Had to buy - '77 Suburban

[Willowrun]

Last thing I need is another vehicle to house but I just couldn't resist buying this from the 2nd owner who had it 4 months. '77 half ton Suburban. Interior is perfect and everything works. Original owner took very good care of it and I have receipts for everything. I believe it has 111K on it.
Now I need to figure out what to do with it. It needs to be lower and the whitewalls have to go. I don't want to take away from it's originality though. Suggestions on how to lower? I have three 1/2 ton 2wd squares (this, '77 Jimmy, '84 swb C10) that all need to be lowered sooner or later and I think the Suburban needs to go low first. Thinking drop spindles and possibly cut coil in the front. Rear is where I'm concerned. Not wanting to notch or do a flip in the rear though. Rear lowering springs? Suggestions on where to purchase are welcome too.
Some pics:

At PO's house

[Willowrun]

Inside. No dash cracks

[Willowrun]

Barn doors

[Willowrun]

350 that hasn't been messed with.

[Willowrun]

Last one.

[Stoney]

Very nice.

[bigblock73]

Wow, what a gem!! Drop leafs in back might be the best option...never lowered a burb or blazer before...but know space is tight.

[Willowrun]

Thanks guys. I was thinking lowering springs in the rear, just not sure how much drop they provide and how to match the front.
I also need to figure out if I want to stick with the steelies and caps, switch to rallies, or heaven forbid spend some money on some 20's.

[68Timber]

Wow - makes you feel good that they're still out there. Nice score! If it were me I'd copy Blue J's stance best I could and drive it.

[lolife99]

Very cool burb!

I lowered my old burb years ago with drop leaf springs in the back.
I would look at 4" or 5" drop leaf springs.
You have to be careful because the "center section" of the rearend gets close to the burb's floor.
I know www.performanceonline.com sells them.
Not sure who else.

[Willowrun]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Very cool burb!

I lowered my old burb years ago with drop leaf springs in the back.
I would look at 4" or 5" drop leaf springs.
You have to be careful because the "center section" of the rearend gets close to the burb's floor.
I know www.performanceonline.com sells them.
Not sure who else.

Thank you. I'm liking the replacement springs in the rear over anything else at this point.
I did some digging and saw a small pic of your blue and white two tone. In the post you said:

"3" drop spindles and 2" drop springs up front.
The rear was a set of 4" drop leaf springs."

Anything you would have done different?

At this point I"m thinking 2.5" spindles and 1 cut coil in the front. I have seen this set up on several trucks and I like how it sets the front end. With that front end drop I need to determine how much to lower the rear. The leaf springs are available in 4" and 5" drops. Any suggestions on which one to go with that will have it sitting level?
Plans for rims at this point is a set of van rallies but is subject to change.

[lolife99]

I would get 5" if you want it to set level.
Mine had a little rake to it,... but I also had no c-notch.

Just get under it with a tape measure and see where 5" is going to put all of your rear suspension.
(axle tube, center section, etc)

[lolife99]

Make sure to run a good quality drop shocks.
I used Belltech.
If it doesn't have a sway bar,... get one.
Add some Energy Suspension bushings and it will be good.
I think I also had a carrier bearing spacer on the driveshaft to help with driveshaft angles on the 2-piece drive shaft.

[Willowrun]

Thank you for the great information. Do you remember how much space you had between the frame and the axle tubes without a notch? I'm assuming you removed the bump stops. I was hoping not to notch, but I may have to if it's going to sit right. Did you relocate the rear shock mounts?
It does have a front sway bar...I haven't looked to see if there was one in the rear.
I'll get under it tonight and give it a good look with a tape measure. I hadn't thought of spacing down the carrier bearing but it makes sense in order to get it to a good angle as I'm assuming (without looking at it yet) that lowering it 4-5" in the rear will flatten out the driveshaft which may lead to some bad vibes.

[lolife99]

No c-notch.
Bumpstops and brackets removed.
I don't remember the rear axle clearances.
That was a long time ago.

I used rear shock extensions to straighten up the shock angles.

[bowtieguy79]

Wow that is clean! Reminds me of my brother 77 C10 he sold a few years back.


Good luck with it! I like the idea of keeping it basic.

[Willowrun]

Originally Posted by bowtieguy79

Wow that is clean! Reminds me of my brother 77 C10 he sold a few years back.

That look's like a nice C10. I'm envious of the sport mirrors.

Decided today that I needed to get the suburban out of the rain and out to my barn. Yup, I'm gonna put it away for the winter and not mess with it until spring. I've always been a 4x4 guy and never lowered a truck before (besides leveling a '72 C10 by heating a coil when I was a teenager) so I think I'm gonna start on something not quite as clean.
Burby headed to the house with the barn.

[Willowrun]

The victim getting backed in the driveway. '77 2wd Jimmy.

[68Timber]

You've got some nice trucks!

[Willowrun]

Thanks Bruiser! I've been collecting them (and parts) since my early 20's (42 now) and it's a mixed blessing. Case in point, today I had a buddy over to help me get all of my junk situated in my barn in preparation for winter. I knew it was going to be tight after picking up the 18' 8" Suburban. Managed to get all 12 to fit though thankfully. Summer car and box van still need to go in here.
2wd K5 is in house garage and '73 K5 in storage at the dunes.
Problem with all of this crap is only a few are exactly like I want them and maintenance is a pain. They all run though
It would be much easier to just focus on 1 or 2.

[Bourbon]

Nice collection!! I spy an 83/84 Monte Carlo SS. Great taste in vehicles!!

[Willowrun]

Thanks! First post too so welcome.
Yes, it's an '84, and you obviously know your montes to be able to tell the year from that pic. I wonder if anyone else knows how you knew it was an '83 or '84.
I purchased it from the original owner. All original with ~40K miles.
Regarding my collection, most of my friends or coworkers always ask me why I don't collect something cool like an old Ferrari or Porsche. People weren't driving those where I grew up! Here's a better pic of the Monte after a wash this summer.

[68Timber]

By the S10-style wheels? They went to an 80 or 81 Z28-style wheel after that? I'm guessing, I know there are more differences in stripes and tail lights but that's what stands out to me in that one pic. Nice car, I'm a fan of them too.

[Jonboy]

That's why I don't have a barn. The color is a give away as well. Is it a bench seat or bucket seat car? Either way, love it!

[Willowrun]

I'm thinking the color is what tipped off Bourbon. They only offered blue in the first and second years they made the G body SS. That limited my search when I was looking for one. What I don't like about this car is it has a TH350C trans instead of a 200-4R (started in '85) so it tops out around 70 mph.
It's a bucket car.
Thanks for the compliments on it fellas. This one is my 11 year old son's favorite.