Wheels and Lowering my 71 BBC C10 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

*hotrods* · 07-02-2012, 09:22 PM

Hey guys, I don't post on here much but just thought I would get some opinions on some things. I recently repurchased my old 71 Cheyenne shortbed factory 396 with 12 bolt and leaf springs. Its a black truck with houndstooth interior. I'm wanting to lower it and put some 20" wheels on it. I like the Boss 338 chrome wheels. I was considering doing a 20X8.5 on the front and maybe a 22X9.5 on the rear. Has anyone run this setup and if so what tire size did you go with? I'm thinking about doing lowering blocks in the rear a a drop spindle with a lowering coil in the front. I'm not sure if I can go with more than a 4" block and be safe but I want this thing to ride low but I dont want to go bags either! I greatly appreciate any help guys!!!

**bowtie72** · 07-02-2012, 09:57 PM

I have a leaf spring truck, the best way to lower it would be to flip the rear end on top of the springs. Mine is lowered that way only down fall is it rides rough. I don't think I would trust blocks that tall. With torque being applied to the rear end it could twist things. Good luck.

PHAT TONY · 07-02-2012, 10:16 PM

Why would it ride rougher? Same springs...
A flip with a 4" block? Wouldn't that be like a 8 inch rear drop?

**70cst** · 07-02-2012, 10:35 PM

Hey *hotrods* ...

to the forums and

from Ohio.

on your purchase. I am not familiar with these wheels but here is a bump for you ...

*hotrods* · 07-03-2012, 12:06 AM

So you flip them and keep them on the lower part of the rear end like they come from the factory??

*hotrods* · 07-03-2012, 12:10 AM

I think I understand now!! You turn the springs upside down as well as the rear end! Am I right?

*hotrods* · 07-03-2012, 08:41 PM

whats the best way to lower the front and has anyone run the 20's front and 22's rear?

C10_ustacould · 07-03-2012, 09:09 PM

There are several ways to lower a truck. You can do a static drop with drop coils springs or a combination of drop spindles and coil springs in the front. As for the flip kit; you simply use new brackets to move the springs from above the rear axle to below the axle. The rear axle is not flipped. Doing this drops the truck 4" to 5". The addition of a lowering blocks will give you more drop. Extreme drops in the rear may/will require the use of a c-notch in the frame above the rear axle. The other option is air bags, which replaces the existing spring with "air springs", this option is infinitely adjustable yet more costly. As for the 20/22 wheel combination, check out these two links: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...351837&page=50 and http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=414742&page=8 as both of these truck use that wheel combination. Welcome to the board and enjoy your truck!

07-02-2012, 09:22 PM	#1
hotrods Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northern Kentucky Posts: 18	Wheels and Lowering my 71 BBC C10 Hey guys, I don't post on here much but just thought I would get some opinions on some things. I recently repurchased my old 71 Cheyenne shortbed factory 396 with 12 bolt and leaf springs. Its a black truck with houndstooth interior. I'm wanting to lower it and put some 20" wheels on it. I like the Boss 338 chrome wheels. I was considering doing a 20X8.5 on the front and maybe a 22X9.5 on the rear. Has anyone run this setup and if so what tire size did you go with? I'm thinking about doing lowering blocks in the rear a a drop spindle with a lowering coil in the front. I'm not sure if I can go with more than a 4" block and be safe but I want this thing to ride low but I dont want to go bags either! I greatly appreciate any help guys!!! __________________ 71 SWB Cheyenne BBC (Currently building) 69 Camaro COPO Clone 427 4sp orange 69 Camaro Pro-Touring 632ci, Viper 6 speed, 13" Baer 09 G8 GT Sport grocery getter 04 GTO, Patriot Heads, LSM Roller, 42lb injectors, full length headers, 4400 Stall, 150 Shot, equals 10.40's on street!

07-02-2012, 09:57 PM	#2
bowtie72 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 362	Re: Wheels and Lowering my 71 BBC C10 I have a leaf spring truck, the best way to lower it would be to flip the rear end on top of the springs. Mine is lowered that way only down fall is it rides rough. I don't think I would trust blocks that tall. With torque being applied to the rear end it could twist things. Good luck. __________________ 1968 SWB "Little White Truck" 1972 LWB LS 4l80 "Plain Jane!!"

07-02-2012, 10:16 PM	#3
PHAT TONY Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Red Deer ab canada Posts: 1,250	Re: Wheels and Lowering my 71 BBC C10 Why would it ride rougher? Same springs... A flip with a 4" block? Wouldn't that be like a 8 inch rear drop? __________________ 1972 factory 2 Wheel Drive Blazer-Sold 1972 K10 4X4-Sold 1971 Chevrolet Cheyenne/10-Sold 1970 Chevrolet C/10-Sold 1968 GMC 4X4-Project 1968 Chevrolet C/10 Pro Street 1970 GMC 3/4 Ton-Parts 1997 2WD 2DR Yukon-Sweet http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=335664

07-02-2012, 10:35 PM	#4
70cst Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: New Madison, Ohio Posts: 21,373	Re: Wheels and Lowering my 71 BBC C10 Hey hotrods ... to the forums and from Ohio. on your purchase. I am not familiar with these wheels but here is a bump for you ... __________________ A husband can be right...or...A husband can be happy. 67-72 Chevy and GMC Trucks...The Classic Truck for the Classic Folk. 1970 CST Two tone green, 402BB, 400 Automatic, Tach, Buckets, AC, AM-FM, Tilt, GM CB, GM 8 Tract, LWB, etc JOHN 17:3...The better side of "LIFE" Remember: Everyday is a good day...Some are just gooder!

07-03-2012, 12:06 AM	#5
hotrods Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northern Kentucky Posts: 18	Re: Wheels and Lowering my 71 BBC C10 So you flip them and keep them on the lower part of the rear end like they come from the factory?? __________________ 71 SWB Cheyenne BBC (Currently building) 69 Camaro COPO Clone 427 4sp orange 69 Camaro Pro-Touring 632ci, Viper 6 speed, 13" Baer 09 G8 GT Sport grocery getter 04 GTO, Patriot Heads, LSM Roller, 42lb injectors, full length headers, 4400 Stall, 150 Shot, equals 10.40's on street!

07-03-2012, 12:10 AM	#6
hotrods Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northern Kentucky Posts: 18	Re: Wheels and Lowering my 71 BBC C10 I think I understand now!! You turn the springs upside down as well as the rear end! Am I right? __________________ 71 SWB Cheyenne BBC (Currently building) 69 Camaro COPO Clone 427 4sp orange 69 Camaro Pro-Touring 632ci, Viper 6 speed, 13" Baer 09 G8 GT Sport grocery getter 04 GTO, Patriot Heads, LSM Roller, 42lb injectors, full length headers, 4400 Stall, 150 Shot, equals 10.40's on street!

07-03-2012, 08:41 PM	#7
hotrods Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northern Kentucky Posts: 18	Re: Wheels and Lowering my 71 BBC C10 whats the best way to lower the front and has anyone run the 20's front and 22's rear? __________________ 71 SWB Cheyenne BBC (Currently building) 69 Camaro COPO Clone 427 4sp orange 69 Camaro Pro-Touring 632ci, Viper 6 speed, 13" Baer 09 G8 GT Sport grocery getter 04 GTO, Patriot Heads, LSM Roller, 42lb injectors, full length headers, 4400 Stall, 150 Shot, equals 10.40's on street!

07-03-2012, 09:09 PM	#8
C10_ustacould A day late and $1 short... Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Northwest FL Posts: 3,877	Re: Wheels and Lowering my 71 BBC C10 There are several ways to lower a truck. You can do a static drop with drop coils springs or a combination of drop spindles and coil springs in the front. As for the flip kit; you simply use new brackets to move the springs from above the rear axle to below the axle. The rear axle is not flipped. Doing this drops the truck 4" to 5". The addition of a lowering blocks will give you more drop. Extreme drops in the rear may/will require the use of a c-notch in the frame above the rear axle. The other option is air bags, which replaces the existing spring with "air springs", this option is infinitely adjustable yet more costly. As for the 20/22 wheel combination, check out these two links: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...351837&page=50 and http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=414742&page=8 as both of these truck use that wheel combination. Welcome to the board and enjoy your truck! __________________ Buck Instagram: C10_ustacould 1963 SWB Fleet Side 528 Desert Beige Milly 1967 SWB Step Side 506 Medium Blue The Old Girl 1968 SWB Fleet Side 503 Light Green Ellie SOLD 1965 SWB Fleet Side 507 Light Blue Prescription Strength SOLD 1971 SWB Fleet Side 521 White Shiro SOLD 1968 SWB Step Side 503 Light Green My Old Farm Truck SOLD

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