Just cut my springs and I'm not feeling confident about it!

[5150]

Hey guys,

I asked this a while back and finally decided to get a blade to my skil saw today. These are the factory springs that I sold with my yellow 69. Th PO said I could have them. I can't be sure that the ones on my truck now have been tampered with.

Well, I cut one coil off from the bottom (the fat end) and it just didn't seem like that much. I thought maybe some guys here had some measurements on a 2 inch drop spring I could compare to. That is the drop I'm after, because I have drop spindles also.

Thanks,

Bryan

[Geoff]

I don't know how low you want to go but from my experience once you go over 2 or 2 1/4 coils the ride gets pretty bad. With 15x8 245/60/15 with the above mentioned coils cut my front bumper on my 68' was between 6-7in off the ground.

Sometimes you don't notice much and then you take another coil and your like holey crap what did I do.

Good luck

[lolife99]

I've found that 1/2 coil= 1 inch drop. You should be around a 2 inch drop. If you cut more,... just remember that the spring will be loose in the spring pocket with the front wheels off the ground. (example: jack under frame, not the a-arm,... and front wheels off the ground) This isn't a problem,... you just need to make sure the spring "seats" in the spring pocket when you lower the front back to the ground. I've cut 1 1/2 coils with no problem. Had them on a daily driver I use to have. This was way back,... before dropped spindles were available.

[5150]

It just seemed like the the bottom coil was pretty close to the second to the bottom coil. Which is now the bottom coil. It just didn't seem like it would be that much of a drop.

thanks lolife

Bryan

[69 longhorn]

You are looking at 2 1/2- 3 " of drop,with 1 ring off the bottom......my longhorn has run that way for 10-12 yrs, with no issues I have fabbed shock relocators, & run stock shocks both front & rear. the rear is an axle flip (leaf spring), & relocated spring hangers to set the height. Also a few tossed leafs(she runs a 4 leaf stack). I call it "loosely"a 3/5 drop.....+ 1 1/2" of body drop.Yea, its low enough to hear the same ? asked all the time......"How low IS that truck?" The sweet part is on a real budget drop(lots of work, but little cash), she rides & handles nice.....& NOTHING scrapes on the pavement L

[XXL]

Originally Posted by 69 longhorn

.....& NOTHING scrapes on the pavement L

That just tells me you're not low enough!

[70short/step]

Quote "Sometimes you don't notice much and then you take another coil and your like holey crap what did I do."

Sorry But that is friggin funny!

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by 70short/step

"Sometimes you don't notice much and then you take another coil and your like holey crap what did I do."

Sorry But that is friggin funny!

It's "really" funny if you have had the experience. I did this on a 84 Camaro once. I cut 1/2 a coil put it back together and nothing happened. I cut another 1/2 a coil and still nothing. I called a buddy and asked should I cut it again. He suggested I drive it first. I drove it around the block and checked it again. I looked at the front and said " holy crap what did I do."

[69 longhorn]

Originally Posted by XXL

That just tells me you're not low enough!

No, IMO that is setup properly.....remember "budget" is the name of the game, & that old truck will stretch her legs pretty good on the open road Spindles, arms, bags ,ect will net more drop, or "lay frame"......but drive height is what it is, & sparks on the pavement should NOT be part of the deal for any reason! L

[XXL]

Originally Posted by 69 longhorn

No, IMO that is setup properly.....remember "budget" is the name of the game, & that old truck will stretch her legs pretty good on the open road Spindles, arms, bags ,ect will net more drop, or "lay frame"......but drive height is what it is, & sparks on the pavement should NOT be part of the deal for any reason! L

Deep, cleansing breaths, 'horn. I was kidding.

[71swb4x4]

Coil springs are cheap, keep cutting

[lok-dawg]

Sometimes you don't notice much and then you take another coil and your like holey crap what did I do.

OMG that caught me off gaurd.

[5150]

Okay Guys,

I'll leave it alone and install them with the drop spindles and see what I got. I guess like N2Trux said I'll drive it before I get mad about having to pull it back out.

[CAJ68]

i you cut 1 coil off front, how much do you cut off back coils to level the truck out?and do you need to get different shocks with that much drop?

[72BLAZERDUDE]

You can't cut the rear coils. The way the spring is designed is like a pig tail, it spirals in at both ends. You will have to buy drop coils or bag it. Yellow69 here is a picture of my sons truck 2 1/2 drop spindles with stock springs with 1 coil cut out and 6 inch drop coils and 2 inch blocks in the back.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by 72BLAZERDUDE

You can't cut the rear coils.....

I believe the proper term should be you 'shouldn't' cut the rear coils. They can be cut. I've seen my buddy do 3 of his 67-72's that way. He cut the coil & tack welded the pigtail to the trailing arm on his first 2 & on the third he got better fabrication skills & built an adapter to contain the bottom of the coil after it was cut. That adapter (it was like a shallow cup) fit between the coil & the trailing arm.

FWIW.... they all rode like crap.

[72BLAZERDUDE]

I stand corrected. I guess your right you can do just about anything you want. Cut those springs, Drive a Yugo, Sell your Chevy and buy a Fiat. Alot of things you can do but SHOULDN'T

[SCOTI]

Well I'll admit it's not something I would do but he did things differently. I also must admit that although his trucks rode slightly on the rough side, he never had any issues w/the rear springs.

The tops were still bolted in place just like the factory & the bottoms were tacked to the trailing arms. One of his trucks was hit broadside hard enough to rip the bed loose from the frame but both springs were still in place.

I liked his 3rd attempt the best as it offered more support.

Years later, he did a 65 & went w/dropped a-arms when I suggested spindles. It was one of those dropped a-arms that hung on a city manhole cover & totaled his truck. Mine was just as low & still drives around years later thanks to dropped spindles & mildly cut coils. At least on the 65, he stepped up & got dropped rear coils & we made some blocks for about 6" of drop.