Help me stance my new c20

[crazymason]

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

Any ideas?

[Sicklajoie]

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

[prairewolf]

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

[1972RedNeck]

Originally Posted by Sicklajoie

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

[special-K]

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.

[benner]

Originally Posted by special-K

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.

Had the same truck in '92, got around to getting different wheels last year...ditching the 16.5's. Like other posters said... keep it simple, just do wheels & tires, lowering keeps you from practicality. Looks are deceiving...keep it a work truck! See Below!

[1972BlueC20]

Here is what I'm running on my 1972 C20 with stock suspension.

I like it, but I also am wanting to possibly put it back stock (white steel with hubcaps) or find another aftermarket solution....

[TwoTone72s]

Here is a photo of my 72 longhorn with Alcoa wheels , 235 85r 16 tires and stock stance.

[Stranny64]

Maybe not a ton of people liking lowered C20's but here is mine. It's just a toy for me. I don't see a need to haul concrete bags or loads of dirt with it. Just wanted it lowered a little to fill up the wheel wells.

[71ChevySS(straight6)]

Originally Posted by 1972BlueC20

Here is what I'm running on my 1972 C20 with stock suspension.

I like it, but I also am wanting to possibly put it back stock (white steel with hubcaps) or find another aftermarket solution....

This truck is tits, man! Nice!

[1972BlueC20]

Originally Posted by 71ChevySS(straight6)

This truck is tits, man! Nice!

Thank you sir!

I appreciate that!

[erock805]

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.

[northerngmc]

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

[crazymason]

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

[special-K]

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:

[crazymason]

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 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?

[special-K]

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.

[ed2552]

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

[Sicklajoie]

Originally Posted by ed2552

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

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

[prairewolf]

Originally Posted by ed2552

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

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

[dmack91]

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.

[DennisP]

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!!

[Sicklajoie]

Leave it alone!!!

[71ChevySS(straight6)]

Originally Posted by ed2552

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

How do you like those Transforce A/Ts? I ask because my dad bought a set for his '95 Dodge Ram Cummins 4X4 (which was a dumb move if you ask me, cuz that truck spends about half its life in a snowy or muddy pasture). Slick truck by the way!

[special-K]

That's a fine looking '67!