65 Spring help

Hi, just started working on a 65 GMC that once was a full custom job that got neglected by last owner and left to rot. Got it running but it was lowered by relocating the springs, front and rear, below the axles. I want to relocate the springs back to stock but the rear shackles look like custom jobs and wont work if I move the springs back to the top. Anyone know of a company I can get stock rear shackles from? Any potential problems I might be looking at that someone can warn me about before I start this job? Any and all info and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Derek

Welcome Derek,Seems like somebody posted useing the ones off a 57 Chevy cay??? It kind of looks like they might of de-arked(kind of flat) your springs too to get it lower also??

Welcome Derek. I am considering lowering my van the way yours has been lowered. Why are you putting it back to stock? The look? The ride?

Hey can you post a larger pic of your avatar? Is that a club cab pick-up?

Welcome to the site. Cool to have someone from the Islands

Thanks for the warm welcome and quick replys. Sorry new to Vans, so not familiar with the model distictions? In regards to Wacko, I know its a Handivan, emblem still there, but not sure what a club cab pick up is. Donovan, is the lower photo a set of the tri-5 chevy shackles, if so what company did you use? The reason I want to raise it is, although it looks cool, it sucks to drive. Airbags would be more expensive, but the drive would be a lot smoother. More importantly, almost all the tires rub the fender well. The rims and tires I got on it now are just to move it around. Not sure how previous owner got around without it rubbing, tire blew when I drove it home, maybe springs sagged over time? Its been sitting for about 5 years. Is rear front shackle same as rear rear shackle? Again, thanks for all your help. This site is great!

Also, I think someone got a th350 under there with a adapter plate(still got the 6 in it, 230 I think?) and thought the th350 doesnt mount to the 6 unless maybe an adapter was used. Also, looks like the doors had windows but were covered with sheet metal at some time. The Van was featured in a Japanese surf culter mag bout 9 years ago, and it looked great. Owner neglect did it in. Needs tons of body work, but I got it for $600 and I always wanted this style van for years, just dont see much of em on this island(Oahu, near Pearl Harbor)

Even with new springs, would relocating them back over to stock locations be recomended? I mainly want the tires to clear the wheel wells to fit without rubbing yet not going too skinny.

haha, my eyes were playing tricks on me. still cool looking van though.

Hey Donivan, did you use the chevy car ones and if so, how much do they go for? Your van looks great by the way. Do your freinds live here or visiting?

I just realized your photo was just stock peices cleaned up real nice, thought they were new. I will probably just use the fronts as templates and make em myself. Thanks for the info.

Welcome! This is a great topic to follow too! Congrats on the new van!

Has any one used the 55 chevy shackle before? They have a different look with the angle, but seem to be the right length? Only bout $50 a set with bushings, which would probably need replacing anyway?

M1dadio used those on his 65 and said that they worked great. Here's a link to a post over on VCVC that has pic's and some more discussion.

http://www.vcvc.org/ubb/Forum2/HTML/002324.html

Thanks Donivan for the photo, the re-arced springs look a lot more like I would expect them to look like. Thanks for the link as well wideload, good to know they work. Im now thinking of using my long shackles and adding multiple mounting positons to allow for different ride heights? One way to find out, hope those bolts arent too frozen on there. Been soaking em with lubricant and will tear into it tomorrow. Thanks again for all the input and help.