The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Factory suspension handle highway speed?

Hello everyone,
I have a 1948 GMC FC101 with factory front suspension. It's the old school work truck suspension. See photos below. My question is if this was just meant for work or if it might possibly handle occasional highway speeds. Reason I'm asking is because I would love to keep the original old school uncommon look but might have to switch to modern shock, absorbers or coilovers so we can occasionally drive to the next town for shows and swaps.
Thank you for your help.

I have driven it around town and it's fine and have hit 40mph with the old engine. I now have a beefed up 235 with a 4 speed manual transmission so we are considering the suspension upgrade.

It depends on what you define as "highway speed". I drive my unrestored 1950 Chevrolet 3100 on the interstate a couple times a week or more. I stay in the right lane and drive about 58-65. 68 downhill.

I have a 216cid, 3 spd trans and 4.11:1 rear end.

I have new shocks all around and new tires and 16" rims. I can let go of the wheel at 60 and the truck tracks straight as a die.The new shocks, wheels, and tires made a night and day difference in handling.

Make sure all you steering components are tight and well greased. Make sure your brakes are rebuilt to factory specs. The 4 wheel Huck brakes do the job without yanking or pulling.

I've put close to 10,000 miles on this truck since 2022.

Lever Action shocks are nothing to be afraid of. If they're working properly leave them alone. If not, rebuild them or send them off to a rebuilder.

OEM and custom shock absorbers, USA made coil springs and leaf springs, steering dampers for all makes and models rebuild service for steering gears and power steering pumps:

A-1 Shock Absorber Company
365 Warren Av. unit #101 and 109
Silverthorne, CO. 80498
800-344-1966 or 970-513-8283
http://www.shocks2springs.com/

I wouldn't consider changing from lever action shocks to be an upgrade. The truck was designed to drive at about 60 mph. Nothing you do to it will make it handle like a modern car at 70 or 80mph.

Be content with 75 year old technology and drive within its limits. In my opinion, 60-65 mph is fast enough to drive on the freeway in a vehicle that's three quarters of a century old.

Do you still have the stock sized rims and tires? Larger diameter tires make high speed driving easier on the engine.

Thank you all. I was really hoping to hear that because I want to replace the bushings and keep them. It is a really cool look.
I have 15inch steel wheels and will be throwing in some 15 baby moons.
Nothing out of the ordinary.
235/70/15 cooper cobras.
@otto skorzeny

The smaller diameter rims and tires will mean your engine runs at a higher rpm at any given road speed than it would have if it were equipped with the stock sized wheels and tires..

I checked that link out but couldn't find a bushing kit. I would need to change the bushings. Other than that they function fine.

Any leads on a site that has a bushing kit for that or will universal bushings work as long as they fit?

I'd call them and speak to them in person. A lot of these places don't list everything they sell on their websites.

I haven't done any work on the Chevy lever action shocks so I can't say. As long as the diameters are correct I don't see why a general kit wouldn't work.

That's what I figured. Thank you for your help. I'm glad these will be fine. I really love the look

I have a 47 3600 Chevy. It has the lever shocks. I had to replace the right front one, it was rusted solid. The other three I added ATF to and they work great. They started to leak around the shaft some. I plan on taking them off and get them rebuilt this winter. I have not found a place that has parts for them. My truck can easily go 70 mph but I’m more comfortable at 60 mph. My front end is tight. I think it was rebuilt before being parked 45 years ago because the drag link still had a tag on it. It was a ND truck and nothing soft was left on it. I did add a sway bar to the front end and it drives wonderful. I have the 8bolt 15” wheels and radial tires that are tubed because of the split ring rims. I don’t understand why people put different suspension on their trucks. I don’t think my truck could be improved. Maybe with a big V8 and more weight you might need to change but I like the original front end.

Lumbersawyer, contact A-1 Shocks in that post on the first page. I'm pretty sure they can rebuild your shocks.

There is also a place in Madison Wisconsin called world wide auto ,I was looking for replacement shocks for a mgb and they apparently rebuild them in house They may also do other vehicles as well .They would be closer to your neck of the woods.

Thank you for the info.
I'm definitely keeping the lever OGs. Mine work fine, no grinding noise or anything. I will probably regrease them and replace the bushings. That should do it. Especially with the minimal amount of driving I do with it. Thank you all

Here's another shock rebuilder to consider:

Apple Hydraulics