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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: los angeles, california
Posts: 11
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i bought a new truck
hey all, i bought a 1971 gmc longbed. i don't have a real plan for it at the moment, other than to lower it as much as i can w/o banging or scraping on stuff. i'm thinking 6" in back. i'd like to do drop springs only. does -6" in the rear require add'l parts...like shocks?
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#2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Brookings, SD
Posts: 10,497
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Re: i bought a new truck
With 6" I would get shock relocator brackets, shocks, and an adjustable panhard bar. A rear sway bar is a good idea on any truck, lowered or not. At 6" you are in the C notch area, you could probably get by without it, but it would be a great idea to do it.
Why not do an inch or two of blocks and the rest springs? What size wheels do you plan to run?
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Some people are like slinkies, they aren't good for anything, but you can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs. |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: los angeles, california
Posts: 11
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Re: i bought a new truck
this is my first time with this type of truck. i didn't know blocks were an option. i was hoping it was just a matter of swapping springs. my wheels are 15" mag (van style) w/nothing tires. they're in a pretty good position in the wheel well. i'll try to upload a pic.
![]() Last edited by fat danny; 04-03-2015 at 08:34 PM. |
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#4 |
The Older Generation
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Location: Montezuma, Iowa
Posts: 25,491
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Re: i bought a new truck
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I wouldn't do a 6" drop without notching the frame. I would get 4" springs and then use lowering blocks to get what you want from there, like Shawn said.... Just my 2¢ worth. LockDoc
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Leon Locksmith, Specializing In Antique Trucks, Automobiles, & Motorcycles (My Dually Pickup Project Thread) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=829820 - |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: los angeles, california
Posts: 11
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Re: i bought a new truck
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#6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Brookings, SD
Posts: 10,497
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Re: i bought a new truck
The lower you go the worse the geometry of your shocks becomes. You really need to fix that to have a good ride. As you lower it your shocks get into a sideways position. They need to be more vertical in order to work. A sideways shock pivots on it's bushings, it doesn't work well at all.
Blocks are a way to lower it without changing any suspension geometry, but with 15" wheels you really don't want to go with any more than 2". When going with blocks you want to see where your scrub line will be, that is where you will be riding when you have a flat tire. If you have 4" blocks, and 15" wheels, your blocks will ride on the pavement with a flat tire, and clearly you don't want that. In my opinion the more drop a spring has, the worse it rides, and the less capacity you have for towing and hauling stuff in the bed. If possible I would go with a 1" or 2" block and then do the rest with springs. You never know when those 6 cheerleaders will need a ride and you don't want that longbed riding on the bump stops knocking the cavities out of their teeth.
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Some people are like slinkies, they aren't good for anything, but you can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs. |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: los angeles, california
Posts: 11
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Re: i bought a new truck
lol, niiiiiice! thx dude; that's exactly the type of info that i needed to know. this is the first time i deal w/ trailing arms...i really gotta get down there and familiarize myself with the system. thx again!
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Cary, NC
Posts: 60
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Re: i bought a new truck
I agree that blocks should definitely be part of your plan if you are going more than 4 inches. Springs are important and you want to leave them as long as possible. I bought a truck with a hacked up lowering job and people would refuse to ride in it because it would beat you up.
I would suggest calling Early Classics Enterprises and talking to them about what you are trying to accomplish. And remember, dropping the rear is easy. What are your plans for the front?
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Carmen Black Build 1971 SWB - Base Model |
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#9 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: los angeles, california
Posts: 11
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Re: i bought a new truck
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: los angeles, california
Posts: 11
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Re: i bought a new truck
Last edited by fat danny; 04-03-2015 at 09:15 PM. |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: los angeles, california
Posts: 11
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Re: i bought a new truck
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Fresno Ca.
Posts: 74
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Re: i bought a new truck
Oh nice truck you got there . That black one at the bottom is bad you know what !
Peace
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69 GMC 400/400 2.5/4 drop from ECE |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: los angeles, california
Posts: 11
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Re: i bought a new truck
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Fresno Ca.
Posts: 74
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Re: i bought a new truck
Your GMC doesn't have rear leafs ? Or did I misread something there ?
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69 GMC 400/400 2.5/4 drop from ECE |
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: los angeles, california
Posts: 11
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Re: i bought a new truck
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Fresno Ca.
Posts: 74
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Re: i bought a new truck
That's unusual but I guess it was an option. I kind of wish my 69 had that setup. ECE is a great place to deal with I can only say good things about them . they will steer you in the right direction for sure
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69 GMC 400/400 2.5/4 drop from ECE |
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: los angeles, california
Posts: 11
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Re: i bought a new truck
thx man, i'll look them up.
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#18 |
instagram "footbraker67"
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Mustang,Oklahoma
Posts: 204
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Re: i bought a new truck
Yea call Early Classic. They've got great quality parts. Ive been running their spindles/springs up front and springs and trac bar in the back (4.5in in front and 6 inch in the back) for about 7 years now with absolutely no problems. Oh and i drive my truck everyday. No C-notch either and its done just fine.
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1967 lwb, bigwindow, factory air (converted to Vintage Air), custom option,4.5- 6 drop, TBI injected 355, 700r4, 5 lug, daily driver. 1967 Chevelle Malibu Drag car, 355, brodix heads and intake, powerglide, 10.82 @ 123 mph 1966 chevelle malibu, Street/strip, 355, spare parts from my other chevelle, 12.82 @104 mph 1968 lwb parts truck |
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