The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks 1966 GMC rear suspension

I am confused, all the information I can find says that GMC C10's in 1966 came with leaf springs, mine has the coil spring set up. Everything on my truck matches the equipment except this one detail. anyone else have a 66 GMC with coil rear suspension ? or has mine been changed ?

I'm not familiar with any. By the way just to make sure everything is clear, a 1/2 Ton GMC is actually a 1000 Series model. The C-10 is a Chevy. Are you sure that you actually have a GMC? Also someone may have changed the rolling chassis at some point. Do you have any pictures of your truck?

Bill

A 66 GMC will have a leaf spring rear. I just was under one on Tuesday night.

It did have a strange link from the U-bolt plate up to something that looks like on old friction shock. But it had modern shocks, so don't know what those other things were. But other than that--a very typical leaf-spring Hotckiss-type rear suspension.

GMC cab will have the VIN plate on the top inside of the door frame. Open the door, look up on the frame. 1001 VIN is short wheebase and 1002 is long wheelbase. Also, if the truck is V6 motor it is GMC (although if it is straight 6 it doesn't mean it is not a GMC).

i have a 66 c10 long box that has coil rear springs and the leaf spring xtra supports of the back...

My 66 gmc has the vin tag in place along with the in cab plate which matches the engine , trans, wb, etc. It looks all original......here is a link to the pictures of the truck and the inside tags.

http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-GMC/13311086_gRF57#967556774_EwLZF

Where can I check the frame to see if the vin is there ?

In 1966 GMC did offer in line 6 engines because the in cab tag on mine shows it..and on other sites the 250 six is shown as a option. This was the first year for the 250 inline six in a GMC

coils were optional in gmc as springs were optional in chevrolet
ron

Agreed. Sorry I used a double negative.

keith
i have a 65 GMC and i have leaf springs and asked about them and i was told the same thing that ron said that coils where a option


chip

Thanks for the clarification, I now know that my truck is all original, now do I modify it or just do it back stock ????

Worra, worra, worra, I could not make up my mind so I went out and bought a 65 LWB Chevy that is original, I think I will restore the 66gmc to stock (with power steering) and shorten the 65 chevy longbed and street rod it. See there is more that one way to solve a problem. By the By both of these are on coils at the rear. both a 250 sixes with 3 speed on the tree, no power steering and no modifications ....... and not a lot of rust...........any one have a SWB fleetside pick up body, I am getting ready to change the WB on the 65 Chevy....What do you guys think ? they are both robin egg blue.

Kieth

Does anyone have any documentation that says coils were an option in 66 GMC. Everything I have read says GMC tried the coils in the early 60's but went back to leaf springs by 65 or 66 and have not returned to coils since.

My late model GMCs came with leaf springs.