I have been talking myself in and out of removing another rear leaf. I have the setup rods in my MII front end (Chassis Engineering bolt-in with supposed stock spindles). Lower control arm is level, hopefully simulating my final height in the front. Engine and tranny in place. No cab, bed, fat driver, yada, yada, etc. Right now I have a 3 degree angle on the frame rail near the middle running board brace. That's with 3 leafs removed. I'm thinking I should be okay once the final weight is on there? What do you guys think? Do any of you remember your rake angle with a similar setup? I REALLY don't want to re-do those springs....

 

If you've got a bunch of excess weight laying around, I'd try to round up some and put it over the rear axle and see what happens. Trying to figure out how much used springs with leaves removed will deflect is a crap shoot. There's no knowing the fatigue level of the springs, and how much removing leaves from the pack will change things. You might even find it different from side to side.

 

I've tried some weight (including my 220 lb. frame and a buddy standing on the other rail). I drops some, but not a great lot. I wish I had an idea of the weight of the bed....

 

I'm just guessing, but a complete bed with wood floor, fenders, crossmembers and tailgate has to be in the neighborhood of 500 pounds.

 

on my 56 I changed the rake angle from 3 degrees down to 2, 3 was too steep..

the new bed on my 55 weighed just 250lbs in the box. all crossmembers, tailgate and wood. no fenders of course

Sam

 

Thanks. If you label the 10 leafs as #1 to #10 from the top down, I was lazy and removed #'s 8,9, and 10 (the bottom three little ones). I'm thinking I probably should go back and remove 10, 8, 6 and 4 maybe. Now that I think of it, I've had close to 500 pounds on it just messin around. It really didn't flatten out much at all. I can't wait to pull those shackle pins again, woohoo!!!

 

Doc, I've got a jag ifs on my F1. My rake measured on the cab floor is 1.5 degrees. My truck is 4" lower front and rear and the height and rake look great.