Need shorter leaf springs for my 1988 D60. Ford leaf spring bible?

[rebar]

I'm sure Chris can give you specs for a Ujoint setup.

Good luck with that.

If he allows you to, you have to buy something.

He's just sore I decided to install a kingpin and about my cummins install he failed at. I could have told him a P-pump wont fit had he asked.

I don't have anything to sell you either. Just trying to help.

Thanks.. I don't have a problem buying springs and parts.. All Iv said is, I cant justify the cost to hire someone to do the conversion. Not that I cant afford it.

It would be interesting to see just how long a spring Chris is using. Lots of good info can be found for research purposes.

It would be interesting, but I'm not begging.

I already know I want my front axle to lengthen the wheel base 2" and my caster to be 6 degree's. I could do that with any leaf springs. But I hoped for one fleeting moment, I could buy springs engineered for a E350. But again, I'm not begging.

Maybe someone can direct me to the outfit who builds springs for him?

 

[ujoint]

I do have a kit for this van. We do any E series 92 to current. Our springs are 52" long.

Not sore about you buying a kingpin axle, nothing wrong with a kingpin D60. Or the cummins swap. Fort the record we had the engine mounted up. Customer pulled the plug to due his time frame.

Nothing wrong with a kingpin 60, Just doesn't work for my conversions due to limited availability and the spring pad width for where I consider to be the best place for shackle sleeve placement. And ABS options, etc.

The bottom line is that I'm not going to sell you my springs because I don't know where your spring perches will be along with all of the other measurements that are critical. If I was a jerk I would just sell you something and say "have fun!" But I'd rather not sell you something that may not work. In my opinion thats the right thing to do.

 

[tgreening]

You guys are way more patient than I am. I'm willing to help just about anybody, but I don't do attitude, and it just abounds right here....

 

[twiisted71]

Look into a set of front leaf springs from an '89-93 Dodge W250 or 350 with the Cummins. If you are JY scrounging, get all the geometry from the truck's suspension mounts. That will ensure you get proper shackle travel as well as caster angle. They rode firm but the front wasn't particularly jarring--unlike the rear!
That is the route I'd personally try to go as folks generally tend to just rob the engines from these and discount the rest as less than desirable for a project component.
Again this is just my 2¢

 

[ujoint]

Look into a set of front leaf springs from an '89-93 Dodge W250 or 350 with the Cummins. If you are JY scrounging, get all the geometry from the truck's suspension mounts. That will ensure you get proper shackle travel as well as caster angle. They rode firm but the front wasn't particularly jarring--unlike the rear!
That is the route I'd personally try to go as folks generally tend to just rob the engines from these and discount the rest as less than desirable for a project component.
Again this is just my 2¢

That generation Dodge axle has ~32" center to center on the spring pad width, a bit too narrow for the Ford van frame unless you move the perches way out. If you don't then the shackles will sit too far inboard, in the way of the exhaust, etc. And, its a pass side drop. These vans have the drivetrain offset to the pass side so again there's no room for a t-case, exhaust and a driveshaft all in that small space.

 

[twiisted71]

That generation Dodge axle has ~32" center to center on the spring pad width, a bit too narrow for the Ford van frame unless you move the perches way out. If you don't then the shackles will sit too far inboard, in the way of the exhaust, etc. And, its a pass side drop. These vans have the drivetrain offset to the pass side so again there's no room for a t-case, exhaust and a driveshaft all in that small space.

What difference does that make? I said he could get springs from one of them, not the axle. He can also use the height of the frame mounts to replicate and get the same geometry on his van for good caster angle.

 

[rebar]

What difference does that make? I said he could get springs from one of them, not the axle. He can also use the height of the frame mounts to replicate and get the same geometry on his van for good caster angle.

I was wondering when you would catch that.

The bottom line is that I'm not going to sell you my springs because I don't know where your spring perches will be along with all of the other measurements that are critical. If I was a jerk I would just sell you something and say "have fun!" But I'd rather not sell you something that may not work. In my opinion thats the right thing to do.

Don't know where my spring perch's will be? You?

You and I both know all that is needed are custom 3/4" offset shackles and and custom hangers. Big deal. The spring eye's will be within 1" of where you put them for and aft. Probably within 1/2"

I'm still hung up on Baja's comment about how truck springs are to harsh, and the trial and error Chris has gone through to get a smooth ride. Where do I find that info since you wont tell me?

 

[ujoint]

What difference does that make? I said he could get springs from one of them, not the axle. He can also use the height of the frame mounts to replicate and get the same geometry on his van for good caster angle.

Yea, my bad. Thought you were talking about the axle too. Those springs are super short though, better to use an F series as a basis.

 

[ujoint]

Don't know where my spring perch's will be? You?

You and I both know all that is needed are custom 3/4" offset shackles and and custom hangers. Big deal. The spring eye's will be within 1" of where you put them for and aft. Probably within 1/2"

I'm still hung up on Baja's comment about how truck springs are to harsh, and the trial and error Chris has gone through to get a smooth ride. Where do I find that info since you wont tell me?

The shackle sleeve placement in the frame is dictated by spring pad width since the frame isn't straight in that area. So if you were to use a narrower spring pad width the shackle sleeve needs to move forward in the frame. With my springs this would set the front spring eye a few inches forward of the frame horn. Yes, an offset shackle would work but it would be better to have them straight. This is why you need to make your own hangers and then get springs made.

Nobody but me myself and my spring manufacturer have our specs.

 

[rebar]

If you were to use a narrower spring pad width the shackle sleeve needs to move forward in the frame.

Wrong

 

[ujoint]

I've maxed out my energy on this discussion.

Best of luck with your build.

 

[Arctic Travelller]

You guys are way more patient than I am. I'm willing to help just about anybody, but I don't do attitude, and it just abounds right here....

What he said. You would probably get better info if you showed a little respect.

 

[justcuz]

Building your front solid spring eye mounts can be any width. You can mount them up close the the bottom of the frame and use the rear mounts/shackles to help caster angle. You mount the front of the spring higher than the rear for more positive caster. Depending on the power train and frame width, you may be able to mount the shackles completely inboard of the frame. You may get an idea from Chevy IFS SAS kits. Your spring pad width on your 1988 Dana 60 is 31.5 or 32 inches isn't it? You can Y mount the springs (narrower in the front) to add a tad to dial roll stiffness.
This stuff truly is not rocket science. I'll see if I can find some online resources for you.

 

[rebar]

Building your front solid spring eye mounts can be any width. You can mount them up close the the bottom of the frame and use the rear mounts/shackles to help caster angle. You mount the front of the spring higher than the rear for more positive caster. Depending on the power train and frame width, you may be able to mount the shackles completely inboard of the frame. You may get an idea from Chevy IFS SAS kits. Your spring pad width on your 1988 Dana 60 is 31.5 or 32 inches isn't it? You can Y mount the springs (narrower in the front) to add a tad to dial roll stiffness.
This stuff truly is not rocket science. I'll see if I can find some online resources for you.

'85-'91.5 D60 was 36.5" 1 1/2" narrower.

Yeah its not rocket science.

I just didn't want to be disappointed with the springs I may pick. And on the fence with leafs since I have a 05 F350 available. I have a free set of 5 leaf 48" springs but still checking on the capacity.

 

[justcuz]

I would go with the longer leafs, for a better ride.

I am going to totally spitball the entire concept by suggesting a 3 link suspension with your existing springs and towers, home made radius arms and a track bar. Kind of like the new Power Wagon or the old Ford Mono-beam. You can use your existing radius arm mounts and move them rearward on the frame. I would also look at a Dodge 2500/3500 front axle and measure the spring mounts and see how they correlate with you current spring width. You might find the Dodge front end an easier fit, with very little difference in ride by keeping your coil springs.

As for as leaf springs. I did an "automotive leaf spring design" search on the Internet and found tons of information, too much to list. The term I was looking for was wedging the springs not Y ing them. The fronts are mounted 1" narrower per side than the rear of the spring which creates a twist in the spring as it compresses, increasing roll stiffness.