73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Brakes, Frame, Steering & Suspension => Topic started by: BADAZ chevy guy on April 05, 2014, 01:24:39 pm
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Hey Guys. Is there a thread on here about moving the rear leaf springs to the inside of the frame rails? My truck is a 1973 to 1980 1/2 ton SWB 2wd. Pics would be nice also.
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never heard of anyone doing this. why?
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It frees up the space in the rear fender wells for wider tires. I've seen it done on a few trucks, I just can't find the build threads. They boxed the frame rails and moved the Left hangers to the inside of the Right frame and vise/verse.
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I don't recall seeing anyone on here with a build doing that, However I also have seen it done on several trucks. I've seen it done Two ways: (1) Like your describing, plating the inside & switching the springs. (2) Using the existing holes & notching out the bottom lip of the frame so the opposite side spring hangers can slide up against the INSIDE of the original framerail & simply bolting them back on. As much as I'm not a real fan of chopping up a frame...I think if your going to do one of the Two, it has merit since the springs are "out of the way", but still as wide as possible & would be a no brainer to get back in the proper location. Likely a guy would be doing a flip at the same time so the plating is probably going on anyway, but also, if your going to chop a big notch above the axle...whats a couple more small ones on the bottom?
How big of a tire are you wanting to put on your truck? You can get a pretty wide tire in there (14" or so) without moving the springs inboard the frame. Lorne
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Not sure how wide just yet. I'm just building in my head for now. I haven't even got the truck here where I can measure it. Until tomorrow that is. I'm headed to Price, Ut tomorrow morning (Tow dolly and all) to pick it up. I didn't think there was more then maybe 10"or so.
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I have seen it done and there are threads, but not that I recall on this forum. I look at others from time to time and do not remember which forum it was on. I also have read it in one of the classic truck magazines, but again I do not recall which one, it has been several years.
If you do a google search for "moving rear springs inside frame rails" you will come up with all kinds of forums that talk about it being done.
(http://www.highway99hotrods.com/TM40/Frame/F4012.JPG)
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h177/94ranger355/Black%2094%20Ranger%20XLT/RearSuspensionmod4-11-09750pix03.jpg)
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Mine are about 12" wide total & have plenty of room for another inch just by moving the wheelwell back flush against the spring. There is also another 2 1/2 inches in "wasted space" between the spring & frame (where the shock mounts originally) if you want to get creative thinning down the spring hangers to move them closer against the frame & just move the shocks to the inside.
Here's a couple pictures to give you an idea of my clearances. Lorne
(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t285/HAULINIT/etstreetradial001-1.jpg) (http://s163.photobucket.com/user/HAULINIT/media/etstreetradial001-1.jpg.html)
(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t285/HAULINIT/vegahood-truck004.jpg) (http://s163.photobucket.com/user/HAULINIT/media/vegahood-truck004.jpg.html)
(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t285/HAULINIT/truckstuff008-1.jpg) (http://s163.photobucket.com/user/HAULINIT/media/truckstuff008-1.jpg.html)
(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t285/HAULINIT/truckrearsuspension022.jpg) (http://s163.photobucket.com/user/HAULINIT/media/truckrearsuspension022.jpg.html)
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you can get 14" of tire under these truck and the width of the springs add stability...
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Ya, I discovered that once I actually got the truck here where I could measure it. I've been running ideas through my head and some of them I knew would work because of other trucks I've done it to or seen it done to. I've never put wide tires on one of this type before. Turns out the springs are inside the inner wheel wells and won't interfere with the tires anyway.