- Thread starter
- #101
Here are the after pics and heights to the top of wheel well.
34.25 Front
32.25 Back
34.25 Front
32.25 Back
Light duty springs experience on stock 60
- Thread starter Beachcomber Bernie
- Start date
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- Thread starter
- #102
Here's the story.
Partnership
I know that my own wrenching skills do not cover spring replacement. Springs are also a big ticket item for me. I wasn't comfortable working from a catalogue on this and knew I couldn't afford to do it twice. For those reasons, I chose to seek out an expert who would listen and stand behind the solution. Jeff Crosby is a 4th generation spring maker and owner of Deaver Suspension. I gave him a tour of the truck while he listened (again) to my needs. He gave me a tour of his shop, introduced me to the guys and told me how he was going to do it. Part of the joy I get from this obsession is finding and working with talented people who are passionate about their craft and going above and beyond for the customer. I found that in Georg at Valley Hybrids (@orangefj45) and am here to tell you that Jeff is cut from that same cloth.
Product
We knew that the install and dialing this in was going to take some time. Before my visit,
Jeff had originally proposed an 8 leaf pack and when I arrived, they were all built and ready to go. I know that over the course of 6 hours, he installed and re-arched the packs twice before being pleased with the final 7 leaf pack result. The height is now 34.25 front and 32.25 back measured to the top of the the wheel well. The extra inch is noticeable in a good way. It's a very comfortable height and my 5'4" wife has no problems getting in.
Ride
First the facts. Our beloved 60's are trucks and they will never ride like a Cadillac... nor would we want them to. Ride quality is an equation of seats, springs, shocks and tires and we all have to draw a line somewhere on how far we are willing to deviate from the stock baseline to achieve that personal satisfaction. I've restored my seats, have 2 year old OME shocks and run stock size tires. While maintaining stock is important to me, I am compromising a little on the springs (1" lift) and (eventually) tires in anticipation of our retirement travels.
We left Deaver and started our 4 hour ride back home while chatting up the improvement for the better part of the first hour. I hadn't fully realized how much I was being beaten up by those 30 year old springs. Railroad tracks, uneven pavement, expansion joints... These were all adding to my driving fatigue. The new springs smooth everything out and the bone jarring is gone. Make no mistake, you still experience the road but you feel a bit more removed. I was considerably more relaxed, didn't cringe every time I noticed some pavement irregularities up ahead, and I felt safer at freeway speeds. It's still a truck... but now it rides like a new truck.
Next
I know that a bigger tire is the eventual next step. The price to you for this write up is your recommendations on tire size, make and model so, educate me.
I guess it should come as no surprise that replacing 30 year old springs would of course be a huge comfort improvement. However, the other parts of this experience (partnership, quality, business reputation, etc.) were just as important to me and Jeff at Deaver Suspension delivered in spades. He's a highly knowledgeable, straight talking, stand-up family man who understood how important this was to me, appreciated how far I traveled and earned my recommendation to this community.
Hard to believe he doesn't own a cruiser.
Partnership
I know that my own wrenching skills do not cover spring replacement. Springs are also a big ticket item for me. I wasn't comfortable working from a catalogue on this and knew I couldn't afford to do it twice. For those reasons, I chose to seek out an expert who would listen and stand behind the solution. Jeff Crosby is a 4th generation spring maker and owner of Deaver Suspension. I gave him a tour of the truck while he listened (again) to my needs. He gave me a tour of his shop, introduced me to the guys and told me how he was going to do it. Part of the joy I get from this obsession is finding and working with talented people who are passionate about their craft and going above and beyond for the customer. I found that in Georg at Valley Hybrids (@orangefj45) and am here to tell you that Jeff is cut from that same cloth.
Product
We knew that the install and dialing this in was going to take some time. Before my visit,
Jeff had originally proposed an 8 leaf pack and when I arrived, they were all built and ready to go. I know that over the course of 6 hours, he installed and re-arched the packs twice before being pleased with the final 7 leaf pack result. The height is now 34.25 front and 32.25 back measured to the top of the the wheel well. The extra inch is noticeable in a good way. It's a very comfortable height and my 5'4" wife has no problems getting in.
Ride
First the facts. Our beloved 60's are trucks and they will never ride like a Cadillac... nor would we want them to. Ride quality is an equation of seats, springs, shocks and tires and we all have to draw a line somewhere on how far we are willing to deviate from the stock baseline to achieve that personal satisfaction. I've restored my seats, have 2 year old OME shocks and run stock size tires. While maintaining stock is important to me, I am compromising a little on the springs (1" lift) and (eventually) tires in anticipation of our retirement travels.
We left Deaver and started our 4 hour ride back home while chatting up the improvement for the better part of the first hour. I hadn't fully realized how much I was being beaten up by those 30 year old springs. Railroad tracks, uneven pavement, expansion joints... These were all adding to my driving fatigue. The new springs smooth everything out and the bone jarring is gone. Make no mistake, you still experience the road but you feel a bit more removed. I was considerably more relaxed, didn't cringe every time I noticed some pavement irregularities up ahead, and I felt safer at freeway speeds. It's still a truck... but now it rides like a new truck.
Next
I know that a bigger tire is the eventual next step. The price to you for this write up is your recommendations on tire size, make and model so, educate me.
I guess it should come as no surprise that replacing 30 year old springs would of course be a huge comfort improvement. However, the other parts of this experience (partnership, quality, business reputation, etc.) were just as important to me and Jeff at Deaver Suspension delivered in spades. He's a highly knowledgeable, straight talking, stand-up family man who understood how important this was to me, appreciated how far I traveled and earned my recommendation to this community.
Hard to believe he doesn't own a cruiser.
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #105
I hope that sharing what I learned will help someone else.
Now that Deaver has our specs dialed in, it should be much easier for the next guy.
Now that Deaver has our specs dialed in, it should be much easier for the next guy.
I appreciate your hard work and your sharing the info. I think I may be the next guy and am in touch with Jeff already. Does anyone know (1) if the specs on the springs between a 60 and 62 are the same and (2) if they are different, what the 62 specs are or where I can find them?
Btw I've searched for this info and found a thread discussing that 60 and 62 springs are "swappable" but the thread implies they are not of same spec. Thank you. - Neal
- Thread starter
- #108
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@Beachcomber Bernie Good follow-up Don. I like the stance. I'm now curious to see where mine will end up in the height department on the springs from KSI.
Question, is it just me or is the rear shackle angle really laid back. Doesn't seem like much travel remains in its current position. Once the springs relax or weight is added it will get even flatter. Your thoughts or comments from Jeff on it?
I'm hoping to stay with 30 x 9.5s but may go up to a 31 to fill the wells a bit more and make it look a little better.
Jason
I run BFG AT in 31" flavor and have been extremely happy with that size. They fill the wheel well nicely and I've noticed very little drop off in acceleration or braking. Anything larger and you need to start thinking about gears and/or a 5 speed.
gregnash
Anal Retentive Analyst
Don, if you looks a ways back in my thread you will see where I upgraded to 31s with stock, flattish springs. Will definitely fill the wheel wells and I never rubbed off-road. Just fills the wheel wells nicely.
- Thread starter
- #112
Gnash,
Thanks for the headslap.
Between those money shots and group therapy, (right here in my own thread) the 31" looks like it will be a great target.
Thanks for the headslap.
Between those money shots and group therapy, (right here in my own thread) the 31" looks like it will be a great target.
- Thread starter
- #113
Hadn't forgotten you Jason.
I see what your seeing and I'll get an answer from Jeff first thing next week.
@Beachcomber Bernie Thanks for sharing your experience with the springs; fwiw, here's a shot of my '62 with 31"s and stock suspension. I imagine with new springs (even stock height), I might have an inch or so more of lift. But per your request, here's what 31s look like. I'm a fan.
- Thread starter
- #115
Boom! 31 and done.
Thanks guys for the all the visuals and knowledgable nudges.
That's totally the look and ride we're doing.
Unfortunately, I've still got TOO many miles left on my 28"s to toss em.
That, and I need my wallet to heal a bit longer from bleeding Freeborn Red.
Look for this thread to be resurrected when I finally get appropriately shod.
Thanks guys for the all the visuals and knowledgable nudges.
That's totally the look and ride we're doing.
Unfortunately, I've still got TOO many miles left on my 28"s to toss em.
That, and I need my wallet to heal a bit longer from bleeding Freeborn Red.
Look for this thread to be resurrected when I finally get appropriately shod.
After finding that my rear axle sits at 31.5", this thread becomes more and more relevant. Good work!
Props for taking the path less traveled.
Props for taking the path less traveled.
- Thread starter
- #117
Jason,
I put this question to Jeff today and here is his response.
The OEM specs for the 60 calls for a little less arch in the back to keep the body level. With those new 7 leaf packs, there is no concern for a little added weight, even over time. The solution is well within the parameters of OE and keeps the resulting lift at one inch.
Hope this helps.
chelo
SILVER Star
Bernie, Just got back early this morning from socal but here are some pics. 
If you look at the rear tire that would be my original spare tire. In the front is the tire size I ran for many years which is 265/70/15. Which is about 29.6" tire. In the current state I have 31x10.50 x 15" Coopers on 15x8" wheels with a bit of more offset.
265/70/15
This is how it currently sits. Just plastidipped white wheels black. More balance throughout the turns even without swaybar and oe shocks and springs.
Here you can see the diffrence in the 265/70/15 vs the 31 coopers at3.
If you look at the rear tire that would be my original spare tire. In the front is the tire size I ran for many years which is 265/70/15. Which is about 29.6" tire. In the current state I have 31x10.50 x 15" Coopers on 15x8" wheels with a bit of more offset.
265/70/15
This is how it currently sits. Just plastidipped white wheels black. More balance throughout the turns even without swaybar and oe shocks and springs.
Here you can see the diffrence in the 265/70/15 vs the 31 coopers at3.
- Joined
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I posted this on my build thread, but some here wouldn't see it. SO.............
The new "showroom height" springs are installed and 114 misc. terrain miles have been put on them to get things shifting around to get good "AFTER" measurements. These measurements are with 75%- 30 x 9.5 x 15 tires with 38psi.
BEFORE MEASUREMENTS AFTER MEASUREMENTS
FRONT DS- 32-5/8" FRONT DS- 34.25"
FRONT PS- 32-3/4" FRONT PS- 34.25"
REAR DS- 31" REAR DS- 32.50"
REAR PS- 31" REAR DS- 32.625"
Overall a 1.5" lift from the 32 year old height numbers. I truly believe this is as good of an "ORIGINAL" stock ride height that I will ever see. The MAF shackles give it a 1/4" more lift over the OEM shackles. If I didn't have to use the gas axe on the rear springs, I would have went back with the OEM shackles.
I have about a 3/8" stinkbug rake, perfect IMO, looks level and I like that look. It will increase a little more with the ComeUp winch install (approx. 65#), but not by much.
Ride was REALLY SMOOTH on the interstate at 70mph and around town. Mild BLM trails were remarkably smooth and even the washboard sections were taken well.
I'm really happy with the overall install, fit and post ride so far.
J
The new "showroom height" springs are installed and 114 misc. terrain miles have been put on them to get things shifting around to get good "AFTER" measurements. These measurements are with 75%- 30 x 9.5 x 15 tires with 38psi.
BEFORE MEASUREMENTS AFTER MEASUREMENTS
FRONT DS- 32-5/8" FRONT DS- 34.25"
FRONT PS- 32-3/4" FRONT PS- 34.25"
REAR DS- 31" REAR DS- 32.50"
REAR PS- 31" REAR DS- 32.625"
Overall a 1.5" lift from the 32 year old height numbers. I truly believe this is as good of an "ORIGINAL" stock ride height that I will ever see. The MAF shackles give it a 1/4" more lift over the OEM shackles. If I didn't have to use the gas axe on the rear springs, I would have went back with the OEM shackles.
I have about a 3/8" stinkbug rake, perfect IMO, looks level and I like that look. It will increase a little more with the ComeUp winch install (approx. 65#), but not by much.
Ride was REALLY SMOOTH on the interstate at 70mph and around town. Mild BLM trails were remarkably smooth and even the washboard sections were taken well.
I'm really happy with the overall install, fit and post ride so far.
J
