front leaf springs

[CHRIS UNGER]

Has anyone with a big block or a 6bt pulled leafs out of the pack? If so ? how many and what was the effect? Thanks for any input. I am putting a 6bt-getrag-205 setup in my truck and would like to end up with a decent ride.

[Barrman]

You will have a pretty good ride with the 6bt up there. Tires pressure would be my solution to front softness. That oil pan moving down on the pumpkin is a scary image.

[CHRIS UNGER]

I am doing a springover with chevy axles.

[rollie715]

I had a GM 6.2 engine which is about the same weight as a Chevy BigBlock. Counting the longest leaf as #1, I removed #3 from the front and #3 and #5 from the rear. I also ran 44" tires with fairly low pressure, so the ride was very comfortable and soft. The stock rears being so stiff, you may want to leave the front original and only lighten up the rears, as that would make the most difference. I would estimate I could still haul a ton or about the equivalent of a civilian 3/4 ton pickup. The setup seemed to work for me. I would probaby do the same for any future 715 build, although I'm thinking a set of 11x16 Michelin tires may be my next choice.

[Barrman]

Ok, spring over helps. Looking across the room at the spring over 6BT truck right now. I see lots and lots of room for a soft long travel (compared to the 2" stock travel) front end. The removal of a single spring in the front seems to give good results. Just to be sure however. Measure from the axle to the oil pan, measure from the axle to your bump stops and make sure the bump stop distance is the shorter one! If not, lower the stops until it is.

[Doug]

I'd drive it for a while first. The stock front springs actually flex more than what you expect.

Are you adding a winch, or planning to in the future?

[airborne]

If you are going to do all that, get rid of the Getrag!

[CHRIS UNGER]

but the getrag was free !