Leaf sprung 80?

[1973Guppie]

A lot of work for no gain IMO.

Regards

Dave

I don't agree with this. Sprung over vehicles can flex extremely well if done and set up correctly. I had a sprung over 40 series and that thing would flex like crazy with stock softer leaves with no clamps on them. The body would for the most start stay level when wheeling through the rocks. I don't see that happening with the stock 80 suspension no matter what coils you use. So to say there is no benefit just is not corrrect. To question whether it is worth the work put into the vehicle, that is a personal choice.

 

[maxamillion2345]

I don't agree with this. Sprung over vehicles can flex extremely well if done and set up correctly. I had a sprung over 40 series and that thing would flex like crazy with stock softer leaves with no clamps on them. The body would for the most start stay level when wheeling through the rocks. I don't see that happening with the stock 80 suspension no matter what coils you use. So to say there is no benefit just is not corrrect. To question whether it is worth the work put into the vehicle, that is a personal choice.

Thats definitely a fair assessment. Personally I see a lot of value in going leaves. I could have linked the rear with coils or coilovers but I'm not certain that either would neccesarily be better, more travel? Sure but how much do I need? And I didn't want to cut into the body. 14" shocks are plenty really. With a anti wrap bar I have no problems there. And it rides great.

But, my goals are different than most here and I realize this isn't for most (most don't have a linked front either) but I just wanted to come back and address some of these things after the fact. Its done, works great for me, I have no regrets and for anyone wanting a similar rig whose maxed out the capabilities of the stock links, this is a good option imo.

 

[greentruck]

I'm still not sure this is anything more than a Photoshop-enhanced beer dream... but let's assume it's all actually bolted to the truck much as it appears in the pics. I suspect the limits to this idea are in the frame and its potential locations for attaching spring hangers, etc.

But seriously, you have heard of the FJ55? Leaf sprung luxury, FJ40 simplicity and toughness, and Mr. T already did all the engineering. Rides well and works great offroad, just don't get the bodywork near salt.

But what is the problem being solved here? The only drawback I see for coils vs leaves is that ride height is closely linked to the load on the coils and thus is usually more variable. But I still depend on my truck to do it all, from grocery getting to the far too little time spent on the trails. Mostly, the 80 leaves me feeling there's no shortage of capability, but I can understand some want a "funny truck" for nibbling away at the extremes.

 

[Dave 2000]

I have tried different off road combo's (admittedly LR products) and have yet to see a leaf spring out flex a coil. A leaf spring can only flex up and down without applying considerable pressure to twist the leaf, which given it is anchored at each end you can see how twisting is resisted.

Now look at a coil sprung vehicle, as the axle is called to flex the coil can not only go up and down but, also scribe an arc, think slinky coils here. This enables greater articulation admittedly within the confines of the control arms but flex more it will.

I think this may be a personal 'thing' and everyone's experiences and preferences have to be respected, for me it is coils.

Regards

Dave

 

[White Stripe]

I think I saw those exact pics on pirate like 3 years ago? If not those then someone else has leafs on a 80. I am a fan of leaf springs. The two most important factors in offroad capability in my opinion are weight and center of gravity. Suspension geometry is probably 3Rd and flex is probably 4TH. A 80 series due to its design as more of a Jack of all trades rig makes some compromises in this regard. It's heavy, but can carry a lot of gear. Stock height cog is pretty good. You with fitting 40s but no info on your ride height it's tough to tell how your cog is. The stock links are great and will get you pretty far down the trail. Will they get you further than your leafs? You get more flex so in some instances thats better. Anti squat numbers between your setup and a same height 80 with stock links are not given so it's hard to know which hooks up better on climbs. Typically I can get a good idea if I see a rig sitting static just how well its going to hook up. But you only have flex shots. So I have no idea. Whatever the case the 80 has weight against it, and looks like u have a Cummins, so that doesn't help in the weight department. But u have the ability to get great fuel mileage, carry lots of gear, and do some decently gnarly trails it looks like so overall should be a fun multipurpose rig.

 

[shocktower]

I didn't say anyone told me it couldn't be done but rather I asked a question and I got a few responses and a rash of lame questions... so 4 years later here I am reading Phils thread with the same questions, why would ya wanna do that, and I think back on this thread...

Now I realize what mud is all about and its not this but thats okay.

So, sure I could have linked the rear too, the front 3 link works great, but why?

And why on earth would I have kept the s***ty stock links?

Leaves ride great, handle a good payload, can max out 14" shocks, durable, cheap, low maintenance, easy... now you know.

No regrets

I noticed here, we have a pretty good community, but like any community, there are those who will hate or tell you, it cannot be done( some if not all haters cannot even pump gas), I do voice my opinions at times, but in the end it is their cruiser, and what they do is their bed to lay in, do I agree with leafs VS coils, I really do not know, I love the way my cruiser is, and that is all that really matters

 

[maxamillion2345]

I think I saw those exact pics on pirate like 3 years ago? If not those then someone else has leafs on a 80. I am a fan of leaf springs. The two most important factors in offroad capability in my opinion are weight and center of gravity. Suspension geometry is probably 3Rd and flex is probably 4TH. A 80 series due to its design as more of a Jack of all trades rig makes some compromises in this regard. It's heavy, but can carry a lot of gear. Stock height cog is pretty good. You with fitting 40s but no info on your ride height it's tough to tell how your cog is. The stock links are great and will get you pretty far down the trail. Will they get you further than your leafs? You get more flex so in some instances thats better. Anti squat numbers between your setup and a same height 80 with stock links are not given so it's hard to know which hooks up better on climbs. Typically I can get a good idea if I see a rig sitting static just how well its going to hook up. But you only have flex shots. So I have no idea. Whatever the case the 80 has weight against it, and looks like u have a Cummins, so that doesn't help in the weight department. But u have the ability to get great fuel mileage, carry lots of gear, and do some decently gnarly trails it looks like so overall should be a fun multipurpose rig.

I don't think it was mine, I don't think. I did this several years ago but I don't recall posting pics to pirate. Well... maybe? Idk.

Belly height is about 26" and with 63" springs theyre long and flat and not a very soft pack. I also have an anti wrap bar. Its definitely tall, not the tallest by far though, but without getting crazy with the frame I couldnt get it any lower and still retain the up travel I wanted. I could drop it 4" and have an inch of up travel but I'm trying to do a multitude of things and as nice as that lower cog would be, it would kill the ride on back roads and such.

I can't imagine the stock 5 link works as well, especially after say 4" of lift. Short steep links and all.

Its definitely a compromise in a lot of ways but it works pretty well for a lot of things too. Its been a lot of fun and wheels great and something I can still drive down the highway and get 15mpg at 75mph with plenty of power. Definitely a huge pita too, no denying that but the leaves have been the easiest part.

 

[maxamillion2345]

I have tried different off road combo's (admittedly LR products) and have yet to see a leaf spring out flex a coil. A leaf spring can only flex up and down without applying considerable pressure to twist the leaf, which given it is anchored at each end you can see how twisting is resisted.

Now look at a coil sprung vehicle, as the axle is called to flex the coil can not only go up and down but, also scribe an arc, think slinky coils here. This enables greater articulation admittedly within the confines of the control arms but flex more it will.

I think this may be a personal 'thing' and everyone's experiences and preferences have to be respected, for me it is coils.

Regards

Dave

The packs definitely twist but I'm not to worried they also sell orbit eye shackles now for that problem. I understand how well links work but to get any more travel out of the rear Id need to cut into the cab (or go cantilever, yeah right). So at this point the leaves are not really limiting my travel but rather I cant physically fit anything longer than a 14" travel shock without cutting through the floor. Admittedly if I could, the leaves will not flex beyond the travel of the 14s so down the road if I want more travel I will need to link it but really I'm pretty happy with it as is.

I'll just throw this out there as a possible alternative to cutting into the cab but kind of a long shot. With a 12" shock and trailing arms youd be amazed what kind of wheel travel you can get, but theyre a nightmare of their own.

I'm not sure Ive seen anyone running beyond a 12" shock with stock links? I'm not sure if thats a problem with fitment or if the stock links start to bind at that point? Both?

Haters will say its a photshopped beer dream, lol, but heres my buddys rig with trailing arms.

 

[maxamillion2345]

If only I didn’t have rear leaves!

 

[Heckraiser]

Hah, funny bump. The s***bucket pictured in my avatar featured the ubiquitous 63" chevy springs that have been used on every rig at one point or another. And junkyard frankenstein front leaf pack. That was the most balanced and smooth off-roader I've owned and pretty great down the road as well, when it could actually get up to speed.

What did you do for the front? More detailed photos?

 

[tacocat]

This is cool. I dig leaves for simplicity and load bearing.

There was a rear leaf sprung FJ Cruiser out there at one time.

 

[BILT4ME]

Are you still considering leaves for the front?

Did you install the Cummins?

I was thinking if you'd have to add to the frame in front in order to fit leaves long enough to give a comfortable ride and allow the flex you're looking for, yet carry the Cummins.

Sometimes, it's not about if you should, it's about if you could......

 

[tacocat]

Are you still considering leaves for the front?

Did you install the Cummins?

I was thinking if you'd have to add to the frame in front in order to fit leaves long enough to give a comfortable ride and allow the flex you're looking for, yet carry the Cummins.

Sometimes, it's not about if you should, it's about if you could......

It’s always about if you could. Why else would I drive a vehicle that goes really slow and gets really sh!!+y gas mileage.

I wonder if there are any flipped 60”+ leaves that would work. When I crawled underneath an 80 for the first time, I was amazed at how narrow the frame was relative to the body, especially the front.

I wondered if someone ever put leaves on one. I guess so.

 

[BILT4ME]

It’s always about if you could. Why else would I drive a vehicle that goes really slow and gets really sh!!+y gas mileage.

I wonder if there are any flipped 60”+ leaves that would work. When I crawled underneath an 80 for the first time, I was amazed at how narrow the frame was relative to the body, especially the front.

I wondered if someone ever put leaves on one. I guess so.

I had a 69 Chevy K10 I built in HS using a 1960 frame.
Since then, we have now built a 1970 K2500 for our son with all correct parts.

The 1960 frame had much longer springs and rode MUCH smoother than the K2500. The springs for the 1960 K10 had been "upgraded" by me with new springs to the equivalent pack for the 3/4 ton version of the 1960.

The springs on the 1970 are about 10" shorter than the ones on the 1960.

If I were to do an 80 in leafs, I would try to do the longest springs I could find, yet keep the wheelbase length in order to smooth the ride as much as possible. I would think an 80 on leafs would ride very rough (like a Jeep) on such a short wheelbase.

 

[tacocat]

I love the Chevy K series. I’d love to own a blue two tone K5 one like in the movie Commando. No distributor, no worries.

That’s another cool aspect of leaves, being able to fine tune them or build them from parts.

In addition to short springs, the reason the Jeeps rode so rough is because the springs had a pretty serious arch as they went under the axle and they had a forward shackle.

I was always amazed at how nice the the Toyota minis rode with their flat leaves and rear shackle

 

[greentruck]

If only I didn’t have rear leaves! View attachment 2531661

I dunno about "defiled" but at a certain point, this is more about having a Land Cruiser-bodied buggy than about it being a Land Cruiser. I don't have any problem with that, but I also don't see most 80s not being buggies as a problem, either.

 

[maxamillion2345]

I dunno about "defiled" but at a certain point, this is more about having a Land Cruiser-bodied buggy than about it being a Land Cruiser. I don't have any problem with that, but I also don't see most 80s not being buggies as a problem, either.

I agree. There are some here that think this sort of thing is sacrilegious however, or at the very least - less than. It's more of just different. It's all good though, I have a basically stock 100 series that I cruise around in and it's great for what I want to do with it. I just bumped to poke at Dave, whose snarky replies seemed to have dried up. We want to do different things with our 80s, no worries.

Admittedly, I did some damage to the driver rain gutter and ripped off my mirror doing the line in the picture above. Some combination of buggy line, not enough t-case gearing, and poor driving yielded that. I didn't really intend to push this through those kinds of lines but sometimes peer pressure gets the best of you. All the same, rear leaves have done me well on many trails now, and a little bit of highway cruising.

 

[maxamillion2345]

Are you still considering leaves for the front?

Did you install the Cummins?

I was thinking if you'd have to add to the frame in front in order to fit leaves long enough to give a comfortable ride and allow the flex you're looking for, yet carry the Cummins.

Sometimes, it's not about if you should, it's about if you could......

No, front leaves could work, maybe, but I'm happy I linked the front for a lot of reasons.

I could benefit some, from linking the rear but I've yet to really find a good way of not cutting into the cab and eating up cargo room. All said and done the rear does everything I want it to -- so I'm content with it.

Yes I did -- VE pump 12 valve.

It's been a interesting and expensive lesson in a lot of regards but ultimately I'd say mostly successful.

 

[maxamillion2345]

Hah, funny bump. The s***bucket pictured in my avatar featured the ubiquitous 63" chevy springs that have been used on every rig at one point or another. And junkyard frankenstein front leaf pack. That was the most balanced and smooth off-roader I've owned and pretty great down the road as well, when it could actually get up to speed.

What did you do for the front? More detailed photos?

The 63s have been great, they’re actually a 3/4 ton pack... only complaint I have is dropping onto my shackles off every ledge. Hah.

Front is a chevy kp 60, kind of a standard 3 link with 14” 2.5” coilovers, hydro assist, etc

 

[maxamillion2345]

If anyones really interested in the 63 setup, @Phildoh did the swap too. Which is actually why I bumped this thread as he liked one of my old posts and reminded me of this gem.