A good front spring upgrade for cheap!

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A good front spring upgrade for cheap!

Postby m880cummins » Fri Jun 29, 2012 2:04 pm

So heres a 1: Cheap, 2: better riding, 3: stronger spring that you can get off any 3/4 ton 1968-1971 dodge truck. These were off a 1970 camper special D200 and have a military wrap on one end. The early truck springs were reversed end to end. I ended up taking the pair and measured them to mine. They measured exactly the same to cummins springs and had 1.75" of more arch. They were also 7 leaf rather than 6 and had two non sprung leafs on the centering bolt which I ended up taking off so I could use my existing u bolts. This spring was switched end to end and the military wrap is on the (now front) eye and clears the front spring bracket by 3/16 of an inch! These springs fit like a glove in this truck and with the leafs lubricated with never-seeze and new bushings and shot shocks it rides better than my new stock cummins springs which were already arching a little the other way....

PICS!!!

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Stock cummins vs 1970 springs

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Height difference:

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Notice here the springs have just a little positive arch. They settled a lot more than I thought coming off the jack but shouldn't any more as they have been under a truck for 32 years now and are well broken in. The amount the spring settles when let off the jack stands is quite a bit more and probably contributes to the smoother ride as well....

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You could use these and a 1" non sprung leaf and achieve a 2" lift and you would have a better ride, longer lasting leaf (because of the military wrap) and cheaper than any lift spring out there even after the boneyard price, rebuild price and new bushings you would still be less than half of lift springs and give the truck a little better stance. I plan to do a Jungle shackle flip on the back and eliminate blocks next! AC may come first tho!
1977 M880 Cummins 5 speed SOLD :(
1985 Crew cab Cummins P7100 NV4500 D60/D80
SUNY Maritime Class of 2017!
m880cummins
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Re: A good front spring upgrade for cheap!

Postby Mark Nixon » Fri Jun 29, 2012 2:14 pm

They're going to settle a lot more with @ 700 more pounds on them than was on them in the old truck.
It's just a matter of time and motion.

Mark.
Mark Nixon
 

Re: A good front spring upgrade for cheap!

Postby m880cummins » Fri Jun 29, 2012 2:20 pm

May be true.

I like these springs with the military wrap though. I didn't like how all the weight was riding on the end of one leaf and causing the top front leaf to bend.

Charlie
1977 M880 Cummins 5 speed SOLD :(
1985 Crew cab Cummins P7100 NV4500 D60/D80
SUNY Maritime Class of 2017!
m880cummins
fuel screw!!!!
 
Posts: 440
Joined: Tue Nov 15, 2011 2:21 pm
Location: Parkesburg, PA
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Re: A good front spring upgrade for cheap!

Postby PToombs » Sun Jul 01, 2012 5:26 pm

Really clean for used springs. Around here they would be so pitted from rust they'd be junk like mine are now.
pete

Just enough power to break everything behind the crankshaft.
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Re: A good front spring upgrade for cheap!

Postby m880cummins » Sun Jul 01, 2012 7:18 pm

Well they were on my dad's '70 and were sandblasted and new bushings installed. Also the truck was out of the Mojave Desert..... They ride so much nicer now just gotta soften up the harshness of the back end.
1977 M880 Cummins 5 speed SOLD :(
1985 Crew cab Cummins P7100 NV4500 D60/D80
SUNY Maritime Class of 2017!
m880cummins
fuel screw!!!!
 
Posts: 440
Joined: Tue Nov 15, 2011 2:21 pm
Location: Parkesburg, PA
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