65' c-10 swb
 

Starting work on my grandfathers 65' step side C-10...I don't want to spend BIG $$, but I also don't want crap that I will regret buying. I'd like a decent suspension and brake set up, that will perform well if actually driven (hard). Something bolt-in, or at least
not requiring alot of custom fabrication. I want 4 wheel disc's cross drilled with at least 2 piston calipers up front. I've been looking at CCP and ECE components...who makes a kit you have tried (car or truck) that you can vouch for performance and quality. I'm open to other suggestions/recommendations. This will NOT be a trailer queen, it will get driven. Plans are for LS3, 350 turbo with gv od, 12 bolt with 4.10's etc.

Thanks in advance.

Re: 69' c-10 swb
 

First off, :welcome2: to the board from Mid-MO!

Secondly, good luck with the project!

Thirdly, I would highly recommend ECE products. Now, I haven't ran a kit from them personally, but plan to in the near future. You can ask any other board member and you will hear the same response, ECE has great products, customer service, and knowledge of their parts. I don't recall ever seeing a negative post about ECE.

Now on the other side you have CPP. I'm on the fence about their company, but with a recent purchase by a local board member, I doubt I will order a single thing from them. From missing pieces, lack of customer service, and late delivery date, I find it worth the extra few bucks for the ECE products.

When you are ready to order the parts, call out to ECE and you will end up getting a better price on the parts/shipping combined. At one time I priced an ECE 4/6 kit with shipping, and it only have up to like $20 more than the initial asking price.... and that's shipping from CA to MO.

This winter I'm planning on ordering a 4/6 (or 4.5/6 kit), front/rear brake rebuild kit, a few other things, and will not have a single worry about my order. Well, other than the wife seeing the credit card bill....... :D

Again, welcome to the board, and good luck with the project. You'll learn that the board will become your second home. Make your way around the board and try to make it to some of the meets we have around the US. I believe the 2009 Board meet is in West Tennessee.

Re: 69' c-10 swb
 

By the way....

:wop:

You will learn that we are addicted to pics in this board. :D

If you need help on posting pics, refer to the following threads, for different way to post pics:

How to Attach pictures to your post...

How to post pictures on this site... (this is what I use)

How to post pictures, step by step instructions, using BB code...

Re: 69' c-10 swb
 

Thanks for the welcome guys...I don't have any pics of my 65', but here are a few of my other rides...I am very active on a few other "late model" boards, but this is my first classic truck board and so far lovin it! Great site, lots of info, and very impressed with the skill level of some of you guys doing your own work!

2007 AWD TBSS, bolt-ons, lowered
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...d/IMG_1625.jpg
2007 JGC SRT8 (gone)
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q.../cherokee2.jpg
2007 BMW 335i, BMS dual intake (replaced SRT8)
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...d/IMG_2048.jpg
94' TA...first car.
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...d/100_4350.jpg

Here's a little video of the SS...its currently awaiting a boost, with ported heads and 225/230 cam.
http://s139.photobucket.com/albums/q...armD1283-1.flv

Re: 69' c-10 swb
 

Now just to clarify, do you have a '69 or a '65, or both? In the heading of the thread you have the question posted for a '69, and ECE parts will work. But, if you're working on a '65, ECE mainly deals in the 67-72 body style.

By the way, the wife has a TB, but sadly enough not an SS. I love those!

And, you have had quite the collection of sweet cars/trucks/suv's in your life. If you ever need a chauffer, let me know..... :D

Re: 69' c-10 swb
 

By the way, .... 103MPH at 12.83 seconds, not bad!

Re: 69' c-10 swb
 

Yeah, my bad on the year model, I've worked 2 weeks straight so I'm not thinking clearly...its a 65' Chevy, step side...now setting with a 355, 3200stall, 350 turbo, 4.10 gear (not posi though). I want to do the frame, drivetrain, suspension and wheels. Then drive it a little (and save up some more $$), then do the body work. Dont' know I want to spend the $$ for an air ride setup, so I'd like to do a middle-high end shock/spring drop, with sway bars, etc so that I will handle.

Any suggestions???

Re: 69' c-10 swb
 

There's McGaughy's (spelling), BellTech, CPP, and probably a few others that you might be able to purchase lowering kits from. ECE is such a great vendor, it's just to bad they don't sway from the 67-72 body style.

Re: 69' c-10 swb
 

Suspension is the same underneath a 65 and a 69. On ece's site they have the lowering kits from 63-72. So looks like he's covered for atleast suspension parts from them. Dunno if they have other stuff though since the rest is different.

Edit: BTW, loving the 335. Those are wicked cars when done up. Seen a few hittin 400 or so hp w/ a bunch of mods.

Re: 69' c-10 swb
 

Yeah, I have been really impressed with how much fun it is to drive. Its my wifes car, so I'm not gettin alot of support for the mods...I probably will do the JB3 (it already has the dual intake), so with that it should be in the neighborhood or 340-360 rwhp...If I did catless DP's, catless exhaust and race gas I could be close to the 400rwhp, but I'm leary of the warranty issue...JB3 is invisible, so I'd likely still be covered there...BMW parts aren't as cheap as GM ya know :lol::lol:

So what components would you for sure want to use for a nice working set up...ie tubular control arms, coil-overs, sways, etc etc?

Re: 69' c-10 swb
 

Thanks for the correction, I was on ECE's website last night and noticed that, and was going to repost in this thread. The 4/6 kit they offer will fit 65-72 according to their product numbers.

If I was just going to do a nice static drop, I would look no further than ECE's kit. It will include: springs, spindles, supertrac bar, shock relocators.... I would add lowered sway bar brackets (or mount the bar directly to the frame). From what I've read a c-notch is not required, some run one some don't. I'm not planning on running one at this time, but plans change from day to day. If you think you might upgrade to air in the future, I would probably add it now especially before you paint/powder the frame.

Some people have added a rear sway bar; CPP has a kit, and there's a build thread on the board about adding Camaro sway bar.

Re: 69' c-10 swb
 

I agree 100%. Most definitely the best choice for a static drop. But I would seriously throw sway bars on front and back. Mine had body roll like no other w/ no swaybars. Bugged the hell out of me.

Re: 69' c-10 swb
 

So what is the absolute best suspension/brake setup if you were to semi road race/autoX a truck (NO $$ limit..Is Air the best choice)?

Other than a full custom chassis, give me a good, better and best suspension set up. BEST would be NO $$ limit, then better and good would be priced acccordingly. Having not sampled the options its really hard to say what I would be satisfied with. MY TBSS was lowered with Belltech springs and DJM upper A arms. It rides poorly...so I ordered a Kbee coilover set up which I am waiting to install, but I hear it really works better. Yes, the coilovers were a little higher $$ but for the ride difference I'd pay twice that price. I don't want to go broke, but if a air system will have SUBSTANTIALLY better ride and handling than a static drop set up, I'd probably do it.

I drive a lot of backroads, which are narrow, curvy and at times rough, and since I drive in a spirited manner, I want a set up that is enjoyable to drive.

I'm all ears fellas...

Re: 65' c-10 swb
 

Bag Pro's:
Outstanding ride quality
Better handling (according to Air Ride)
Flexibility

Bag Cons:
Price!!!
limited chance of the system leaving you stranded (all comes down to quality of the work done on the system)

Static Pros:
Cheap price
Easy to install and have maintenace done (alignment...)
Anyone can install
Good handling

Static Cons:
Less flexibility (up/down)


Just my $.02...

Re: 65' c-10 swb
 

I would look at doing coilovers as an alternative to airbags. Seen a few guys on here do a parallel 4 link in the rear, and then convert over the front end to coilovers. That would be my choice so you could switch out coils to get the perfect rate for cornering. My dream would most definitely be static dropped and on coilovers. I think for spirited driving, and autox type of application it would give the best results. Could run some koni SA shocks and some sort of an uprated swaybar and you could make it a very fun truck to drive I think.

I have seen airride tech do some great work with their airride kits in autox and stuff like that on mustangs and nova's but I've never seen an outsider using one of their kits. I think it has great potential, and I've seen some testimonials and such, but they were all through airride tech so I hate working just off of those, although they have an incredible product so don't mean to take anything from that.