Drop kits for my 71 c-10 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Alaskan71 · 04-03-2010, 10:43 PM

I need help, I'm new at this and I am in the slow process of restoring my 71 chevy. I want to put a drop kit on it and although i like the looks of the 4/6 better, it is too low for Alaska roads and I have settled with the idea of the 3/5 drop kit instead.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to the best kits to get or the best way to go about this? my truck is an older 71 with coils all the way around and this may be a rookie question, but what is the difference between drop coils in the front and drop spindles?

Thank you for any information you might have

Leviticus · 04-03-2010, 11:35 PM

Alaskan,

Welcome to the forums, the best place to get drop kits/parts for our trucks is ECE
( www.earlyclassic.com ). The difference between drop springs and drop spindles in the front is the drop springs are pretty self explanatory, they are shorter than you stock ones.

Drop spindles replace your stock spindles, everything is pretty much the same except the spindle hub is placed higher on the spindle, therefore lowering your truck. This allows you to lower the truck without changing the factory ride/springs.

Hope this helps.

**70cst** · 04-03-2010, 11:56 PM

and

from Ohio. Leviticus speaks words of wisdom worth listening to.

72BlckButy · 04-04-2010, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leviticus

Alaskan,

Welcome to the forums, the best place to get drop kits/parts for our trucks is ECE
( www.earlyclassic.com ). The difference between drop springs and drop spindles in the front is the drop springs are pretty self explanatory, they are shorter than you stock ones.

Drop spindles replace your stock spindles, everything is pretty much the same except the spindle hub is placed higher on the spindle, therefore lowering your truck. This allows you to lower the truck without changing the factory ride/springs.

Hope this helps.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70cst

and

from Ohio. Leviticus speaks words of wisdom worth listening to.

x2... on both posts.

to the board from Mid-MO!!!

ECE offers some really good products, and that is what I installed on my '69, and wouldn't have done it any other way.

Alaskan71 · 04-04-2010, 01:33 PM

Thank you Leviticus for the information, I have been looking at the ECE website and it has been very helpful. i found a 5 inch drop kit for the rear, however i haven't been able to find the 3 inch front drop kit i need. Any recommendations as to how i should go about this? do i go with a 2 inch drop spring or the 2.5 inch drop spindle and say close enough or is there some other way to go about it?

68Stepbed · 04-04-2010, 03:53 PM

I used a 2.5" drop spindle and 1" drop spring for a 3.5" front drop. Here's my truck with 3.5/5 drop.

brans72 · 04-04-2010, 04:01 PM

I did not see a 3/5 complete kit on ECE website.

oldblue1968chevy · 04-04-2010, 08:54 PM

I think you'll have to piece it together...although you may call and they'll probably send you the 4/6 drop with a diff spring to make it 3/5 for same price

Alaskan71 · 04-04-2010, 09:35 PM

Alright thank you guys for the help, ill post any information i find out for further use

*67/72junkie* · 04-04-2010, 09:55 PM

68Stepbed, I really like your truck !color ,stance rims and all go very good together.

**70cst** · 04-04-2010, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67/72junkie

68Stepbed, I really like your truck !color ,stance rims and all go very good together.

X2

tommyd241 · 04-05-2010, 12:04 AM

x3

mbgmike · 04-05-2010, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tommyd241

X3

x5

I used to live in sevierville actually i think they called it Kodak but not sure it exists anymore.

'72customdeluxe · 04-05-2010, 12:16 AM

I have the same drop as 68step, just about perfect IMO

68Stepbed · 04-05-2010, 08:17 AM

Thanks, guys!

akpackfan · 04-05-2010, 12:34 PM

Hey Alaskan71,

Did you see my PM? I'm in Wasilla and also have a '71 C10. Lets talk.

epashhans · 04-05-2010, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alaskan71

I need help, I'm new at this and I am in the slow process of restoring my 71 chevy. I want to put a drop kit on it and although i like the looks of the 4/6 better, it is too low for Alaska roads and I have settled with the idea of the 3/5 drop kit instead.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to the best kits to get or the best way to go about this? my truck is an older 71 with coils all the way around and this may be a rookie question, but what is the difference between drop coils in the front and drop spindles?

Thank you for any information you might have

You never talked about how much you are willing to spend and if money is no matter you can just order up a kit like they are saying. There are much cheaper avenues of getting a 3/5 drop imo. There are probably guys on the board that would sell you some drop springs for cheap...shipping to AK is going to be the only draw back. I got my stuff (lowering and handling kit) from CPP...its been good for me...it was $599 for 3/5 drop springs, drop shocks, and front and rear sway bars. Hard to beat that I think...although shipping took a bit on the one sway bar. You will hear mixed opinions about CPP...but its an option. You won't go wrong with ECE though.

tommyd241 · 04-05-2010, 07:17 PM

Yeah, I think I'll probably go with ECE just for the great reviews and customer service alone. However, those CPP modular spindles look very interesting.

Alaskan71 · 04-24-2010, 08:49 PM

Thanks guys for the help, I decided to go with ECE. I called them and the person I spoke with on the phone was more than willing to modify the 4/6 drop kit with 1 inch drop coils in the front and 5 inch drop coils in the rear for a 3.5/5 drop

68Stepbed · 04-26-2010, 11:05 AM

SWEET!! Put up some pics when you get it all installed.

04-03-2010, 10:43 PM	#1
Alaskan71 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 18	Drop kits for my 71 c-10 I need help, I'm new at this and I am in the slow process of restoring my 71 chevy. I want to put a drop kit on it and although i like the looks of the 4/6 better, it is too low for Alaska roads and I have settled with the idea of the 3/5 drop kit instead. Does anyone have any suggestions as to the best kits to get or the best way to go about this? my truck is an older 71 with coils all the way around and this may be a rookie question, but what is the difference between drop coils in the front and drop spindles? Thank you for any information you might have

04-03-2010, 11:35 PM	#2
Leviticus Shake and Bake! Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 609	Re: Drop kits for my 71 c-10 Alaskan, Welcome to the forums, the best place to get drop kits/parts for our trucks is ECE ( www.earlyclassic.com ). The difference between drop springs and drop spindles in the front is the drop springs are pretty self explanatory, they are shorter than you stock ones. Drop spindles replace your stock spindles, everything is pretty much the same except the spindle hub is placed higher on the spindle, therefore lowering your truck. This allows you to lower the truck without changing the factory ride/springs. Hope this helps. __________________ "All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." Thomas Jefferson "You are remembered for the rules you break." General Douglas MacArthur "Support Our Troops And The NRA"

04-03-2010, 11:56 PM	#3
70cst Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: New Madison, Ohio Posts: 21,365	Re: Drop kits for my 71 c-10 and from Ohio. Leviticus speaks words of wisdom worth listening to. __________________ A husband can be right...or...A husband can be happy. 67-72 Chevy and GMC Trucks...The Classic Truck for the Classic Folk. 1970 CST Two tone green, 402BB, 400 Automatic, Tach, Buckets, AC, AM-FM, Tilt, GM CB, GM 8 Tract, LWB, etc JOHN 17:3...The better side of "LIFE" Remember: Everyday is a good day...Some are just gooder!

04-04-2010, 01:33 PM	#5
Alaskan71 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 18	Re: Drop kits for my 71 c-10 Thank you Leviticus for the information, I have been looking at the ECE website and it has been very helpful. i found a 5 inch drop kit for the rear, however i haven't been able to find the 3 inch front drop kit i need. Any recommendations as to how i should go about this? do i go with a 2 inch drop spring or the 2.5 inch drop spindle and say close enough or is there some other way to go about it?

04-04-2010, 03:53 PM	#6
68Stepbed Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 10-Uh-See Posts: 5,609	Re: Drop kits for my 71 c-10 I used a 2.5" drop spindle and 1" drop spring for a 3.5" front drop. Here's my truck with 3.5/5 drop. __________________ Matt 68 C10 stepside, LS1/700R4, TCI Engineering suspension system Last edited by 68Stepbed; 04-04-2010 at 03:54 PM.

04-04-2010, 04:01 PM	#7
brans72 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Durham,NC Posts: 636	Re: Drop kits for my 71 c-10 I did not see a 3/5 complete kit on ECE website.

04-04-2010, 08:54 PM	#8
oldblue1968chevy Grandpa in the rustmobile... Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Spokane WA/Viola TN Posts: 11,422	Re: Drop kits for my 71 c-10 I think you'll have to piece it together...although you may call and they'll probably send you the 4/6 drop with a diff spring to make it 3/5 for same price __________________ John Goose-1968 C10 355,9.32-1CR, Vortec Heads ,262 voodoo, 3.73:1 3OTT (HS ride/beater/farm truck) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=317684 Grams 53-1953 Chevrolet Belair http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=1#post4327784 1969 Chevy C10 Shortbed 4.5/6?" Frame off resto http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=548136 1999 Toyota Tacoma 4x4

04-04-2010, 09:35 PM	#9
Alaskan71 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 18	Re: Drop kits for my 71 c-10 Alright thank you guys for the help, ill post any information i find out for further use

04-04-2010, 09:55 PM	#10
67/72junkie Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: NC Posts: 1,129	Re: Drop kits for my 71 c-10 68Stepbed, I really like your truck !color ,stance rims and all go very good together.

04-05-2010, 12:04 AM	#12
tommyd241 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: 505 Posts: 447	Re: Drop kits for my 71 c-10 x3 __________________ '68 SWB Fleetside '98 K1500 Silverado

04-05-2010, 12:16 AM	#14
'72customdeluxe Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tejas Posts: 691	Re: Drop kits for my 71 c-10 I have the same drop as 68step, just about perfect IMO __________________ '72 cheyenne super step, '05 long bed gmc

04-05-2010, 08:17 AM	#15
68Stepbed Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 10-Uh-See Posts: 5,609	Re: Drop kits for my 71 c-10 Thanks, guys! __________________ Matt 68 C10 stepside, LS1/700R4, TCI Engineering suspension system

04-05-2010, 12:34 PM	#16
akpackfan Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Wasilla, Alaska Posts: 38	Re: Drop kits for my 71 c-10 Hey Alaskan71, Did you see my PM? I'm in Wasilla and also have a '71 C10. Lets talk.

04-05-2010, 07:17 PM	#18
tommyd241 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: 505 Posts: 447	Re: Drop kits for my 71 c-10 Yeah, I think I'll probably go with ECE just for the great reviews and customer service alone. However, those CPP modular spindles look very interesting. __________________ '68 SWB Fleetside '98 K1500 Silverado

04-24-2010, 08:49 PM	#19
Alaskan71 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 18	Re: Drop kits for my 71 c-10 Thanks guys for the help, I decided to go with ECE. I called them and the person I spoke with on the phone was more than willing to modify the 4/6 drop kit with 1 inch drop coils in the front and 5 inch drop coils in the rear for a 3.5/5 drop



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04-26-2010, 11:05 AM	#20
68Stepbed Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 10-Uh-See Posts: 5,609	Re: Drop kits for my 71 c-10 SWEET!! Put up some pics when you get it all installed. __________________ Matt 68 C10 stepside, LS1/700R4, TCI Engineering suspension system

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