The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Lowering a 51 chevy 3100

Can I lower the front of my chevy with lowering blocks? I was think that i could put the block with the springs under the front axle like a rear axle job. Is this possible? I have a very tight budget. Didn't know how much of an adjustment I will have to make to the steering.

The truck is all stock.

I lowered my truck down by going to a monoleaf spring, but this wasn't inexpensive. However, before going this route I did look at other options. One of the options that I believe is available at a lower cost is to remove leafs from the springpack.

When you remove springs from the spring pack, what does that do to the GVW limit?

Some time ago someone posted pictures of what it looked like with the front axle on the other side of the springs and it was obvious this would not work as suspension travel would be less than an inch. I removed the 2 shortest leaves on mine and the bumper dropped about 1 1/2" and I found the ride improved somewhat. It suprised me the steering wheel was out of position 90 degrees after what I thought was a minimal alteration. No idea what that did to the GVW but I don't haul much anyways.

There is no safe, effective way to lower the front end of a straight axle Chevy truck more than a couple of inches without doing major alterations to the steering geometry. A dropped axle works, but at the risk of creating "bump steer" unless the vertical position of the steering gear on the frame is also changed. The drag link from the steering box to the left front spindle must be level with the ground after the lowering job.
Jerry

NO! Blocks on the front axle is very bad. It can lead to severe handling and safety issues.
While I can understand cost issues, the best bet would be to wait until you can do it the correct way.

My '51 3100 was lowered by the PO the old school way, I was told. When he had his shop in Albuquerque, NM, he had his guys heat the springs with an oxy/acet torch and then allowed them to "sag" under the trucks' weight until they got it where they wanted it. The pics of it are at the level they dropped it to. Not a huge drop, but at least a few people have noticed it and asked me about it. It has 15" wheels and tires on it, also. I noticed it seemed a little lower when I was checking it out before I bought it, but the guy confirmed that it had, and how it was done. I think it was brought up when I asked what the duct tape wrap was for on all 4 springs. He said it (supposedly) keeps them from squeaking. Anyway, this is one way to accomplish this, and I have to admit, it runs smooth and true, still. The pics I have on my signature are from the day I bought it from Frank up in Decatur, Illinois. His good friend, also in Decatur, was the restorer of the truck, and its previous owner before Frank. (William Clark, who is also a restorer of Model A's and T's, is the PO who lowered it in this method)

Heating the springs is also a bad way to lower a vehicle. Ruins the temper of the steel. Sure, it's cheap and easy, but it's still not the proper way to do it.

longboxx55 My truck has made it just fine for 20+ years this way. Apparently, it is A proper way to do it, otherwise there would have been many problems by now. Maybe you should have stated that it has to be done correctly and by someone who knows what they're doing in order for it to be properly done. Did you do it with bad results? Have you ever seen one that's actually been done this way? There are right ways and wrong ways to do many things. I've been a fitter/welder for over 30 years, a union Ironworker for 25, a welding instructor for IW apprentices for 5 and have a degree in welding, metallurgy and properties of materials (as does my wife) and I've never heard of anyone "ruining the temper of steel". I've heard of steel losing it's temper, sometimes partially and sometimes fully, but I also know that there are ways to heat steel without losing the temper or causing the crystallization, which causes carbon deposits to separate into pockets, by properly heating to required levels and quenching in the right medium.

Mine is doing fine, 51 runner. Not everyone should be heating steel, though. Especially if they don't understand it or know what they're doing. Just cause it ain't for everybody doesn't mean it's not possible. I didn't do the springs on this truck, but it seems to have worked fine here. Just don't tell my truck. It could turn it into a hypochondriac - and ruin it.

Be careful that you don't break your arm trying to pat yourself on the back.
Jerry

You got lucky. To answer your question, yes, I have seen them fail from heating them to lower the suspension. I've also seen plenty of vehicles sitting lopsided due to the springs sagging differently from side to side.
I'm in agreement with Jerry.