The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop What rear suspension do you have?

Working on a 1950 chevy 3100.
I have my front suspension in! Finally, took me longer than expected. C10 front bolt in suspension. I know I know it's a little wide but I've seen a couple that looked good to me, both with tires out a tad and with offsets to suck them in. It was free, I now have 5 lug disc and power steering. Kinda like the lift it got on the front, not sure how much or how I will lower or even out the height yet.

Now im ready to do the rear axle. Torque tube set up is gone. A stock 350/th350 is going in. I have a 10 bolt 8.5 axle.

What have you guys used for rear suspension?

Stock springs with offset perches for a 3 inch axle tube? Under or over springs?

How about new suspensions? Any good kits? Why'd you pick them?

Thoughts on using shackles and springs from same c10 donor? Anyone done something similar? 1950s rear frame is wider so I'm wondering about clearance issues for suspension.

What have you guys used and why?

Thanks

It looks a though you are budget conscious so the easiest and cheapest would be to turn the factory springs 180 degrees to center the axle tube in the wheel well and weld perches on in the right place. Get hold of a BFH and allow more time that you figured for switching the shackle pins and spring eye bushings. An extensive knowledge of cuss words and a cold beverage helps. We have a press which takes most of the fun out of it. If pocketbook is healthy I like coil overs for a both good and stable ride but this means a lot of fabrication by the time some type trailing arm (4 link/ladder bar) and a Panhard bar is in place. We have also used the Lincoln/Corvette/Jaguar independent rear suspension which gives a truck that can run autocross.

Turn them around? Does that really center a new axle? Or could I buy the spring perches that offset the axle for the stock springs?

Yea I've been trying read up on replacing the bushings. Looks like some are threaded. How to tell which? Any good tech articles?

Turning the rear leafs around will ~center (center it within the wheel well, front-to-rear) any axle that is bolted to the leafs- matters not whether axle is stock. You could buy perches that have multiple pin holes (or drill new holes).

Well I got my new bushings and stuff in and decided to swap the rear axle today. Got the springs down and realized my springs were no good. Not only were the bushings worn out by the the eyes of the leafs were elogolated terribly. One on each is a nice big oval!

So aside from getting new springs...what are my options if I went to the junkyard?

The AD trucks are wide in the rear but can I mount hangers on the side of frame instead of under? What options do I have either way? Possible to use my c10 leafs? Enough clearance?