belltech flip kit problem

[andyfanshawe]

Hi all.
Just fitted a 6300 flip kit to the rear of my mates 1998 hightop van with steel leaf springs. The instructions in the box and on their website bear no relation whatsoever to the kit we fitted. The instructions were for the composite springs. Surprised that belltech have got that wrong.
Anyway, he travelled a long way to me so we could fit it, so we had an educated guess.

The kit wouldn't fit with the rubber isolators on the springs in place. The dimple in the bottom rubber cushion wont fit through the hole in the bottom plate. If the rubber cushions are fitted the bolts won't fit. We managed to get it all together pretty well considering we had no direction whatsoever. But, the van is now making horrible noises Belltech have been emailed but have had no response yet.

Anybody had any experiences with these kits?

Thanks for any reply.
Andy.

[LiftedAWDAstro]

A quick google search shows the 6300 is for the 85 to 95 with composite springs. That would explain the instructions and poor fit.

[nitropyro]

yes you have the wrong kit and it probably is extremely low right now vance and i made a old body kit work on a new body but it sat extremely low. i think all we did was drill out the center hole then made a raise bracket for the rear shackle.
Danny

[JOEASTROMATT]

Hi its my van and i wouldnt say it really low have u guys any idea of what is exact part difference between 6300 kit for composite leafs and 6302 for steel leafs it all goes together well apart from fact the rubber cushion is left out because the bolts on the saddle were too short ...i can get longer bolts and fit rubber cushion if that is only issue?

[andyfanshawe]

A quick google search shows the 6300 is for the 85 to 95 with composite springs. That would explain the instructions and poor fit.

Thanks for your reply.
My van has the kit for the composite spring fitted, which is different to the one that we fitted to joeastromatt's van. So I dont think the kit is wrong. The kit certainly isn't a poor fit by any means.
We are still waiting for belltechs response to the lack of proper instructions and their suggestions to put this right. IF the kit is wrong they have some explaining to do. IF it isn't wrong, why are the instructions completely wrong and no reference to the correct version on their website?

Any more comments welcome.
Andy

[andyfanshawe]

it all goes together well apart from fact the rubber cushion is left out because the bolts on the saddle were too short ...i can get longer bolts and fit rubber cushion if that is only issue?

Unfortuately joeastromatt is not entirely right here. If longer bolts were used, the stock rubber cushions still would not fit. The bottom plate would NOT fit over the dimple in the rubber and so the location would not be correct. In addition the top rubber cushion is not suitable either due to its shape and depth.

The online diagram for the 6300 kit is not the same as the parts we have. Another reason I think the kit is actually correct for the application. Still cant explain the noise though-yet.


Andy.

[SoCalli V8]

Years ago, I bought a BellTech flip kit for my `86 Astro that had composite leaf springs.

I don`t remember the BellTech part # because I flipped my axle 5+ years ago.

But I know that I had to modify it when I upgraded to steel leaf springs, < because they are narrower, taller and all the leaves were bolted together at that "axle saddle pad locating bump".

Sorry that my details are vague, (it`s been along time since I flipped) but I took some pictures to give you a visual, and help you out ......










In this picture you can see the chassis C-notch that I cut out and welded back in with 3/8 inch plate. Those are the airshocks that I use also....

[SoCalli V8]

And 11inch Caprice CopCar drum assemblies......