which leaf to remove from the pack

[1971ford]

on my 71 f250 LWB desert project, we are swapping in a 429 this weekend. we dont have money for suspension yet, but were going to need to do some testing of this new powerfull engine on the track
id like to soften up the rear alittle just for the testing. until we get our Deaver racing leaf packs.
im going to replace the shocks in the rear with some Rancho's.

how many leaf's should i take from each pack? 1 or 2?
which ones?

some info that might help.
71 f250 with 429, flexomatic rear suspension, no weight on the rear (no more gas tank, no bumper, no tailgate, empty bed), LOTS of weight on the front (aluminum will come later on). track is just really bumpy and torn up, we go about 30-35 mph, no jumps or anything

[1971ford]

after looking at it , i think removing 2 would leave too few of leaf's left

[oldschoolrods]

Maybe someone else will chime in but I agree i think 2 would be too many. Be very careful when you take the springs apart. We usually used 2 big clamps to hold the springs together when taking the center bolt out then slowly released the pressure. Don't forget new U bolts and a shorter center bolt when back together.

[mrtleavitt]

I agree, 2 would be too many at once. Try just one and then do 2 if you want to. But I bet 1 would be just fine. The one to remove would be the short, stubby one on the bottom of the pack.

[1971ford]

thanks guys, maybe tomorrow ill have the short one out of both packs. got to buy some Rancho's too so i can get those in.

forgot about the u-bolts and center bolts.
looks like the u-bolts have enough thread for removing the thick bottom leaf still. well put in a new center bolt though.

[FORDification]

You might be able to get away with removing the bottom leaf if you were just buzzing around town, but I'd definitely NOT recommend removing that one for what you're planning on doing with the truck. You're bound to break the rest of the leaves very quickly. Here's a picture of the remaining leaves in my choptop truck, after someone removed the lower overload spring. You can see how the other leaves aren't being supported and are starting to sag.

And this is just from sitting in a shop...it hadn't even seen any use yet!

[1971ford]

thats nasty stuff


what leaf do you suggest i pull then? if any?

is that truck misssing shocks and leaf clamps?

[FORDification]

Your options are kinda limited. You need to keep the bottom overload leaf, plus the main leaf with the eyelets on each end, plus the two that have the riveted-on clamps (unless you decided to pick up some add-on clamps from the parts store). I'd say you might have one or two leaves that don't fit into any of those categories that could be deleted.

You know, something that just dawned on me is the fact that the F100 springs I pictured above from my choptop are quite a bit thinner than F250 springs...at least when compared to the F250 Camper Special setup. Here's a couple comparison pictures:





You can see how the F250 Camper Special leaves are substantially thicker than the F100 SWB springs...meaning you might just be able to get away with removing the lower overload leaf after all, if you wanted to give that a try. However, from your picture above it almost looks like your F250 has the same size and number of leaves as my F100s....so I don't know if I'd wanna chance it.

Yeah, I know...I'm not really a lotta help here, am I?

[1971ford]

yeah my truck is the lightest f250 you could get...

someone pick a leaf, any leaf

it will be better than my decision


actually i think ill chance it. because 1-im a risk taker 2-gives me an excuse to get the new race springs sooner 3-were getting new race springs when a good deal pops up

we'll see how it goes

[1971ford]

guys im trying to find some Rancho's for this,
but of course my truck has the stupid thread mounting deal up top. see the first picture, top mounting for shock.

whast with this? i thought there should be a normal mount on the rear (where the mount has a horizontal stub for the shock to slide onto)

[oldschoolrods]

thanks guys, maybe tomorrow ill have the short one out of both packs. got to buy some Rancho's too so i can get those in.

forgot about the u-bolts and center bolts.
looks like the u-bolts have enough thread for removing the thick bottom leaf still. well put in a new center bolt though.

The U bolts need to be replaced any time the spring is removed. When you tighten a U bolt the thread is streched. Kind of a pain but they will not last if they're not replaced.

[James72]

If you're getting new springs anyways, why not just torch the ends off that bottom overload leaf? Then you don't have to mess around spending money on u bolts and center bolts that you'll just have to replace again when the new springs show up.


James

[1971ford]

If you're getting new springs anyways, why not just torch the ends off that bottom overload leaf? Then you don't have to mess around spending money on u bolts and center bolts that you'll just have to replace again when the new springs show up.


James

i like the way you think

i shall remove the bottom leaf's, take them to the welding shop and cut them up. should i just leave 6 in. or so in the center?

[James72]

I suppose the more you cut off the softer it'll get, so maybe leave the 6" and if it's too stiff, take some more. Don't for get the video camera for the trial run


James

[1971ford]

I suppose the more you cut off the softer it'll get, so maybe leave the 6" and if it's too stiff, take some more. Don't for get the video camera


James

pshhh like id go anywhere without the camera
ill get pics. im going into work tomorrow at 10, i MIGHT be able to get the leaf out before then.

but i just thought... im going to have to loosen the u-bolts quite a bit, and im going to have to remove the center bolt a ways... then remove the leaf, then put the partial leaf back in, retighten the u bolts and center bolt... isnt this going to just be like taking the ubolts off? would i need new ones? i dont want to have to spend money on them yet

here is a sweet concept photo of the master plan