Are you looking for a CAD file? Maybe just a dimension for the amount of drop versus the shackle length?
I can help you with both, but with respect for those that make a living building this stuff (I dont make a living doing this, its a hoby for me) I might suggest the Sky shackle reversal kit. These lits are spot on, and you cant beat the price. They only charge 300 bucks or so, and I can run the CNC machines for that kind of money.
If you can find an owner / operator of a CNC table and lazer / plasma machine, then you can try, but then you still have to brake the steel, and weld it. WHile it can be done, I think the few dollars that this company charges is real cheap. You wont be disappointed with the quality.
I believe they have stepped up the gauge of the materials, and have a better product for less money than the ORU kits.
I copied an ORU unit. Notice the thicker construction of mine VS what appears to be some rather light weight material from other manufacturers.
I do not sell to the public, but can help if you decide to make your own.
Sky's kit is hard to beat though.
I won't be doing a shacle reversal. I had looked into that, but I will likely be doing more hauling than offroading. I just need to make some mounts for the front of my leafs. I've got all the parts together for my 2 to 4 wheel drive conversion, but currently have coils and will be switching to leafs. The rear mounts from the donor truck will work, but not the fronts. Just need to secure the fronts. That's all I have left to do and I don't want to do a hack job. If I get an inch or 2 lift, that's fine, but not specifically what I'm looking for. Yours is set up real nice. That's how i'd like mine to come out. Just some dimesions on the brackets would make things a lot easier for me. If I could maybe just get the mount alone, then maybe I'd buy.
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Fullcrew7.3
Dave
1996 F350 CC 7.3L PSD DRW 3.55 gears ,cat delete, 4" exhaust, 10k mod, kwik filter, EBPV E-brake, FPR shim, 40-20-40 split bench, SC 1705, Pyro and boost guages, transfer case ('93 F250) Stage 1 DIY sticks, Valair SMF, 203* thermostat, 3" DP, SD intercooler, 37/12.50/16.5's
wow, that is impresive to get it done that fast. how do the leafs ride compared to the TTB that was there before?
Since I know, or remember that you had one of these, you can make a comparisson yourself. I should be over at Steve's shop this week and plan on taking this rig. You are welcome to take it for a spin. Then you can decide.
I feel that the ride was not improved, it is difficult to match that 1/2 ton ride, but for some reason, after I increase the shackle angle, the thing rides better than the SD ever did.
Because of the spring design, they do not offer a ton of compression, but they extend like crazy. Probably only 5 or so inches of bump, but much more extension.
I was wondering something though. Where do you buy your SD springs?
Also, just out of curiousity, did you rattle can your axle or something else?
It looks damn shiny in one of those pictures haha.
I find springs where I can. Usually in classifieds and such. These happen to come from a good friend of mine that helps to keep an eye out for this kind of stuff.
Yes, this paiint job is from a rattle can. I always use plain old rustoleum as a base and rustoleum crystal clear to make it shine. I spray the clear while the paint is wet so it bonds better, and it becomes smooth so mud and dirt can clean off easily.
I can get stuff to look pretty good with this method.
so what do you got for lift on that? i was just curious ive seen your trucks with leafs and they flex out pretty damn good so i was wondering what you used to lift these leaf spring beasts?
nice build man
Technically, this truck is stock. I mean the springs are bone stock and it has rather flat springs. These stock SD springs net approx 7 inches of lift I guess, and it requires more. At full stuff the tires get into the fender and at full extension the front driveshaft pops out, Doh! Thats a good problem to have I guess.
It will take some time to maximize lift and articulation, but that is part of the fun.
I won't be doing a shacle reversal. I had looked into that, but I will likely be doing more hauling than offroading. I just need to make some mounts for the front of my leafs. I've got all the parts together for my 2 to 4 wheel drive conversion, but currently have coils and will be switching to leafs. The rear mounts from the donor truck will work, but not the fronts. Just need to secure the fronts. That's all I have left to do and I don't want to do a hack job. If I get an inch or 2 lift, that's fine, but not specifically what I'm looking for. Yours is set up real nice. That's how i'd like mine to come out. Just some dimesions on the brackets would make things a lot easier for me. If I could maybe just get the mount alone, then maybe I'd buy.
Im gonna hi-jack my own thread here.
Do I understand that you have a 2wd truck and want to convert it to 4wd using leafs????
Assuming that your trucks frame is similar to a 4wd truck, you will still require a complete hanger kit. NOt only will you require a kit, but you will have to get a pair of hangers to mount the shackles to.
I used a stock hanger from a 89 F250 or something:
Do I understand that you have a 2wd truck and want to convert it to 4wd using leafs????
Assuming that your trucks frame is similar to a 4wd truck, you will still require a complete hanger kit. NOt only will you require a kit, but you will have to get a pair of hangers to mount the shackles to.
I used a stock hanger from a 89 F250 or something:
You understand correctly. The frames are identical with the exception of no indent in the frame up front to put the spring into. I don't want to cut it, so a bracket to mount it just below (like Cheeto's bronco) is where I'm headed. I've got the shackles, springs, etc. from the donor rig already. I got the whole truck for cheap. Just need to make mounts. Thanks for the tips though.
__________________
Fullcrew7.3
Dave
1996 F350 CC 7.3L PSD DRW 3.55 gears ,cat delete, 4" exhaust, 10k mod, kwik filter, EBPV E-brake, FPR shim, 40-20-40 split bench, SC 1705, Pyro and boost guages, transfer case ('93 F250) Stage 1 DIY sticks, Valair SMF, 203* thermostat, 3" DP, SD intercooler, 37/12.50/16.5's
Just to clear things up a bit. Keep in mind I am a dummy so it takes me a while to completely understand.
Dave has been through a few different designs for that truck and honestly I cant keep up with him, lol.
Anyway, you want to use a hanger that bolts up under the frame? Does your frame have that accordian / crumple zone stuff like the Bronco had?
You will still have to use a hanger like mine as well as the rear mount for a shackle. You do not want to build a suspension with a front swing shackle. DO not do this, you will regret it.
Do yourself a favor and buy a shackle reversal kit from SKY, and get some hangers like the ones I pictured above. Bolt everything up and be done. It should be easy as pie, and will take all of the guess work out of the equation.
What rearend did you use? Does the Bronco have the E4OD? Does it have a VSS somewhere? Just curious, I have a 93 F-150 with 5.8 and E4OD.
As you know I am a fan of the chabby 14B ff rear axle, and would have used one here, but that darn VSS is a pain. I guess I could have rigged up a sensor and reluctor ring on the driveshaft, but that seems a little ghetto.
Instead I decided to use a Sterling / Visteon 10.25 rear axle. This was a bolt on deal and already had provisions for the VSS.
For me., this was a no brainer.
Even the 9/16" lug nuts were an advantage so both the front and rear matched.
The disc brake conversion went like butter too.
Still working out the brake bias though. The ABS thing is giving me some troubles.
Just to clear things up a bit. Keep in mind I am a dummy so it takes me a while to completely understand.
Dave has been through a few different designs for that truck and honestly I cant keep up with him, lol.
Anyway, you want to use a hanger that bolts up under the frame? Does your frame have that accordian / crumple zone stuff like the Bronco had?
You will still have to use a hanger like mine as well as the rear mount for a shackle. You do not want to build a suspension with a front swing shackle. DO not do this, you will regret it.
Do yourself a favor and buy a shackle reversal kit from SKY, and get some hangers like the ones I pictured above. Bolt everything up and be done. It should be easy as pie, and will take all of the guess work out of the equation.
The front bracket like you've got is what I have in mind. Although, I wouldn't mind beefing up the crossbrace and putting an hitch reciever in as well. We'll see how the budget holds out. Not having guess work is definitely a good thing.
Again, man, nice build you got there.
__________________
Fullcrew7.3
Dave
1996 F350 CC 7.3L PSD DRW 3.55 gears ,cat delete, 4" exhaust, 10k mod, kwik filter, EBPV E-brake, FPR shim, 40-20-40 split bench, SC 1705, Pyro and boost guages, transfer case ('93 F250) Stage 1 DIY sticks, Valair SMF, 203* thermostat, 3" DP, SD intercooler, 37/12.50/16.5's
Last edited by IB Adrian; 10-07-2009 at 09:15 PM.
Reason: fixed BB code
I finally got back to working on my truck. The super duty springs are the same length on the rear, longer on the front, that's why you had steering clearance issues, the front hangar has to come a good bit forward of where it would be with the standard OBS springs.
I had to make the truck mobile, so I currently have the rear eye of the SD springs bolted into the stock rear hangars. You can see where the front of the spring ends up:
Yes, there are big square holes in the frame where the dimple for the stock shackle mounting was... All of that is getting plated up, including the cutout in the bottom of the frame for shackle clearance. Needed the dimples gone to make room for a few other ideas I have floating around in my head... It's looking like my bumper mounting is going to become an integral part of the frame/suspension mounting with where it's looking like that front spring mount is going to have to end up.
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92 W250 LE, 4x4/CTD/G360/D60/D70U
89 W250, 4x4/CTD/G360/D60/D70U
86 F250 HD 4x4, 6.9/T19/broken D44 TTB junk/10.25. Turbo no more... Poor thing
86 F350 4x4 Mild 460/T19 D60/welded 10.25/38.5x11 Boggers, Warn 8200 up front, M12000 out back... It's not what you BUY, It's what you BUILD
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