tomtom87

I remember reading about a guy who swapped ram conversion van leaf springs into his xj. Ive tried seaching it. Has anybody heard of this?

Gatchmo5710

any leafs that are 2.5 inches wide will work for a bastard pack.

rob93

Those springs are gonna be stiffffffff!

Cnwxj

Look on pirate. I've got a set, haven't installed them yet. They suck cause you can't buy a replacement front bushing, comes with the spring. They are pretty soft if you get them off a 1500, and take off the overloads. But they will bolt up.

InvaderTrax

I bought a pair of 1500 van springs to try out. The main leaf is longer eye to eye, so you'll need to relocate the shackle box for them to work out. I did pull them apart, and just by using the 3rd leaf in place of my stock 3rd leaf, I gained 2.5" over stock. If you used all 3 leafs and left off the overload, it'll be pretty tall and stiff

99Classic

From what I've read in the junkyard upgrades thread, The extra length (eye to eye) improves shackle angle when/if used in a bastard pack

InvaderTrax

This is very true. However, the extra length from the van spring is so much that the shackle will hit the end of the box in stock location. You need either a relocation box, or boomerang shackles

outkast

Ok so use older Dodge van leafs, gets rid of that funky oval front bushing.

As far as shackle angle and relocation boxes, I have them on mine out of a 1996. The shackles are definitely at a better angle and with the bolts ground down in the stock boxes at full flex there is enough room to stick a piece of paper between the two. If I took out my extended bump stops they would probably hit but then again my tire would be making out with my fenders.

Ram Van leafs have a 1200# capacity on a 1/2 ton van. S-10 packs have and 1100# capacity. Dodge Dakotas have three options, 1200#, 1800# and 2500# so they really aren't any stiffer than what a lot of people are running. Of course those numbers are for full packs.

tomtom87

Thanks for the info and opinions. I think I might just use the durango springs i have and make the bastard pack.