Chevy 63 Swap - Everything You Need To Know!

[@definitelynotpewdiepie]

Nice work! You did a great job of explaining the axle swap process. Truck looks great!

[@DirtGarage]

Thank you!

[@BruceCookfmx]

Swapped these onto my 90 pickup years ago and loved how they rode especially for the price of the swap. Another good video 👍🏻

[@TheMolacho1]

PHEW! For a second there I thought I had to run my tongue up and down the frame rails!

[@nickcrill7718]

Love the video. Wished you made longer videos sometimes. Would love to see a rear disc brake conversion, and possibly a trail gear 3 link front swap. They have a kit now and I’ve only seen 1 video of it and it’s on a newer Tacoma with sas

[@evanshears2773]

I just bought a 1998 Tacoma w/ 3.4 5 speed. Has a 3” body lift and 33’s I just ordered a 2.5” suspension lift, lunchbox locker for the rear and starting to buy a bunch of recovery gear. My friend also has a 1999 TRD w/ 2.5” lift and 33”s with elocker. Chevy 63’s. if you’re ever interested in wheeling we are in the Castlegar area and could drive to cranbrook! My truck should have all the work done by spring :) and now saving for winch and chev 63’s

[@DirtGarage]

Sounds like some fun projects! I'd love to build a 1st gen Taco one day.

[@SolarMillUSA]

I’m rebuilding my ‘96 taco from the ground up. It’s been my daily driver since 2001 but I’ve always wanted it to be a project vehicle. The low flex, stiff ride has always been one of my number one issues. I’m deep in the forms and read lots of comments about deavers, dakars, ‘94 truck swaps, none of them really seemed to hit the mark. Then literally five hours ago I first came across the ‘63 Chevy swap concept. I know right. Pretty surprising that it was totally off my radar despite weeks of research. Now I type in 63 spring swap and a ton of articles come up, this vid was at the top. Looks like I finally found a perfect solution 👏 PS- 1st gen tacomas at the BEST. A true light truck. A decent amount of modern conveniences and styling, but still a reliable utilitarian workhorse.

[@MoaByte-v2z]

Thanks for this. I was leaning towards OME for my '80 long bed but 63" it will be.

[@DirtGarage]

The OME has always been super stiff in the rear, even after 3+ years installed. And I paid waaay more for the OME springs than a set of 63s and a swap kit would cost.

[@Gabriel-jc2sc]

I also got an 80 Pickup and I went with the 63’s in the rear and a 4 link in the front with FOX 18” travel 2.5’s and stretched forward about 6”. I’m getting some major flex and my tires hitting the obstacle first to crawl up easier. 💪💪

[@FranciscoGonzalez-ro7ht]

@@Gabriel-jc2scno welding needed when swapping 63" ? I got a 83 Toyota long bed too..

[@stuwy1237]

63s are the best mod for ride comfort and flex. I made my own hangers, shackles and u-bolt flip kit. $250 for the kit is a good deal.

[@ConSeann3ry]

How much you think you spent making your own. Time, and money.

[@houndhunter4106]

The chevy 63s are a great swap, but after running the f150 springs for a while I'm convinced they are better than the 63s. They are a bit shorter but honestly flex is roughly the same, but I don't get as much wheel hop

[@houndhunter4106]

@@ConSeann3ry the front spring hangers take maybe an hr to make, just get box tubing and cut it diagonally then smooth it/round the edges off. You only need a 6" piece of the tubing

[@chazzgitzel2802]

This is awesome! im planning to put fj40 axles on my 4runner, and this is definitely the route im taking on the back

[@ronnycox27]

I’ve got a set of 63’s for my 85. But haven’t installed yet. I think I’ll look into the rough stuff kit thanks

[@DirtGarage]

Worth it!

[@matts_.4494]

Excellent video!

[@SOLDADITO76]

What is the part number for your Bilstein's? I ordered a set for my rig and both eyelets are the small size, couldn't get help from a sales rep and just had to guess by looking at a crappy picture. What I have noticed there is a difference between second and third gen rear hangers, the third gen (89-95) the rear factory hanger is wider and will most likely be the same with as the 63 eyelet. So when ordering your hangers for the rear get a set the is very close to your spring eyelet width with stock or poly bushing.

[@DirtGarage]

I honestly went to local parts store and just told them my truck and ordered lift shocks for it. Not sure of part number, the stickers are destroyed and can't make them out anymore.

[@devrimhusrevoglu4356]

Thanks for explaining this

[@DirtGarage]

No problem!

[@jjh_8076]

Great video. I have Chevy 63s on my 4runner. It only gave me 2 inches of lift so I had to us add a leafs and lift blocks. Has anyone use a pro comp Chevy 63 lift spring to achieve more lift? I found a pro comp spring 13211 which should provide 5-5.5 inches of lift. Has anyone used these?

[@bonhamjohnson8934]

What size blocks did u use

[@riseauto1]

My 99+ 63’s 2 leaf and a load leaf have terrible axle wrap even with anti wrap spring perches from ruff stuff

[@DirtGarage]

Crazy, I honestly expected this from mine because my old leafs liked to wrap. But it was actually better in my case. I kept the overload in to help. But plan on running anti wrap bar to help that little bit more.

[@riseauto1]

@@DirtGarage I think the 3 + load leaf do better with wrap, great tutorial btw 🤙🏼

[@DirtGarage]

@@riseauto1 Thanks! Mine was a 4 pack originally with overload. I removed 1 leaf to help keep it low. Still works good for little wrap

[@mitchellavalos3]

How good are they for weight bearing? I got an 85 with a utility bed that I’m turning into an over landing rig. 35’s, dual cases, 1uz swap, rooftop tent, bumpers and sliders, winch, fridge, stove etc so she’ll be riding a little heavy

[@DirtGarage]

I mean, being for a fullsize I would imagine even better than Toyota, especially if you keep the full pack in there with overload.

[@mitchellavalos3]

@@DirtGarage awesome okay. Thanks buddy. Love the content

[@jesusakadice]

What shackle angle did you end up going with?

[@jesusakadice]

How much travel do you have after doing this? Have you ever measure it?

[@jacobdickie-riley2391]

How tall is you yota? (Top of roof) I want to buy one and just want to see how low yours is

[@zapz2101]

so i was wondering what would you pair the 63's with in the front? also are there other cheaper options for a SAS? are there other cheaper solid axels that work good n the toyota pickup?

[@dylanromine4101]

I have 63s with missing link shackles

[@DirtGarage]

Awesome!

[@mauriciogonzalez9337]

Hi, from what year has that 63 spring ?

[@Rzazigzag]

What fender flares are those?? Love this truck

[@DirtGarage]

Fenders are from www.toyotafiberglass.com

[@rileymartin4565]

Good information I appreciate it!

[@DirtGarage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@deanbolitho9908]

I love Ruff Stuffs products, they build there stuff killer strong.

[@DirtGarage]

Agreed!

[@timpanko]

Any bump stops in the rear?

[@DirtGarage]

Not yet! But on the list for sure

[@MichaelMartinez-fp4mh]

Late to the party! Are you adding a 1/4" to both front and rear measurements or just to the front? Very informative!

[@baconeverysunday656]

Great video👍

[@DirtGarage]

Thanks 👍

[@loganperry2237]

Is there a difference besides 2wd and 4wd 63’s?

[@DirtGarage]

4 leafs in pack on 4x4, 3 on 2wd

[@micahstorey5891]

Hey man your videos are awesome! Did you have to drop the fuel tank to do this ? I have an 89 single cab and my fuel tank is right in the way I saw on the last video you did

[@DirtGarage]

Yeah we did. Especially in this one because its recessed into the frame.

[@micahstorey5891]

Thanks bro I dropped my tank getting into the mock up tonight, I notice you kept stock shock mounts correct ? What size shocks did you get for the swap

[@DirtGarage]

@@micahstorey5891 frame side stock yes. I believe 12"

[@jfloydsea]

Nice work! When you gonna ditch those rear drum brakes?

[@DirtGarage]

I already ditched them once. Then went back to get a e-brake again.

[@FlawedOffroad]

@@DirtGarage there are some calipers that have e brake provisions, the Caddy eldorado ones for example and those fit where any of the old GM stuff would. no idea what would fit a yota but there may be something

[@Олег-х8р]

Рессора установлена другой длинны?

[@bobbymulwee7641]

What was your final rear shackle degrees?

[@DirtGarage]

No idea, did not measure. This one we just kind went with what looked right.

[@koshermoses5777]

I seen you do the Lexus V8 into an 86.Fooken bad ass. Let's see an engine from a Platinum Tundra swap! 381hp.😆

[@riotwarrior]

More great content. Really like the vids, keep up the good work 👍👍👍👍

[@DirtGarage]

Thanks, will do!

[@oldowl4290]

Ok,... now do the F-150 leafs. A lot of people are going this route instead with their old Toyota Pickups and 1st Gen Tacoma because the Chevy 63's fad was originally started by the hard core rock crawler crowd and over the last decade a lot of people learned the hard way that they are just way too long and too soft for normal driving. I've read countless threads about both mods and have seen instances of many people being unhappy with the 63's, some even ditching them altogether. The early 90's 2.5" 2WD F-150 leafs however, I've not found a single complaint and nothing but high praise, in fact several of the most well known old guys swearing by them for many reasons. At 56-57" they are still ~9" longer than stock 48" leafs, they give a 2-3" lift depending on which ones you choose, and are still give adequate to great flex depending on which ones you choose, ie 3/1 or 4/1.

[@DirtGarage]

Yeah but stock 3rd gen leafs are about 52" long. Not a crazy upgrade to go to 57s. I love the 63s, not complaints here

[@oldowl4290]

@@DirtGarage Sure, to each his own. I'm just reporting what I've found after extensive reading on Pirate 4X4, YotaTech, and countless other sites. The 63's are just realllly long for these trucks.

[@mandingo9471]

@@oldowl4290tundra leaf springs

[@dinch_art]

Was looking at the best way to add 3 inch lift to the rear and you made it look easy. Only question I have is how to keep a good pinion angle so nothing binds? Great content man!

[@DirtGarage]

I chose to use the 5" shackle to help retain the correct pinion angle. Everyone I know who has done this swap has never had issues with shackle angle after the fact.

[@dinch_art]

@@DirtGarage Thanks for the info!

[@Southern_specifics]

Why are you so educational my guy wtf

[@SolarMillUSA]

I used your measurements to put these springs on my ‘92 Honda Civic DX and it was wayyyyy off. What the actual fuck, guys???

[@DragonsTaco]

😀 "Don't use the measurements I gave you, I didn't"...

[@DirtGarage]

As mentioned for example purposes only. I want everyone to measure their own springs, and not have their axle position end up in wrong place because they followed a KZbin video.

[@DragonsTaco]

@@DirtGarage Hey, no worries, I understood just thought it was funny, nice video. I've got some king 14"s and trying to decide on the 63's over getting taco specifics. 2nd Gen.

[@lolux6577]

Everything you need to know, for fucks sake people have been doing this since the mid 90s

[@DirtGarage]

Yeah no kidding. And people are still doing it today.

[@NuttyNu]

Are you going to get a 80 series cruiser anytime soon!?

[@DirtGarage]

If I could, I would already own one!