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| | | | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 293 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 293 | I am going to put an '86 Corvette rear end under my '57 Suburban, using a kit from Flat Out Engineering.
I would like to keep the stock spring: is it an OK spring rate to use, considering the rear of the Burb is heavier than the rear of the Corvette? What shocks should I use, to be able to carry my camping gear or pull a small trailer without crushing the suspension? Maybe some "load-leveller" shocks?
Any advice/input will be welcome!
Thanks
'57 Chevy Suburban; '70 Chevy Impala.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | how do you propose to mount an independent Vette rear with leaf springs? have you examined the kit? here's another one installed on a TF chassis .... a Vette rear isn't fixed, it's trailing arm independent Bill | | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 | The kits to put a Corvette suspension under your truck use either a airbag type spring or a coil over type spring. I don't believe you can use the factory transverse leaf spring and get the rid height you need. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 293 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 293 | Red58, the stock Corvette rear uses a transverse leaf spring, and that is the one I would like to use (or a similar one with a different rate).
The kit (the one in Red58 picture) can be used with a stock style transverse spring. Most people use coil-overs because it is easier to get the correct spring rate and ride height, but I do not like the looks of coil-overs...
Hence my question about Corvette stock or aftermarket spring rates and shocks.
'57 Chevy Suburban; '70 Chevy Impala.
| | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 1,624 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2005 Posts: 1,624 | You might want to look into what's available in springs. Vette people and the people who serve them may not think like you. I put a C-4 under my front end of my '39 and needed to get it up. When I called suppliers about a spring to raise my front end all I got was "Buddy, we get a lot of calls with guys who want to lower their front end. You are the first who wants to raise it. In other words, they don't make such a thing."
Six volt guy living in a twelve volt world
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 293 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 293 | You might want to look into what's available in springs. Vette people and the people who serve them may not think like you. I put a C-4 under my front end of my '39 and needed to get it up. When I called suppliers about a spring to raise my front end all I got was "Buddy, we get a lot of calls with guys who want to lower their front end. You are the first who wants to raise it. In other words, they don't make such a thing." In my town (Calgary, Ab), there is a shop that makes leaf springs, any size, any rate... Maybe I shoiuld go and talk to them and see if they can make me a custom spring that would give me the proper ride height and rate... Any thoughts about that?
'57 Chevy Suburban; '70 Chevy Impala.
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,252 "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! | | "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,252 | Since the Corvette rear will be a custom install, you can set the ride height anywhere you want. You will need to get your spring figured out first whether you use the transverse spring or some other type. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,832 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,832 | google "mono leaf spring" and it will show many suppliers. I'm sure you can source a spring with about any dimension and rate.
Evan
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 89 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 89 | You can always get longer bolts and add more springs? Or run and heavier Shock with the mono leaf? | | |
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