Need advice...drop coils or cut stock coils???

[valero]

whats up guys...lookin to do a 1" front and 3" rear drop on my 63 c20...should i go with the cpp 1/3 drop coil set that i found on ebay for $190, or is there a way i can save some $ and (safely) cut my stock coils to fit this drop?? unfortunately, i dont have a lot of room to work with and i havent acquired many tools yet...so i gotta do it ninja style...lol

let me know what yall think...thanks!

[lolife99]

Cut a 1/2 coil from your stock springs to get a 1" drop.
Most likely the "new" 1" drop coils from CPP will be taller than your stock sagging original springs.
I use a die grinder with a cut off wheel to cut my springs.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Cut a 1/2 coil from your stock springs to get a 1" drop.
Most likely the "new" 1" drop coils from CPP will be taller than your stock sagging original springs.
I use a die grinder with a cut off wheel to cut my springs.

Cutting a little off the fronts would be the way I would also go if I like the current ride. For the rear (if it's coils), get some lowering blocks & dropped coils vs. all spring drop.

[valero]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Cutting a little off the fronts would be the way I would also go if I like the current ride. For the rear (if it's coils), get some lowering blocks & dropped coils vs. all spring drop.

ok, say i have the stock suspension for the 63 c20 (slightly higher in the back) and i want to lower by 1 in. in the front and 3 in. in the back to obtain that even, lowered (not slammed) muscle-ish stance....how far down from the very tip of the spring should i cut ?...and what would be the ratio from the front cut to the back cut to make it even?

[valero]

???

[SCOTI]

Cut the coil in even amounts. Start w/a quarter or half coil.

and what would be the ratio from the front cut to the back cut to make it even?

I'm not sure what exactly you're asking here??

[oldblue1968chevy]

Im making a 2 inch block for the rear of my truck (getting exteneded U bolts from NAPA) and a 2" thick wall block from metal yard). And going to cut the front coils 1 full circle for a 2inch drop.

[valero]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

Im making a 2 inch block for the rear of my truck (getting exteneded U bolts from NAPA) and a 2" thick wall block from metal yard). And going to cut the front coils 1 full circle for a 2inch drop.

cool oldblue...any chance you'll be makin a thread on that?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by valero

cool oldblue...any chance you'll be makin a thread on that?

You should browse the FAQ's section. This is listed under the suspension/steering heading....
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=196457

[valero]

cool scoti...i'll check it out...thanks!

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

Im making a 2 inch block for the rear of my truck (getting exteneded U bolts from NAPA) and a 2" thick wall block from metal yard). And going to cut the front coils 1 full circle for a 2inch drop.

Just remember,... with 15" wheels you can run into "scrub line" issues with a 2" block.
(the bottom of the u-bolts will contact the ground, before anything else, incase you have a rear flat tire).
This may cause vehicle control issues while braking.

[oldblue1968chevy]

LOL, trickiest part is finding a 3\4 inch drill bit for the blocks, and finding a u bolt reasonablely priced.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

LOL, trickiest part is finding a 3\4 inch drill bit for the blocks, and finding a u bolt reasonablely priced.

Yep,... for the price of the drill bit you could buy some lowering blocks.
I use a 7/8" bit, when I make my blocks.
Most machine shops should be able to drill them for a small fee.

[oldblue1968chevy]

Yikes! Good excuse to shop for 20's Machine shop..like the one that builds motors? Im still trying to get my hands on a U bolt, I ordered one that came in today from NAPA but I got 5\8 thread (thought thats what I saw in the FAQ, turns out its 3\4"...where yall get you U bolts from??

Thanks lowlife your a ton of help

[chevykid65]

after years of waiting i finally got my 65 lwb into the shop and so far iv ripped off the front sheet metal, yanked the 283 and 4 spd out and im ready to get to work, i got the lower a arms dropped and pulled the springs but passenger side was broke near the bottom end, looks like it rode that way for a while, took both springs down to the shop today and cut a lil past the break and cut the drivers side to match, its equivilant to about 1 1/4 rounds that got cut off, from what iv seen 1/2 round = 1" of drop, keeping this project low buck garage built but do you guys think i screwed up by cutting that much off instead of finding replacement springs? on the back end i see some of you guys do a lowering block, looks like everybody has used a 2" block, id like to run a 3 or even 4" block on mine to get me closer to the ground, has anyone done this or would i be biting off more than i can chew? im seeing some pretty bad @ss trucks here, you guys do awesome work

[oldblue1968chevy]

I wouldnt go with more than a 2 inch block, get a drop spring. lolife, can I fit a 7\8 thick u bolt in the holes pre existing? thanks!