bigblue70

Been considering the shackle flip myself. My concern is, how will that design hold up to heavy loads. Anyone run the flip and have any problems with wieght?

bradshaw106

Couple of thoughts concerning the swap...
It has been about a year is since I did the conversion. Because of budget reasons I went with used leaf springs and because of that it sags a little on oneside.. I also was so concerned about improving my ride quality I went with 1/2 ton springs.. Which I regret. The flip shackle setup, in my opinion is more articulation/ride quality not load carrying.. I went and got a bed load of compost for the garden and I thought the leafs where going to snap in half! The guy just looked at me like " I thought you had a real truck?". I also used a 6" rear shackle which is to long if you plan on using your truck for anything more then a daily driver.
But, the ride quality of my truck is night and day difference!! It rides real nice. If I would do it again I would use a shorter shackle and 3/4ton maybe 1ton springs..

bradshaw106

Where the springs stock 1ton springs or lift springs?

bobva

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Can that be done but keep the stock height & lose the dodge blocks?

bradshaw106

With 6"- shackle and 1/2 ton springs I'm about stock height

CE_TX

Stock 1 tons springs from a 98 Chevy 1 ton dually. I plan on using these on another project I have and ordering brand new ones from my local Chevy dealer that have the helper springs installed.

rrrram4x4

before my dodge i had a 92 ford for wheelin, with sky manufacturing shackle flip in the rear and stock leafs, i cuold haul a cab full of people, box full of gear and a fullsize quad, while towing another fullsize f150 with full gear in the box. it did squat down a bit in the rear but worked awesome for what it was. unless your talking about huge loads its not bad to use.



bradshaw, are you saying that with a shackle flip, 6" shackle, and stock chevy 2wd 63" leafs, you were at stock height?

rrrram4x4

i myself dont haul anything more then people, camping gear, maybe a quad. so im hoping the half ton springs will work for me.

looking at using 4" ramcharger lift springs in front, shackle flip rear with chevy leafs, any idea the amount of lift in the spring i will need to equal a 4" lift in the front?

bradshaw106

I have 2" skyjackers in the front and my truck sits pretty level. I used some junkyard springs, so that could be half of my problem..
I will try to snap a side view photo sometime today. Can't beat the ride but I want some beefier springs.

enafzige

The shackle angle you see is without the weight of the bed on it. With the bed and toolbox installed, the shackle is leaned back a little (maybe 20° or so). Spring rate changes with shackle angle, so the closer to vertical you can achieve, the softer the initial rate will be.

Yes, I used the templates off of the truck, and RCC info. I also found some other pictures on ramchargercentral that gave me just enough idea to fab my own.

The front hanger, I moved forward, and re-used the upper right hole. The rear hanger I moved backwards.

Ride quality has increased greatly. The rear actually rides softer than the front does with custom Alcans (but stock length). The longer leaf springs and shackle flip really do wonders for ride quality!

With these 63" leaves, you really need to use an 8" shackle to get all the travel out of them that they can offer.

I've not had any problems at all towing. The trailer below weighs 6,000 lbs empty, and the tractor weighs about 8,500. With the truck at 6,900, that brings total weight at over 21,000 lbs.







I actually hauled a load of wood that was a LOT heavier than this...and ended up ripping the bolts of the Class V hitch through the frame, and bending the back section of the frame. However, the shackle and suspension held up fine!



--Eric

rrfarm

Dont mean to hijack the thread but while everyone is talking springs i have a question. My 92 W350 has a GM 14 bolt in it and it set about an inch offset to the rear (not centered in the fenderwell with the bed on). Does anybody know the dimensions in the overall length and from each end to the center bolt that bundles the leafs together unsprung (they are removed from the truck). Would like to fix this issue if I can determine exactly what the problem is. And also how many leafs do these trucks usually run mine has like 11 or 12 not sure if that is correct.

dzl_damon

Right church, wrong pew.

You should probably start your own thread for this and the answers will come in for you.

rrfarm

Thanks...done

rrrram4x4

thanks for the replies to the questions! your truck looks awesome man.

how much further did you have to move the rear hangar? did you just eyeball and measure according to shackle angle?

did you need to lengthen drivelines front or rear?

rrrram4x4

lastly just to get ride height correct, how much lift are you running in the rear leafs? and do you have stock shackles on the front springs