Customs 1952 Chevy Truck - Rear Leaf Springs with Axle Swap

Looking for input from those who may have done this...

Working on a '52 Chevy truck. Planning on a T5 swap and will be eliminating the torque tube rear axle. The replacement axle will be from a 1970-1981 Camaro. I will need to move the leaf spring saddle pads, but what have you guys used as far as leaf springs?

Posie springs, Ch***is Engineering, TCI, etc...?

I think Posie springs are the stock, narrow spring type and the others use a wider spring. Also, can you just use the Posie spring and keep your stock shock mounting location??

 

Lot of people use the stock springs. Are yours bad for some reason? A lowering block with an offset pin hole will center the rearend and adjust your ride height to be more hot rod friendly.

 

Well, with doing the axle swap, I just figured now would be a good time to install a new set of springs and also move away from the pivoting mount on the springs.

But looking at Posie springs, it looks like they are more of a stock width, which allows you to utilize the stock shock mounting locations - I think.

I was curious if anyone used any other brands. Seems to me the other kits use a wider spring (?) which forces you to add a cross brace and relocate your shock mounting locations?

The kits that I looked at did adjust the pin hole to center up the axle in the wheel well, which is a good thing.

 

I used Ch***is Engineering kit on my 1st series '55 - rides great. Used TCI on my '56 - just as good.

 

The pivoting mount is on the stock rearend, not the springs. The springs are std leaf, just have the pin offset due to the stock pivot. Just drill a new hole for the pin in your new rearend pads adjusted tot he forward end, or as I suggested if using lowering blocks then offset the lowering block hole. Plenty of trucks have done this and many miles without issues. Same thing on the cars with torque tube, the stock leafs work with an offset pin hole on the new open drive rearend.

Unless you have damaged springs, the stock ones can work fine. Can also remove a couple leafs to soften the ride if you are not as concerned with weight capacity.