even though the springs fit the front hangers I didn't like how they fit hence why I made new ones. I also was doing some r&d for future kits and the majority of the trucks I have come across in the past 20 plus years that I have been doing this usually have worn, bent or rusty front hangers.
This is true it would be a bolt in option at that point as the IH hangers are narrower then what the gms with bushings are you either have to trim the bushings or run narrow ones to fit the IH hanger, the ihparts hangers would fix that issue and bolt on.
When I first did the lift my 4" shackles bottomed out on the bottom of the frame so I had to switch them out to 5" shackles.
I mocked up with 4'' ones 4'' and I would have had frame issues I set mine up with 4.25''. And have some minor frame contact but only when wheeling it very hard. I also ran grade 8 bolts in everything I could.
The biggest factor shackle wise is with the stock divorced 205 and a 6'' lift is ujoint angle. Mine is alittle off at the pinion and I get vibrations above 50mpg with front hubs locked. I looked at 5'' shackles and it would have made the caster and ujoint angle worst imo. 4'' springs would help that area out and I hope to gain some at the shackles and ujoint when I lower it by removing a leaf.
I ran into the same problem with the rear axle being too far forward. I fortunately already had replaced the perchs with the three bolt style so moving it back the inch was easy. For guys with stock d60 rear ends they don't have this option(without installing new perchs).
Three bolts are a must with a fullsize. My donor 14 bolt was a cucv 1 ton so perch width was perfect in those axles. But I have the center alignment with bed problem. I will fix this issue when I swap in a GM aam 10.5 which is a 14bolt with discs and ebrake setup just the newest 14 bolt. And I will get the three bolt perches and have disc rear.
My Travelall rides decent but I agree I wish the ride were better on the biggest bumps. I too agree that the 4" lift front springs with the 6" rears would make the rig sit more level but out here in CA we like that nose high prerunner look. Next time I lift a fullsize I want to try 4" lift GM springs front and rear and keep the factory rear lift blocks and see how it rides compared to the 6" springs..
With mine I got a full 6'' front lift and 2'' lift rear as I removed the 4'' blocks and the truck had a 2'' tail high rake to begin with. My frame sets level. I need to get the arkansas rake back! Lol
I wish I would have got lighter spring rate springs. Especially for the front. I got bbc springs thinking heavy sv, they flat out suck. I think lighter spring rate would help even with the sv motor. I think even 1/2 tons spring would ride like a caddy but might sag over time.
Be carefully with the blocks as you will get more lift in the rear with 4'' on top and have axle wrap.
On your Travelall. You might try removing a leaf in the rear and adding alittle air to the bags and see if that helps with ride as well.
I'm guessing you're talking about the rear springs?? I tried reaming one and immediately tore up an expensive drill bit.
Yeah that was the rears. I opened them with a drill bit them used a reamer to get final size. For the front shackles I simply drilled the shackle hole for the GM springs. So smaller bolt on spring and IH bolt on top. Works great.
I figured the IH 74'-75' pickups had the shocks this way for a reason so I thought I would go that way too. When I torched the hitch off I left a piece of angle iron that was being used as a crossmember for the hitch but was now doing nothing..
I redo mine when I do the axle swap. I though I had seen the GM mid 80s truck looked just like those. But I can fab something up.