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#1392347 01/12/2021 5:38 AM
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 37
B
'Bolter
'Bolter
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 37
I need some advice. I bought a 1937... 1)2 truck. The guy I bought it from did a beautiful job of using a S-10 frame. Has a 327 engine, disk brakes that stop on a dime. PS, PB. Auto. It is lowered and runs like a buckboard. I want a smooth ride. Will be my daily driver. My options are. Use IFS and RS. Or should I use a new chassis. I just want a nice ride. I skipped many lunches so I would not have to skimp on truck. Any ideas what options would provide the smoothest (not perfect) but a little less buckboard. Thanks for any info.

Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,832
C
'Bolter
'Bolter
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,832
The cheapest test is to remove the shocks and CAREFULLY take it for a test drive. If still a harsh ride then softer spring rates are needed. Custom coil front springs with a low rate and either leaf removal or custom leaf springs on rear. On leaf springs it is the SHORT leafs that add stiffness. On a lowered vehicle stiff springs are usually necessary because of decreased clearances between suspension and body/frame. A pricier approach is to use coil overs on all four corners where you can select from a buckboard to a baby buggy ride. Last question is if you want a Lexus ride trade the TRUCK for a Lexus.


Evan
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 5,223
J
'Bolter
'Bolter
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Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 5,223
Before calling around, find someone with four corner scales and weigh the truck with you, a full load of fuel, and passenger. Any decent spring shop or hotrod shop will need to know this. You need all four corners or at a minimum, front and back. My '37 weighs 3400 in as driven condition with a 50/50 weight bias. Next question they will ask is what springs are on the truck now?
Do as Even suggest, remove or unhook the shock and see how it rides, be careful, it could get craze. Shocks can make or break ride quality.

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,409
T
Crusty Old Sarge
Crusty Old Sarge
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,409
On an S10 chassis most folks go with the easiest route to lower one by changing springs. If your truck has a stiffer aftermarket spring you can swap those for the OEM type and the ride should soften. The factory springs should handle the weight of the V8 no problem. If you still want to keep it lowered I would suggest you use drop spindles as they don't effect the harshness of the ride.


~ Craig
1958 Viking 4400
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If you don't like driving yourTruck, you won't drive yourTruck..| Living life in the SLOW lane
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 29,819
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Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer)
Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer)
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Lowered vehicles and a smooth ride simply don't go together. Pick one- - - - -normal ride height and a smooth ride, or lowered and rough, and stick with your choice. You're going to need more suspension travel than the lowered stance can provide. Hopefully, you'll be able to raise the ride height and retain enough steering and suspension geometry to have a good ride and good handling, but those things really need to be designed into the original build. Most vendors who sell round track race car components can supply coil springs for the front to provide the proper weight distribution. If you're still running rear leaf springs, the weight carrying capacity can be altered for a smoother ride, as long as there's enough suspension travel to allow for some suspension movement without bottoming out on bumps.
Jerry


"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
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Joined: Nov 2015
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B
'Bolter
'Bolter
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 37
I can't afford a Lexus. I just want one jiggle instead of two when I hit a bump. You are right. Thanks

Joined: Nov 2015
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B
'Bolter
'Bolter
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 37
Thank you. Will go to the garbage yard. They have a scale. Thank u.

Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 37
B
'Bolter
'Bolter
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 37
Thanks. Like I said. My butt hurts after a bit.😁

Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 37
B
'Bolter
'Bolter
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 37
I don't like my truck now. It is lowered. I want get it back to normal height and a smoother ride. I know it can never be perfect. Thanks

Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 439
3
'Bolter
'Bolter
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Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 439
tires could be everything. low profile will will always be stiff. Go smaller rim, higher profile or if theres room, just go higher profile for less lowering and squishier ride changing gear ratios slightly while you're at it.


Larry
Old man᠁Old truck᠁neither one goes very fast. All you need in life is TIME, PATIENCE and MONEY.
If you are missing one component, you'll need an abundance of the others two.
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 2,242
Herder of Cats, Goats, and Sheep (moderator)
Herder of Cats, Goats, and Sheep (moderator)
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 2,242
An S10 uses torsion bars for the front IFS. The most common way to lower them is to just crank the adjusters out which messes with the front end geometry. If he didn't make a bunch of changes to the front end, you might be able to get it back to a reasonable height by just readjusting it properly.

If you want the GM process for adjusting those, let me know the year of the chassis and I can pull it from techline for you.


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'Bolter
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Joined: Dec 2018
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Beebs In 2018 had a 2-ton 51 6400 farm truck,cut wheelbase to 98 inches,was guessing on 5x13 speedway springs truck road OK but did bottom out. So got 5x15 springs opened it with my winch truck put em right in,I wouldn't say it rides like a baby buggy but it's a lot better.Good enough ive driven it 9000 miles .Has 8.25x20's and is the best pick-up ive had,little boys love that truck !!


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