Cut front springs or lower front body mounts?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

El Campo · 10-12-2011, 12:11 PM

My project Attempt/Mistake #2 is sitting higher in the front then in the back and I hate that look. Already have a 6 inch drop in the back from Classic Industries and have 3 inch drop spindles in the front and one inch big block drop springs. At least that is what I was told when I bought everything but now the front is too high. As posted in my build thread I dropped the engine down and moved it back and so I am having interference with my steering linkage and radiator shroud also. Shall I Z the frame in front of the motor and thereby drop the front body mounts, fixing my higher front end and my shroud problem, or just cut the springs down a bit and figure out some other solution for my other problems. I know that if I drop the front body mounts that I will have to alter all my others but I have already done that once before. Would I have any unforseen problems by essentially having the body sit on the frame slightly lower in the front then in the back?

eurospec1 · 10-12-2011, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Campo

My project Attempt/Mistake #2 is sitting higher in the front then in the back and I hate that look. Already have a 6 inch drop in the back from Classic Industries and have 3 inch drop spindles in the front and one inch big block drop springs. At least that is what I was told when I bought everything but now the front is too high. As posted in my build thread I dropped the engine down and moved it back and so I am having interference with my steering linkage and radiator shroud also. Shall I Z the frame in front of the motor and thereby drop the front body mounts, fixing my higher front end and my shroud problem, or just cut the springs down a bit and figure out some other solution for my other problems. I know that if I drop the front body mounts that I will have to alter all my others but I have already done that once before. Would I have any unforseen problems by essentially having the body sit on the frame slightly lower in the front then in the back?

The front end is bolted to the cab..You cant just "lower the body mounts" in the front, it will all hang on the cab, if you dropped the whole cab then it would not line up with the bed...Much better to adjust ride height with the springs.

El Campo · 10-12-2011, 12:49 PM

I am aware of that and that was one of my concerns. I was thinking that I would have to mess with the bed mounts too which I know there is not much adjustment there. I was thinking that I may have to cut some of the bed sills in order for all the body lines to line up the way I wanted. Doesn't your ride go all to Hell when you cut springs?

**Palf70Step** · 10-12-2011, 01:09 PM

Simplest/cheapest fix, cut the springs or buy new lower springs. You definitely do NOT want to get into change/cutting body mounts.

big_al_71 · 10-12-2011, 01:17 PM

Get two inch lowering springs and the front will be lower. My truck has a 4/6 drop kit right now and the front is exactly two inches lower than the rear.

brad_man_72 · 10-12-2011, 01:43 PM

I'd spend the 45min doing something free, simple, and very common way before I attempted an uneven body drop, that could take weeks to get right!
cut the springs, my springs are cut and it improved the ride. Cutting the spring does reduce suspension up travel but it also maks the spring stiffer.
a one inch drop spring probably sits higher than a stock spring with 40 years of sag.

**leddzepp** · 10-12-2011, 02:10 PM

cut one full coil out of your front springs. it will give you 2-2.5 inches of drop, its free, it will not alter the ride quality, and can still be perfectly aligned. heating the coils will kill your ride quality.
Posted via Mobile Device

YBNORML · 10-12-2011, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leddzepp

cut one full coil out of your front springs. it will give you 2-2.5 inches of drop, its free, it will not alter the ride quality, and can still be perfectly aligned. heating the coils will kill your ride quality.
Posted via Mobile Device

X2, I totally agree!
Posted via Mobile Device

El Campo · 10-12-2011, 02:51 PM

Hmm ok, good advice. I will most certainly think about this. I had heard that cutting your springs make the ride go bad but if others have not found that to be so then it is indeed an attractive option

YBNORML · 10-12-2011, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Campo

Hmm ok, good advice. I will most certainly think about this. I had heard that cutting your springs make the ride go bad but if others have not found that to be so then it is indeed an attractive option

I have not noticed a difference in ride quality when cutting only 1 full coil. However you do run the possibility of hitting the control arm bumpstops if you cut too much. It all depends on your setup.

On my 2wd 72 blazer I am running a 2-1/2" drop spindle with 1" drop springs. It was not low enough so I cut 1 full coil. It does not ride any different than it did before I cut.

Jason
Posted via Mobile Device

longbed67 · 10-12-2011, 04:49 PM

I would cut the springs first, and if you dont like something after you do that you can always run Schroeder Valved airbags up front with all the brackets for less than $200

10-12-2011, 12:11 PM	#1
El Campo Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: El Campo, Tx Posts: 1,246	Cut front springs or lower front body mounts?? My project Attempt/Mistake #2 is sitting higher in the front then in the back and I hate that look. Already have a 6 inch drop in the back from Classic Industries and have 3 inch drop spindles in the front and one inch big block drop springs. At least that is what I was told when I bought everything but now the front is too high. As posted in my build thread I dropped the engine down and moved it back and so I am having interference with my steering linkage and radiator shroud also. Shall I Z the frame in front of the motor and thereby drop the front body mounts, fixing my higher front end and my shroud problem, or just cut the springs down a bit and figure out some other solution for my other problems. I know that if I drop the front body mounts that I will have to alter all my others but I have already done that once before. Would I have any unforseen problems by essentially having the body sit on the frame slightly lower in the front then in the back? __________________ 72 Chevy blue LWB, 99% original Oklahoma truck, 28,000 miles 72 Chevy SWB: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=486626 (Attempt/Mistake #2) 2003 Harley Davidson Dyna Superglide with 2007 Street Bob front end 2000 Ford F350 Powerstroke 4WD CCLB, 310,000 miles running great (STOLEN St. Patricks Day 2014 AND NEVER RECOVERED) 2002 Ford F250 Powerstroke 4WD CCLB (To replace stolen one) Hook em Horns!!!

10-12-2011, 12:49 PM	#3
El Campo Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: El Campo, Tx Posts: 1,246	Re: Cut front springs or lower front body mounts?? I am aware of that and that was one of my concerns. I was thinking that I would have to mess with the bed mounts too which I know there is not much adjustment there. I was thinking that I may have to cut some of the bed sills in order for all the body lines to line up the way I wanted. Doesn't your ride go all to Hell when you cut springs? __________________ 72 Chevy blue LWB, 99% original Oklahoma truck, 28,000 miles 72 Chevy SWB: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=486626 (Attempt/Mistake #2) 2003 Harley Davidson Dyna Superglide with 2007 Street Bob front end 2000 Ford F350 Powerstroke 4WD CCLB, 310,000 miles running great (STOLEN St. Patricks Day 2014 AND NEVER RECOVERED) 2002 Ford F250 Powerstroke 4WD CCLB (To replace stolen one) Hook em Horns!!!

10-12-2011, 01:09 PM	#4
Palf70Step State of Confusion! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gulfport, MS USA Posts: 47,082	Re: Cut front springs or lower front body mounts?? Simplest/cheapest fix, cut the springs or buy new lower springs. You definitely do NOT want to get into change/cutting body mounts. __________________ Bill 1970 Chevy Custom/10 LWB Fleetside 2010 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner SR5 Double Cab - DD Member of Louisiana Classic Truck Club (LCTC) Bill's Gallery Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God!

10-12-2011, 01:17 PM	#5
big_al_71 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: South Florida Posts: 11,375	Re: Cut front springs or lower front body mounts?? Get two inch lowering springs and the front will be lower. My truck has a 4/6 drop kit right now and the front is exactly two inches lower than the rear. __________________ Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please!!!!!. Sylvester's build thread >>>http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ht=big+rebuild

10-12-2011, 01:43 PM	#6
brad_man_72 the boat guy Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: springfield mo Posts: 2,339	Re: Cut front springs or lower front body mounts?? I'd spend the 45min doing something free, simple, and very common way before I attempted an uneven body drop, that could take weeks to get right! cut the springs, my springs are cut and it improved the ride. Cutting the spring does reduce suspension up travel but it also maks the spring stiffer. a one inch drop spring probably sits higher than a stock spring with 40 years of sag. __________________ 67, swb, fleet, tach, throttle, 5.3, 4l60e, 3.73's, fuel cell, 5 lug, p.d.b., 4-6 drop. great little truck 66, stevens drag/ski 18' silouette, 350, 2.02 doublehump heads. comp extreme marine 278 cam, vette 7 fin valve covers, old polished edelbrock intake, velvetdrive, casale v-drive, adj cavitation plate. 28, model a rpu project,

10-12-2011, 02:10 PM	#7
leddzepp Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern Cal Posts: 20,018	Re: Cut front springs or lower front body mounts?? cut one full coil out of your front springs. it will give you 2-2.5 inches of drop, its free, it will not alter the ride quality, and can still be perfectly aligned. heating the coils will kill your ride quality. Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 1972 C/10 Cheyenne Super SWB. Restored, loaded, slammed. 1968 C/10 50th Anniversary LWB. Unrestored, stock, daily driver/work truck. RIP ElJay RIP 67ChevyRedneck RIP Grumpy Old Man RIP FleetsidePaul

10-12-2011, 02:51 PM	#9
El Campo Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: El Campo, Tx Posts: 1,246	Re: Cut front springs or lower front body mounts?? Hmm ok, good advice. I will most certainly think about this. I had heard that cutting your springs make the ride go bad but if others have not found that to be so then it is indeed an attractive option __________________ 72 Chevy blue LWB, 99% original Oklahoma truck, 28,000 miles 72 Chevy SWB: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=486626 (Attempt/Mistake #2) 2003 Harley Davidson Dyna Superglide with 2007 Street Bob front end 2000 Ford F350 Powerstroke 4WD CCLB, 310,000 miles running great (STOLEN St. Patricks Day 2014 AND NEVER RECOVERED) 2002 Ford F250 Powerstroke 4WD CCLB (To replace stolen one) Hook em Horns!!!

10-12-2011, 04:49 PM	#11
longbed67 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Monroe, WI Posts: 1,415	Re: Cut front springs or lower front body mounts?? I would cut the springs first, and if you dont like something after you do that you can always run Schroeder Valved airbags up front with all the brackets for less than $200 __________________ *Adam* My 1967 C10 - Turbo 250 Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=485843 (608) 214-8706



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