Spring question

[hinkv10]

Hi, after a 6 month hiatus I have started working on the old girl again. Its a 87 V10 that's been converted to carb. Stock suspension 31's but with a Rugby dump kit and a factory bed. The bed and frame was reinforced but besides that its pretty much stock.

Last summer I por'd the frame and ended up replacing the shocks and springs in the rear at the same time. I went to General Spring in KC and ordered rear springs; 2150 lb capacity 5(4/1) leaves 52" spring. Is that a good spring for a toy work truck? I load it pretty heavy with firewood from time to time and am going to start driving it longer distances but it is pretty much a local ride. I didn't replace the front springs because the bushings weren't as shot as the rear but the truck is almost 30 years old now..... Should I replace those as well? and with the same capacity? I really don't know much about springs and trying to get a little insight. Thanks in advance

 

[Mattchu60]

I have the same year truck - 1987 v10 - and did a similar thing a few years ago. I went with a little higher load spring (it was a 5/1 spring that was around 22-2300 lbs). It carries a lot of weight without any issues. I have had over a ton of rock in the bed a few times without issues. If anything I wish I had gone to the 56" springs and a softer rate, as its pretty stiff. I don't think you'll have a concern about capacity. I swapped a 9.5" 14 bolt in the rear as well to make sure I could load it up without breaking the axles.

My stock front 2 leafs are original as well, so I'd be interested to see what people say.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

As long as your springs aren't sagged out in the front I would just put in new bushings in the front end and call it good. That's what I would do anyways... Well actually I would probably just put a 2 inch lift in but that's just me. There's no problem with the stock springs though as long as they aren't sagged.