The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 5.43 gears for a 2 Ton?

Peterbilt model 379 semi truck. Air leaf is the combination of rolling bags with the axle contained by a multi leaf pack from the frame to center of axle instead of control arms. They also employ a panhard bar to control side movement, something you may want on your conversion too to relieve that strain from the control arms.

The air ride with a leveling valve will be great on the back. It may only take 10 lbs to keep it at ride height and provide a smooth ride. Once weight is loaded, the valve will let in enough air to level it again and will still ride soft. You will need good shocks to control rebound. I found gas shocks were NOT good on the back of the Pete. Hydraulic shocks provided a firmer control over compression and rebound, but then the truck weighed 17,000 lbs bobtail and regularly hauled 80,000 lbs when under load with 40,000 lbs on the rear tandems. Less weight would allow for lower shock rates. Gas shocks may be fine for what you intend.

I DON'T recommend air bags on the front axle. Pete tried that in the early 90's and in fact, my truck came from the factory with the experimental bags. MANY of the initial trucks were rolled over due to the bags tendency to lift on the inside under turns. It made the truck unstable and leaned too far over. After a couple years of trying to remedy the situation, Pete brought all the trucks back into dealers and converted them to straight axles. On a street truck it may be OK but you would want a heavy sway bar to control the roll/lean on cornering.

Thanks for the good advice. Sounds like I will be better off to keep the coil springs on the front!

Actually, I was thinking leaf spring in the front. If you keep the independent and find bags to fit in the spring pockets, it would probably be fine and get the ride you want. More difficult to have a leveling valve with an independent but it can be done.

You have a much lower center of gravity too and with a sway bar it should be good.

Ive flip flopping between having the old 2 speed rearend in my current 65 c60 project,or just upgrading to a 2 speed out of a newer c60 or 70 truck.
But now Im liking the idea of using p30 front brakes/spindles on my stock front axle and power steering and that good stuff.
Ive got a friend who owns a trucking company who has offered me some 22.5 alcoas from his spares he has sitting around when ever Im ready.
This project started out as a simple working resto of a work truck that was going to be used to build itself another home to rebuilt in when the new shop was done,storie of my life!

I don't believe that the modern 22.5's will work. Grigg has a good tech tip on wheels on the site.

My 70 c60 I used to have was switched over from 20s to 22.5s without a problem,big ol Michelins on it.
It would roll down the highway at 65-70 with no problem with a 292 and a 4spd with 2 speed rearend.
My friend told me theres 2 different sized holes between the different alcoas,but we would figure it out when the time comes.I know that Ill need longer wheel studs to make up for thickness of the aluminum rims.
How do ya post pictures on here anyway?

You won't find aluminum 22.5" wheels for the 10 lug on 7.25" bolt circle like the P30 and many of our old 1.5 and 2 tons have. Unless you have them made. Also it would be difficult to impossible to make wheel adapters from that to the larger/modern semi truck 10 lug, just not enough room, they interfere with each other.

I may have to go back to my original plan of using disc brakes off a newer c60/70 truck then,As long as the king pins are same size I should be ok I guess.