The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 61 and 63 suspensions

Just curious if anyone knows the differences, if any, in the 61 C-10 and 63 C-10 front suspensions? My 61 has torsion bars, is the 63 coils? The reason I ask is because I would like to convert my classic to an airbag suspension so I can lower it at shows but still make it back in the driveway. I have not been able to find any brackets for the front of a 61, only 63-72. If anyone knows of a solution I would gladly appreciate the help. Thanks

gotta use the coils if you're gonna airbag. brian

The frame on your 61 is different than the 63. There are those who have changed the suspension on your type of frame, but it takes some custom work and fabrication. That's the bummer of having a 60 - 62. You can buy bolt on stuff for the frames before and after as well as using scavenged stuff from more modern trucks. Unfortunately, you don't have that luxury. However, you can easily lower the front of your truck as much as you want without spending a dime simply by turning the torsion bar adjustment bolts. It probably hasn't been done on your truck for a long time if ever, so be sure to clean the threads on the bolts above the crossmember and special washers with a wire brush and use plenty of kroil. Besides being a nice riding suspension, that's another advantage of your torsion bar IFS. I've slammed mine before this way. You do have to have your front end re-aligned if you plan on driving it that way though.

The reason I had considered airbags is because my driveway is very steep. I have just converted the front end to disc brakes and I removed the old drop spindles and replaced them with stock height disc spindles. I only want to have it lowered at shows, or when it's parked and having to raise and lower it with the torsion bars might get a bit tiring. My frame has what looks like a crossmember with a place for coil spring mounting pads on it. I wasn't sure if it was a carry over from another year, or if it was just a design thing. I think I could probably use this crossmember as the upper mount for the bags, but my only issue is how to attach them to the lower arms. I might be able to fab a bracket, but I was hoping to use a different lower arm all together. Since the 63 is different, I suppose the lower arms won't mount the same on the frame end? Thanks again for the help.

So far, the only 60 - 62 I've seen that had airbags had a front clip from a camaro welded in place of the old front clip. To me that sounds like an aweful lot of work. To others, it could be a fun way to fill time and spend money. Maybe there are others who have done something different. Anyone???