Easiest/cheapest way to level out the front of a K20???

[thefarmboy21]

Just wondering what the most economical way to level out an 86 K20 would be. It's all original and I don't want a lift or anything, just simply want the truck leveled out....basically need 1-2" up front, but I want to keep it as original as possible. Ideally I'll just source a set of K30 springs for cheap but that's easier said than done. My stock front leafs are pretty much negative arched now. Could I add a leaf, or swap in the rear springs from something? I have a spare set of K20 fronts AND I have all 4 leaf packs from a C50 thoughts?!?! Thanks.

[Irish_Alley]

a truck will normally sit with the nose down a little. to level it out people will remove a leave from the rear or do a lift in the front. you will lose some of the gvwr.

[bake74]

     As Irish said, if you do a small lift in front, not only will it level the truck out, but will create a better ride by getting rid of the negative arch springs up front.  They make a harsher ride quality for sure.

[thefarmboy21]

Well I definitely don't want to lower te rear. I was just wondering if there were other options than buying a lift kit. Like adding a leaf or swapping in rear springs to the front or something like that. Or even some type of shackle mod up front. The stock K30 is basically how I want it to set.

[Irish_Alley]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rear-3-Position-Shackle-Leaf-Spring-Lift-Kit-4-3-2-1-Inch-500-XL-GT-GTA-V8-/111352236424?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item19ed1c4988
they make universal shackles. i had a set took them off cause i didnt trust them
NOTE these are for ford but i had something like them.

thne you have these

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxNjAw/$T2eC16VHJF0E9nmFRpOQBQoslrZ6Ng~~60_57.JPG

[thefarmboy21]

Yea I guess I could use those. I could build some at work from 1/2" or 5/8"

[Irish_Alley]

its been years since i took mine off but i want to say it was only something like 3/8s

[thefarmboy21]

Wonder how long I would need to make them to gain 2"?

[Irish_Alley]

2" longer maybe. if i remember right they sat pretty vertical

[Mario]

My idea of cheapest/easiest/most reliable would be this:  1.  Find similar front springs from another K20.  2.  Have a suspension/spring shop re-arch them to have positive arch with an increase from negative arch of 1" to 2".  3.  Have them make a custom 3rd leaf (or shop for one).  4.  Go to work removing the old and installing the new.  You could try to cold arch them to positive with a press.  The only reason that I would do it this way is because I would have first hand knowledge of the setup and the resultant height increase.  If it wasn't the way I liked it, I could make the necessary adjustment. 

[thefarmboy21]

Well there's not any spring shops near me, but I do have a set of K20 springs and a huge press at work that exerts 3000+psi of force. But would that be good for leafs? Would they even stay in place?

[roundhouse]

Trying to bend them yourself Sounds like a good way to get hurt
Lotta energy in the spring

To get a two inch lift you need a four inch longer shackle since the shackle only raises one end of the spring

[Mario]

I recently re-arched my rear springs to try to get dual action from them.  I would support each leaf between 18" and 12" apart, and exert the press in between.  The press itself shows you when you are affecting a new arch on the spring.  I would error on the side of not enough force, check the arch, and do it again if need be.  You just travel down the length of the spring in about 4" increments until it's done.  You'll probably do the middle more than the ends.  You have to take the spring pack completely apart, and do each leaf.  If you had a 3rd leaf, you could custom cut the size to be shorter than the second with the corners trimmed (diamond cut).  I'm not going to lie, it's a lot of effort, but it works.

[pholliday1]

ORD Design sells what your after I would caution against an aggressive shackle lift as it changes the angle of caster for your alignment. ORD calls it a helper it looks like a lift block but its not.

[Irish_Alley]

forgot about them
http://offroaddesign.com/catalog/Zero%20Rates.htm

once i get everything back to normal with life i will be making somethings in the shop and these are on my list