Help me stance my new c20
 

New member here, just picked up a 71 c20 a few weeks ago. Its been a great daily driver/work truck for me so far, but is in dire need of a more aggressive stance and wheel tire combo. The only thing I am concerned about is it remaining fully functional, I need to be able to carry a yard of sand and bags of cement in the back and have reasonable ground clearance for construction sites.

A few things I was thinking of:
2" spindle drop OR 2" spring drop in the front (which is more suitable?) and go for a slight rake look

Staggered wheel setup, keep the wheels the same up in the front and find a wider steel wheel with a dish and more backspacing/wider tire for the back

I'm not opposed to going with completely new wheels all around, and I have been toying with the idea of lowering the rear and going with helper bags. The hubs in the back stick out quite far, so I am also struggling with finding wheels that will look good.

So many options, don't know where to start or what to do :lol:

Any ideas?
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...evroletC20.jpg

Re: Help me stance my new c20
 

Damn! I'd leave her the way it is! That's a sweet truck!

Re: Help me stance my new c20
 

There is a thread on here of trucks to look at, lots of wheel/tire/stance pictures. ......... in my opinion all your truck needs is body color blue on the wheels and a load of sand/work in the back, ...someone in the photoshop part of this site may help dial in a look you may be after,... nice looking truck.

kent

Re: Help me stance my new c20
 

Your truck is already "stanced". Just buy some wheels and ties. Big/littles look great. You'll lose all you say you want from that truck if you lower it. Don't follow the heard. Stand back and look at that truck and see it as it's own truck,or at least as a C/20. They are super cool in their own right. Leave the slammin' to the little boys. It would look fantastic with something like this.

Re: Help me stance my new c20
 

:agree:

Re: Help me stance my new c20
 

Its true, you start lowering it and it will not handle a payload with clearance for construction sites.

If you want it lowered a bit or raked just play with the tire size a bit.

Re: Help me stance my new c20
 

C20's have a few less options on how to lower than C20's.

Here is a thread with pictures of lowered C20's.

Parts available discussion, worth the read

Re: Help me stance my new c20
 

Thanks for all the kind words and suggestions guys. Great pics Special-k, that is the look I am going for. I don't want to slam it, but kinda play on the cab light/big mirrors and give it the "2wd dually look", slight rake and wide stance in the rear. Right now its got 265/70/16 all the way around.

NorthernGMC, thanks for the link, a pic in there of exactly what I'm looking for. How do I get this stance? Any idea what kinda wheel/tire combo? Will a truck like this still be functional? I don't need to be quite as low, but perhaps I will start with the wheels and tires and adjust height after if need be

Re: Help me stance my new c20
 

I dunno,maybe it's because I've been around these trucks since day1 But,lowered 3/4t trucks just look dogged-out to me. They look strong and proud when stock. On my '71 Cheyenne Custom Camper/20 I put 9.50-16.5s on 8.25 slots on the front and 12.50s on 9.75s on the rear for a classic era-correct look. There's something to be said for letting a truck be what it is vs making it be what you wish it was. Not saying what anyone should do with their truck,but just realize you have a work horse and there's nothing wrong with a good looking work truck. Anything you do to lower it will not only make it look like it has less ability,it will be a 1/2-assed work truck in reality.
Semi road trucks look awesome lowered with bumpers down on the road and stacks up high. But,their use must be limited to specific routes they know they can clear...over and under. You don't see dump trucks or anything that leaves the pavement lowered. But,you sure see some beautiful dump trucks.
My '71 hauled a big camper up and own the East Coast and back and forth across this country. I'd slide that out,clamp on some ladder racks and haul scaffold and a bed full of materials to jobs while my new truck was in for service. It hauled mulch for my gardens,sand,stone,bricks,and went to the landfill. Or,haul my Harley to Myrtle Beach for the spring rally. I only have a night shot with no camper,while in Myrtle Beach:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...s55/scan-1.jpg

Re: Help me stance my new c20
 

Looks like a nice C20 you have there Special-K, and I hear what you are saying. Believe me I am worried about modding this truck and regretting it after, which is why I will probably be asking a lot of questions around here :lol: So lets forget about lowering. How the heck do I figure out a proper staggered wheel/tire setup? I would be a happy man if I had a wheel tire combo just like the one in my last post, but in satin black.

Here is what I have found so far, let me know if I am on the right track. I have been looking at Black Rock wheels http://www.blackrockwheels.com/

Specifically the Type 8 Series 997: http://www.blackrockwheels.com/produ...Type8Series997

For the rear wheels: 16"x10" with -34mm offset

For the front wheels: I could go with 16"x 8 with 0 offset or the other option -6mm offset

OR for the front I could use the Black Rock Yuma 908B http://www.blackrockwheels.com/produ...YumaSeries908B 16x8 with 0 offset

So, would I be correct in assuming the steel wheels I have on now are close to 0 offset? Would I also be correct in assuming that the wheels with more negative offset will have a deeper dish?

Opinions on these wheels, am I on the right track? Any other suggestions? :o

Re: Help me stance my new c20
 

The stock wheels have minor offset,more than what '90s and newer trucks have. Wheels back then were usually about 4" backspace. That maroon truck I remember the owner saying he had 285/75-16s on the back. I just recently found that picture. Try googling 1971 Chevy C20 pics and maybe other years. That picture was on there and it was from a thread here (click next to the picture to open website the picture is from) and the owner told his tire sizes. They are 16". If you want another diameter you'll have to find the dimensions of his sizes and look for the same in whatever diameter wheel you want. I think he had 8s and 10s for wheels. You'll see a lot of pictures.

Re: Help me stance my new c20
 

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...0/2a5b192e.jpg

Stock suspension, Cragar Soft 8 16x8" wheels, 265/75R16 Firestone Transforce A/T's. 'Nuff said.

Re: Help me stance my new c20
 

^^^Now THAT'S what I'm talkin about!!!

Re: Help me stance my new c20
 

That's a fine looking '67!

Re: Help me stance my new c20
 

Thanks guys, I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. She's getting a mechanical resto now, this winter the 250 is gonna get a few go-fast parts. ;)

Re: Help me stance my new c20
 

A beauty of a truck Ed!

So lately I have been thinking about the Ion Alloy 171. http://www.thewheelgroup.com/wheel.asp?b=5&p=415

Seems to be quite a common wheel and is available in all polished, or black with a polished lip. It is also available in two widths. I was thinking about running 16x8's in the front and 16x10's in the back. The offsets are -5mm and -38mm respectively. I have no idea if the offsets will work nicely together and bring both wheels close to flush with the fender. I was also thinking about running the current size 265 70 16's in the front and running 285 75 16's in the back.

Here is my sloppy photochop comparing the polished to the black. I think I am partial to the black with a black center cap. Anyone know about the offsets? Any input?

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...922chopped.jpg

Re: Help me stance my new c20
 

some trucks push all the right buttons, ... That one is the Real deal...

Re: Help me stance my new c20
 

I have to agree with Spec.K.

I thought I wanted to lower mine, but I looked at the profile with a bunch of concrete bags in the back. It flattened it out front to rear, and it just didn't look right.

Stayed with the stock rake and 245/75/16 tires and am happy with the look. May go slightly larger in back, but it works fine for now.

Re: Help me stance my new c20
 

Nice truck Crazymason. I am new here as well, reading and learning!! I am also facing the exact delema you are! To lower or not to lower? I just picked up this C20 as kinda an impulse buy, After reading these comments I am now leaning towards leavin it alone!!

Re: Help me stance my new c20
 

Leave it alone!!! :metal:

http://inlinethumb23.webshots.com/33...600x600Q85.jpg

Re: Help me stance my new c20
 

These last three trucks are fine examples!

Wouldja look at this beautiful thing? C/20s have their place in the world and it's a place a little shortbed can never go. They can never be the truck a C/20 is. They are cool for what they are and C/20s are cool for what they are...strong,proud,and beautiful.

Re: Help me stance my new c20
 

That is a beautiful truck in your last post Special K. That was the original paint scheme of my C20 when my parents bought it brand new in 1970. Sometimes I wish mine was still original like that.

Re: Help me stance my new c20
 

I am facing a similar situation I recently just purchased my Gold 69 GMC CC back(I should have never sold it). The guy I sold it too lowered it beyond reason I want to raise the truck back up almost all the way.
The picture of the lowered green and white C20 has the stance I would like to achieve. Does anyone know who's truck that is? Thanks in advance, I could save a lot of time if I knew the correct tire size and suspension mods.

Re: Help me stance my new c20
 

These 3/4 trucks all look awesome stock to me. They have a purpose that can't be achieved when lowered. I agree that a lowered 10 is cool and short beds look great with a shiny set of big wheels and bumpers on the ground, but man I love a big proud work truck any day too.

Re: Help me stance my new c20
 

That truck looks great as is, if I did anything for the jobsite I'd just Man it up a little, which wouldn't be hard at all. A new set of rims maybe but if I had to do anything I'd just lower the rear end with a inch or two drop. It will look like already stated dogged and tired then.