Heated Lowered Springs? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

kombreeze · 02-21-2007, 12:30 PM

Ok for years I've only dropped cars by either direct replacement or cutting of the springs. Most of the time I would springs from a full size sedan to install in a compact to insure ride. Well Im about to buy my springs and I'm trying to figure out what kind of drop can I get away with so the million dollar question....I can't beleive I'm asking but I actually have never done it....How do I heat the springs to lower the truck. They are uneven do to spacers installed between each coil so I know I want to lower just don't know how much so I figured why not just heat them and play a bit. Temporarily since I'm converting to disk durring the summer and since I'm buying a new house the budget just got tighter. I've got a theme and I'm sticking with it...

bobthecop · 02-21-2007, 12:43 PM

Personally I would not heat springs to lower a vehicle, can't ever seem to get them level and of course the safety issue of taking the strength out of the metal.

cdowns · 02-21-2007, 12:47 PM

crash and burn aint much of a theme

kombreeze · 02-21-2007, 01:12 PM

The springs are being swapped out but in the driveway. Just not sure what stance I want with my wheel and tire combo. Thats why I want to heat the springs to determine that....I more than likely wont drive it like that....

bobthecop · 02-21-2007, 01:21 PM

Just remove the springs and use a jack to determine the height, as long as you are gonna pull them anyway.

texanidiot25 · 02-21-2007, 03:50 PM

Just use a jack while you have them out. Heating them is tricky to get even. Even if it is just for looks before you get real ones.

Rascal_one2001 · 02-21-2007, 04:01 PM

my brother did this to one of his trucks and had a piece of 4x4 wood in where the spring sits so he could have it at the correct ride height while doing mockup so we could move it around and the day he did it he didn't tell me and I took it down his road to do a burn out for one of my buddies and when i was doing the burn out the wood blocks slid out and the front end hit the pavement and messed up the pavement. I about pooped myself when it happend until i saw what it was then i just put the blocks back in and parked in in the exact spot it was in and my brother still wonders what happend to the far end of his driveway.

nvrforgotten52 · 02-21-2007, 07:27 PM

GREASEMONKEY72 · 02-21-2007, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rascal_one2001

my brother did this to one of his trucks and had a piece of 4x4 wood in where the spring sits so he could have it at the correct ride height while doing mockup so we could move it around and the day he did it he didn't tell me and I took it down his road to do a burn out for one of my buddies and when i was doing the burn out the wood blocks slid out and the front end hit the pavement and messed up the pavement. I about pooped myself when it happend until i saw what it was then i just put the blocks back in and parked in in the exact spot it was in and my brother still wonders what happend to the far end of his driveway.

thats funny right there, and a bit messed up to....

**Boog** · 02-22-2007, 08:17 PM

How much is it worth to keep me quiet about this?

magsnubby · 02-22-2007, 11:14 PM

It's not all that hard. Just use a rosebud tip and don't concentrate the heat in one spot for very long. I heated one side at a time, let it sit and cool for awhile, then heated the other side. Get it to where you think it looks good then let it sit for a few days (don't move it just let it sit in the same spot) untill the springs settle. Repeat as needed. I heated the springs on my '71 just to see what it would look like. I was going to use dropped spindles and dropped springs but i wasn't sure how low i wanted to go. Or how much clearance i would have between the a-arms and the blacktop. So i just heated it up untill it looked good and went from there.

BUT.....if you're going to be driving the truck i wouldn't recommend torching the springs. I only heated mine because i wasn't going to be driving the truck untill i installed the spindles and springs and rebuilt the front end.

02-21-2007, 12:30 PM	#1
kombreeze Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fresno, Ca Posts: 154	Heated Lowered Springs? Ok for years I've only dropped cars by either direct replacement or cutting of the springs. Most of the time I would springs from a full size sedan to install in a compact to insure ride. Well Im about to buy my springs and I'm trying to figure out what kind of drop can I get away with so the million dollar question....I can't beleive I'm asking but I actually have never done it....How do I heat the springs to lower the truck. They are uneven do to spacers installed between each coil so I know I want to lower just don't know how much so I figured why not just heat them and play a bit. Temporarily since I'm converting to disk durring the summer and since I'm buying a new house the budget just got tighter. I've got a theme and I'm sticking with it... __________________ 68 chevy truck 70 Datsun 510 2000 Nissan Sentra 2006 Toyo Camry Soon 69 Firebird 400 Convertible I'm getting it back Soon Trailblazer or 4 Runner

02-21-2007, 12:43 PM	#2
bobthecop Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Yukon Oklahoma Posts: 2,647	Re: Heated Lowered Springs? Personally I would not heat springs to lower a vehicle, can't ever seem to get them level and of course the safety issue of taking the strength out of the metal. __________________ Happiness is towing your "new" truck home. 1972 C-10 1982 GMC (parts truck??) 1969 c10 parts truck 1969 C-10 ( my sons) 1992 Silverado 4X4 (now the boys truck)(now mine again) 2002 Tarus (my wife loves that car)

02-21-2007, 12:47 PM	#3
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: Heated Lowered Springs? crash and burn aint much of a theme __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

02-21-2007, 01:12 PM	#4
kombreeze Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fresno, Ca Posts: 154	Re: Heated Lowered Springs? The springs are being swapped out but in the driveway. Just not sure what stance I want with my wheel and tire combo. Thats why I want to heat the springs to determine that....I more than likely wont drive it like that.... __________________ 68 chevy truck 70 Datsun 510 2000 Nissan Sentra 2006 Toyo Camry Soon 69 Firebird 400 Convertible I'm getting it back Soon Trailblazer or 4 Runner

02-21-2007, 01:21 PM	#5
bobthecop Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Yukon Oklahoma Posts: 2,647	Re: Heated Lowered Springs? Just remove the springs and use a jack to determine the height, as long as you are gonna pull them anyway. __________________ Happiness is towing your "new" truck home. 1972 C-10 1982 GMC (parts truck??) 1969 c10 parts truck 1969 C-10 ( my sons) 1992 Silverado 4X4 (now the boys truck)(now mine again) 2002 Tarus (my wife loves that car)

02-21-2007, 03:50 PM	#6
texanidiot25 Eat My Rust Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cypress, Texas Posts: 3,362	Re: Heated Lowered Springs? Just use a jack while you have them out. Heating them is tricky to get even. Even if it is just for looks before you get real ones.

02-21-2007, 04:01 PM	#7
Rascal_one2001 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 308	Re: Heated Lowered Springs? my brother did this to one of his trucks and had a piece of 4x4 wood in where the spring sits so he could have it at the correct ride height while doing mockup so we could move it around and the day he did it he didn't tell me and I took it down his road to do a burn out for one of my buddies and when i was doing the burn out the wood blocks slid out and the front end hit the pavement and messed up the pavement. I about pooped myself when it happend until i saw what it was then i just put the blocks back in and parked in in the exact spot it was in and my brother still wonders what happend to the far end of his driveway. __________________ 1985 1500 454, 4l80e, 12 bolt, 5/6 drop, 20s

02-21-2007, 07:27 PM	#8
nvrforgotten52 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Morro Bay C.A Posts: 179	Re: Heated Lowered Springs? __________________ '69 C10 SWB 350 edelbrock int/carb .420 .442 cam 700r4 70 lwb c10 work truck 250 I6 with two inch lift springs and a two inch bodylift and 33/12.5s

02-22-2007, 08:17 PM	#10
Boog laying low Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Searcy, Ark. USA Posts: 13,514	Re: Heated Lowered Springs? How much is it worth to keep me quiet about this? __________________ Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross

02-22-2007, 11:14 PM	#11
magsnubby Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: fresno,ca Posts: 448	Re: Heated Lowered Springs? It's not all that hard. Just use a rosebud tip and don't concentrate the heat in one spot for very long. I heated one side at a time, let it sit and cool for awhile, then heated the other side. Get it to where you think it looks good then let it sit for a few days (don't move it just let it sit in the same spot) untill the springs settle. Repeat as needed. I heated the springs on my '71 just to see what it would look like. I was going to use dropped spindles and dropped springs but i wasn't sure how low i wanted to go. Or how much clearance i would have between the a-arms and the blacktop. So i just heated it up untill it looked good and went from there. BUT.....if you're going to be driving the truck i wouldn't recommend torching the springs. I only heated mine because i wasn't going to be driving the truck untill i installed the spindles and springs and rebuilt the front end.



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