Lifting the front

[82chevy350]

So on my 76 i was reading you can swap 52 inch springs up front to get a lift well would rear springs off my 82 c10 work?

i have a 3 inch block in the back

 

[82chevy350]

http://diy4x.com/cart/index.php?route=product/product&path=24&product_id=137

or could i run these shackles up front replacing the old ones?

 

[bucket]

Those shackles will only give you about one inch.

Yes, your C10 springs will work. BUT they will give you 3-4 inches of lift and you will end up going with crossover steering. You can keep your stock push-pull steering, but the 52's give enough flex that your steering will be useless in some situations. Your brake hoses also won't be long enough.

 

[82chevy350]

i thought the shackles gave half the length?

Useless as not bein able to turn?
Any pics of crossover steering?

 

[crazy4offroad]

Stock shackles are about 4" so 6" shackles will indeed only yield about an inch of lift.

 

[82chevy350]

ahh i see well i think i wanna use the 52 springs seems like my cheapest route besides if i really have to have the crossover steering

 

[bucket]

ahh i see well i think i wanna use the 52 springs seems like my cheapest route besides if i really have to have the crossover steering

There are many costs besides the springs. Honestly, if you just want a little lift and only plan on mild stuff, just keep an eye out for used lift springs. It's just a simple bolt-in replacement, plus a recommended but not 'needed' raised steering arm. If you end up with 4 inch springs, plan on some basic extended brake hoses... but those you can find at the parts store.

 

[82chevy350]

Well i got the springs
so if i moved my front mounts in front of my body mount it would bolt up right and get some extended brake lines?
Im on a very tight budget being in college so just looking for the cheapest way right now..

 

[crazy4offroad]

If this is your daily driver I advise you dont start this till you've fully researched everything to it, as well as other peoples' experiences while doing it and afterwards the things they noticed or wished they done, etc. You might have to take a couple of the springs out of the pack, so you'd need new centerbolts. You'll need new u-bolts, never was a fan of re-using really old ones. Since moving the front spring perches forward will only gain you about 2" you may need longer shackles in the back. Your stock springs are 48" and the ones you're putting in are 52". If you moved the front perches forward 4" you would throw the steering geometry all out of whack, may cause your front driveshaft to over-extend, and have your tires not centered in the wheel wells right. So you have to move the front forward 2" and the rear back 2" to keep everything centered.

 

[82chevy350]

http://www.jegs.com/i/Skyjacker/825/F1100/10002/-1?parentProductId=753716

What about these?

 

[crazy4offroad]

You could do a pair of those and a pair of zero rate add-a-leafs and get 3" but I cant vouch for how they will ride.

 

[dirtroadoutlaw]

I've done this but used b52's from diy4x, made longer shackles & custom stacked my springs out of a couple of sets. Got 6" out of it with springs only. I've heard of moving the front spring hangers but don't advise it since they're flimsy without the additional support of the body mount bracket.

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I also upgraded to. A beefier f.u.s.h. because the old ones were shot & dinky in the first place. Got those from diy4x too. I find their stuff to be of extremely fine quality & very reasonably priced in comparison to others. Kert & Tracy there at diy4x are very hospitable & a pleasure to do business with.

Personal advise: get all your stuff together before you start. It may take a little scraping & saving along with some research but will work out better in the end!

 

[82chevy350]

all im really trying to do is get 2-3 inches of lift just to level it out..
But i do understand i need to find out all this info first so i know how to do it right and safe...
I was thinking maybe i could pull the c10 springs apart that are fairly straight and just add them to my stock springs im just trying to get it leveled so it looks better

 

[dirtroadoutlaw]

You need to visit your local spring shop to do that the cheapest. Well.... usually. A good spring shop can re-arch &/or add a leaf or two. The 52" spring up front normally yields 3-4" of lift with stock shackles & relocating the stock front hanger. You have to measure very carefully to avoid a crap shackle angle and still might end up needing an ez-inch to get your axle centered in the wheel well if you're retaining Your stock steering setup.

 

[dirtroadoutlaw]

Get 2wd c10 FRONT brake hoses. They will cover you up to 6".