve the ride! so much softer. Thanks for the help

[Kaistie]

Yeah, unfortunately when you french in those hangers you will have clearance problems. Ask a few folks here. I didn't say anything cause I thought you knew. Cutting the keepers will allow the axle to wrap at droop, or should I say more wrap. It's better to keep them if you can, but it looks like you have no choice. Maybe move the keeper back a little.

Tristian, go do something with yourself will ya.? You're taking up valuable air.

[TBob]

I wouldn't cut the wrap - I did on mine and it aloud the pack to spread and now it hits. I would work on clearencing the mount if I where you. That's one thing I have to do with mine now, after I get a wrap back on there.
What's the rest of the frame look like after you frenched? Didn't see any good pics did you plate anything?
Looks like you went pretty extreem on the shackle angle.

[azyota]

Ill get some more pics up the angle was good at first but then the bed and tire, that pic was also taken with a bunch of steel in the bed so it was squatting just a little... should i maybe think of a eight inch shackle? will help straighten it out? that will give another inch or so right.ummmm otherwise it turned out good i didnt plate anything yet its not all flush which kinda bites but ill have to figure something out, do you think its that important? also t bob do you have a thread up frenching some springs? its where i got the idea but i cant remember who it was or where it was i just remember seeing your name come up.

[azyota]

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm226/96toyota/005-1.jpg
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm226/96toyota/006-1.jpg

[Kaistie]

A longer shackle will help in the sense that your uptravel is has now moved down away from the frame where the leaf is hitting it. It will also help the angle as well. I would modify those hangers by adding plate to both sides and moving the hole down a couple of inches.

[Symon623]

Won't you boys ever learn? §XX§ is teh only answer......:D

[azyota]

Ok what is this -----> §XX§. Plate it...Check, Longer Shackle...Check, Moving the hole down maybe, the reason is the wrap is only about a half inch from the steal i would have to cut the bottom out of it.

[Kaistie]

No, not really, just cust the bottom inch or so off and weld a plate to each side of the hanger with new holes drilled in them. You will need a 1/4" spacer on each side of the spring. Washers will work here. It will have been a learning lesson since you will have done a lot of that work for nothing. Of course these are just my suggestions and everyone has them. Might see what other say before doing anything.
The symbol means links.

[TBob]

http://www.tacomaterritory.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67219&highlight=frenching


Ill get some more pics up the angle was good at first but then the bed and tire, that pic was also taken with a bunch of steel in the bed so it was squatting just a little... should i maybe think of a eight inch shackle? will help straighten it out? that will give another inch or so right.ummmm otherwise it turned out good i didnt plate anything yet its not all flush which kinda bites but ill have to figure something out, do you think its that important? also t bob do you have a thread up frenching some springs? its where i got the idea but i cant remember who it was or where it was i just remember seeing your name come up.

[TBob]

Good looking shackle angle.

I'd say they need to move forward. Even with no bed, empty gas tank, mine sit at 45* or so. I have a 95, and the rear shackle stayed in the same location as stock. It actually improved the angle leaving it there. Always best to tack, flex and measure before welding everything off ;)

As for the e-brake, I welded an extension to the arms that activate the drums. the other tabs along the axle can either be bent upwards, or cut and weld in a splice to raise them.

Here's how mine was sitting this afternoon. Just happened to take a few pictures :kewl:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m105/azredtaco/misc%20truck/IMG_0754.jpg

[azyota]

Ill take your word Kaistie, beside the few things i need to change what does everyone think? Think it will hold up? And for T bob, you wanna finish my truck!? did a hell of a job looks good man. Before i put everything on my shackels looked like the ones above. ohh well trial and error. Thanks for the help guys

[TBob]

I plated the inside and outside of mine...did it need to be duno - just didn't want to worry about it. Try it out keep an eye on it- chances are it will be fine.
Thanks for the props.

Ill take your word Kaistie, beside the few things i need to change what does everyone think? Think it will hold up? And for T bob, you wanna finish my truck!? did a hell of a job looks good man. Before i put everything on my shackels looked like the ones above. ohh well trial and error. Thanks for the help guys