The Stovebolt.com Forums Home | Tech Tips | Gallery | FAQ | Events | Features | Search
Labor Day

Labor Day

Putting down your wrenches or time for
MORE wrenching?

Wrenching this Labor Day
Plenty of places to share.

Searching the Site - a click away
click here to search
New here ??? Where to start?
Click on image for the lowdown. Where do I go around here?
====
Who's Online Now
2 members (baldeagle, 3800GUY), 63 guests, and 2 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics128,005
Posts1,055,266
Members48,418
Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026
Step-by-step instructions for pictures in the forums
Brad Allen's photos

AD Chevy Trucks

Pictures galore
Over 6,000 pictures

Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips.

Check them out!

Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!

Big Thanks!

THANKS!

For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for

over 30 years!

and not clogged down
with Ads!


Again, thanks!

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#132816 07/28/2005 9:30 PM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 209
B
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
B Offline
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 209
I want to lower my 64 c-10 swb truck. I do not know about this. What steps will it take to do so? Thank you....bb22


Stovebolt-It is painted
#132817 07/29/2005 12:31 AM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 221
V
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
V Offline
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 221
The easiest although not the cheapest way is a new set of dropped spindles.the cheapest way is to cut 1 or 2 coils off the front springs but it will ride rough and be prone to bottom out easily there are also lower control arms available with deep spring pockets that will lower it.

#132818 07/29/2005 6:57 AM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 209
B
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
B Offline
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 209
yea i heard that cutting the coil springs isnt the smartest thing to do. hhhmmm i was thinking about buying a drop kit but that will have to wait cause i do not have the money. I will be patient on this one. smile thank you


Stovebolt-It is painted
#132819 07/29/2005 2:59 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 148
1
Member
Member
1 Offline
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 148
you can cut the springs if you do it right. it will increase the spring rate. jus tmake sure to use a cut-off wheel, and not a torch. and keep the spring cool. if if gets too hot, it will soften the spring.


2003 ford lightning
1959 chevy 36
#132820 07/30/2005 12:08 AM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 613
Z
Member
Member
Z Offline
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 613
if you drop it more than a couple of inches with shorter springs,the a arms will be at a bad angle and the top of the tire will stick out farther.you should use drop spindles.

#132821 07/30/2005 12:14 AM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 221
V
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
V Offline
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 221
Another option is the way they did it back in the 50s just heat the coil springs with a torch till it gets as low as you like it.it will ride like it has solid rubber tires and will keep lowering its self as the springs sag.

#132822 08/01/2005 2:45 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 148
1
Member
Member
1 Offline
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 148
how much do you want to lower it?


2003 ford lightning
1959 chevy 36
#132823 08/02/2005 2:33 AM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4
M
Junior Member
Junior Member
M Offline
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4
Cheapest+Easiest=Heat the springs. I haven't done this. I cut one coil out and used 2.5" drop spindles on my 69 Burb. For the rear I made a set of 3.5" lowering blocks and longer U-bolts. This allows you to use your stock shocks if you want to. The only trouble I've had with it is that the U-Bolt nuts will drag on an automated car-wash track.

The better way is arms or spindles and drop springs in front and drop springs/c-notch/shock relocator in the rear.


-Mike

1961 Stepside on 1999 C5 Vette rolling chassis LS1/M6
Pics of the Project
[img]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/61%20C5%20PU/Sig.bmp[/img]
#132824 08/02/2005 7:13 AM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 209
B
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
B Offline
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 209
im thinkin like 4" / 6" DROP ...early classic enterprise shows different stances of how you can lower it.


Stovebolt-It is painted
#132825 08/02/2005 2:59 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 148
1
Member
Member
1 Offline
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 148
don't heat the springs, that is bad. it will soften them up so they sag. for a 4/6 drop, i would go with cut springs and spindles up front. if the rear is leaf sprung, you can flip it (mount the axle on top of the springs). if not, then you can get lowering springs for the rear too. don't forget new shocks when you lower it, you will need shorter ones.


2003 ford lightning
1959 chevy 36
#132826 08/02/2005 5:09 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4
M
Junior Member
Junior Member
M Offline
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4
On the 64 C-10 rear coils were standard and leafs were optional. Its opposite on the GMCs if I'm not mistaken. For a "6 rear drop on coils you may want to do both blocks and springs. If you are on a tight budget you can cut the rear coils a little and buy/make blocks and U-Bolts. The Block/bolt I used on my '69 Burb I had originally made for my '61 C10. I can send you pics of the rear set-up if you’d like.

Up front for a 4" drop you will have to include drop spindles. 2.5" spindles and 1.5" cut out of the coils would work.

Ideally though, short of going way custom, aftermarket drop springs and shocks should be used with the blocks (or flipped leafs) and spindles.


-Mike

1961 Stepside on 1999 C5 Vette rolling chassis LS1/M6
Pics of the Project
[img]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y236/e78999/61%20C5%20PU/Sig.bmp[/img]
#132827 08/06/2005 2:50 PM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 209
B
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
B Offline
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 209
well im not sure now how far i want to drop it. Do you have to have certain tire size to drop. I have P225/75 R15 on my truck. They are still in good shape and i dont want to buy any new ones yet for atleast a few more years.


Stovebolt-It is painted
#132828 08/06/2005 11:06 PM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 209
B
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
B Offline
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 209
oh yea i been looking all over and i notice alot of the drop kits say you need disc brakes. I have drums and i dont plan on buying disc brakes anytime soon. I am on a low budget. I want to get 255-60-15 tires and rims for my truck then drop it to either 2 1/2-4" or 4"/6". What are your opions on this. Thank you


Stovebolt-It is painted
#132829 08/07/2005 2:04 AM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 613
Z
Member
Member
Z Offline
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 613
the only drop spindles are disc spindles.buy the 230 dollar drop spindles,then go to a junk yard and get everything else from a 73-87 c10.

#132830 08/07/2005 11:12 PM
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 12
K
Junior Member
Junior Member
K Offline
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 12
what he said, I did that before minus the drop spindles. I did a boneyard disc brake swap on my 66 gmc. Pretty easy and didn't cost a whole lot. I would get the master with a power booster though. My friend had a problem with this as his truck was a 4 spd and his clutch and master cyl. were one unit. I don't know what you have.

#132831 08/09/2005 8:44 PM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 209
B
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
B Offline
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 209
ok just to make myself clear on my 64 swb i have the original suspension and original drum brakes. wat is needed to drop my truck to wat i want? I am very clueless on this subject. Help me some more guys. I am an ameteur.


Stovebolt-It is painted

Moderated by  Fibonachu, KCMongo 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Home | FAQ | Gallery | Tech Tips | Events | Features | Search | Hoo-Ya Shop
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 8.0.0