Lifted,, but how ...

[Localbulldog]

This a a 1986 Custom Deluxe K20 that appears to have a two inch lift in it but I don't know why. The three piece leaf springs are stock and look to have a negative bend. Do the shackles look longer? The rear has two inch blocks under the stock leaf springs and the truck sits level. I would like to return it to stock height. Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

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[Bextreme04]

It has at least ORD HD greasable shackles on the front. You probably don’t want to put that back to the flimsy stock ones. Do you have a diesel or big block in it? Those springs don’t look like the factory springs, my factory three leaf heavy duty springs(8600GVW) have all three of the leafs extending all the way to the shackle hanger. My stock hangers were also bent to hell, which is why I’m putting on lift springs, new bushings, and HD shackles. This is what mine looks like stock on the front.

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It could be a 2” EZ-ride spring... this is what my 4” EZ-ride HD springs look like and they have the same thick spring with the staggered spring length.

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The only difference between HD and non-HD is the 4th leaf on the bottom. Mine would just have more arch due to it being a 4” lift. An easy way to tell for sure if they are stock is by measuring the bushing eye hole. The lift spring front eye bushings are a larger diameter than stock.

 

[Bextreme04]

You also have a lift steering arm on there. The stock steering arm doesn’t tilt up like that.

 

[Dutch Rutter]

@Bextreme04 said exactly what I was going to

Edit: I'd second keeping the shackles. I have the same pair on my k20. Really a good and quality part.

 

[Bextreme04]

The reason for the HD shackles being a tad bit longer than the stock ones are to keep the spring eye from contacting the frame, which it will. I believe GM actually made that change on later trucks anyways because it was a problem. The shackles themselves will add basically nothing in lift height but are much stronger... and greasable, which the stock ones are not. You can probably just order stock replacement springs and get a stock steering arm and be good to go.

 

[Grit dog]

The springs are giving it the lift, as said.
Looks like solid new or newer pretty much everything under the front end.
Why the desire to change it all out to make it only a tad lower?

 

[Localbulldog]

Thank you! So it sounds like the consensus is that someone put lift springs on it with a lift steering arm. I'm thinking of putting it back to stock height just to make it easier to mount and dismount as I'm getting older and would rather not jump in and out. Thanks again!

 

[Localbulldog]

Anyone know where I can source a stock height steering arm?

 

[Craig 85]

Why not run some steps? I had these on my '79. Are you sure you want to switch to stock style springs? The ride quality is not that great. I had a 4" Tuff Country EZ Ride in this truck with a 4" block in the rear and it was the best riding Square Body truck I've had.

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[Bextreme04]

Anyone know where I can source a stock height steering arm?

Honestly, I’d highly recommend keeping the slight front lift and get some steps. Mine is currently stock height and is still a climb without the steps. I’m putting a 4” lift on it right now and will be pulling the stock front arm. If you want the stock one, you can have it for the price of shipping. I’d suggest swapping, but I already bought the lift arm for mine.

 

[trukman1]

A couple years back I ordered nerf bar steps for my K5 from Rock Auto in SS for less than half the normal going rate. Don't know if that would be something you'd be interested in or if they're even still available but might try them to see if they have what you want. Just a suggestion.

 

[dvdswan]

This is more of the negative arch everyone talks about...

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