4.5/6

[canadian 4x4]

i bought a 4.5/6 belltech kit with drop shocks. does any one have any tips? i will be installing it on the shop floor with floor jack and jack stands. i will rent a spring compressor. what else is needed. i am working in a big rig shop so all small tools are available. do i have to trim my lca's? i am running 15x8 ralleys i need to order a new set of tires what is the best sizes front and rear. preferred larger in the back.
Thanks in advanced

[bbbc10]

if u have 3" spindles u will need to do some grinding to use the 15x8 rallys....here is a pic of mine wth 5/6 drop 255/60 tire up front an 275/60 rear

[tizzle]

what company made your drop kit. thanks

[tizzle]

i like the setup. those 275/60's look really wide on the back. looks awesome

[UKNOWME]

Originally Posted by bbbc10

if u have 3" spindles u will need to do some grinding to use the 15x8 rallys....here is a pic of mine wth 5/6 drop 255/60 tire up front an 275/60 rear

What drop kit did you use? Do you front tires rub at all?

[canadian 4x4]

got the front of the truck dropped last night/this morning

got the back finished up tonight


i had to grind what i thought was a lot off the lca to clear my rallies

[primrrd]

2 big hammers will help you separate the ball joints and tie rods from their taper, in case you didn't know already.
I use a 3 lb sledge as a backup/anvil and a 3 lb ball peen to break them loose.
Back up one side of the spindle or steering arm with the sledge and give it a few sharp wacks on the other side and they will [U]usually[U] pop right off.
In my opinion easier and with less fuss or dmg to the boots than a pickle fork.

[87squarebody]

Originally Posted by canadian 4x4

i bought a 4.5/6 belltech kit with drop shocks. does any one have any tips? i will be installing it on the shop floor with floor jack and jack stands. i will rent a spring compressor. what else is needed. i am working in a big rig shop so all small tools are available. do i have to trim my lca's? i am running 15x8 ralleys i need to order a new set of tires what is the best sizes front and rear. preferred larger in the back.
Thanks in advanced

Did you have an issue with the lower shock bolt on the driver side rear with the nut sitting on the plate where the ubolts go through.

[canadian 4x4]

yes. i couldn't even get the nut to line up with the bolt. i ended up pulling the u bolts and plate back off and putting the shock on first with the bolt going the other way. Then redoing the plates and u bolts. i realize this could come back to bite me, if/when i have to change shocks but, the head of the bolt clears the plate.

[87squarebody]

Originally Posted by canadian 4x4

yes. i couldn't even get the nut to line up with the bolt. i ended up pulling the u bolts and plate back off and putting the shock on first with the bolt going the other way. Then redoing the plates and u bolts. i realize this could come back to bite me, if/when i have to change shocks but, the head of the bolt clears the plate.

Yeah I thought about doing that but im just going to order some shock extenders.Having to pull all apart to change shock is a little to much work.Truck looks good.What did you use up front 3"spindle 1.5" spring

[canadian 4x4]

mine has to all come apart again any ways. i only have 3 springs + over load on the back so i have to add the 4th leaf back and hopefully it will level out a bit. does anyone know how much left i would get by putting the 2nd longest leaf back in? previous owner removed it, i have to steal it from my parts truck

[J Knight]

Most all 81-87 SWB C10 that Ive seen all had a 4 leaf pack(3 thin plus 1 thick overload). Did the PO tell you that he removed a leaf or are you guessing he did? By the looks of this after pic the front looks like it only lowered by about 2.5-3in from stock, not 4.5in. Are you sure the front springs are fully seated in the pockets top and bottom? BTW adding a leaf will lift the rear 1-2in, the short leafs lift more than the longer leafs.

[slam59]

Like JKnight said. most have 4 rear leafs for those years, and mine being a 74 has only 4 as well. As you can see from pic below, mine has that Chevy stink bug stance with only 4 leafs in the back. What did you do for the front drop, spring and spindle wise? And you did what flip kit in the rear? Have to c-notch?

[frog210]

Originally Posted by slam59

Like JKnight said. most have 4 rear leafs for those years, and mine being a 74 has only 4 as well. As you can see from pic below, mine has that Chevy stink bug stance with only 4 leafs in the back. What did you do for the front drop, spring and spindle wise? And you did what flip kit in the rear? Have to c-notch?

my 74 c10 has 7-8 springs is that normal?

[canadian 4x4]

he said he did, and by the looks of the way it was painted, there was another one. i only took a quick glance at it thought so i may be mistaken. can some one give me a measurement to the fender lip on the front with a 4.5 or 5" drop? i have 275 60 15 all around. looking at other pics the front should be lower but i thought the spring was seated, i drove it about 30 miles and haven't taken any more pics but, it definitely still has the stink bug stance.

[canadian 4x4]

i never did a c notch, i didnt want to cut the frame. i can fit my fist between the axle and frame, and i dont plan on hauling or towing with the truck at all

[slam59]

Quoute: my 74 c10 has 7-8 springs is that normal?

Frog210, I am not sure, I thought someone here said that some were lighter duty and only had 4 like mine. Cause if mine was supposed to have 7-8 of them like yours, and now it has only 4, man that back end must have been wayyy up in the air and if 3-4 were taken out, my back end would be way lower.

Canadian 4x4: I hope i can lower the rear on mine 6 as well with out the axle being to close to the frame. I too do not plan on hauling or towing with mine either..

[J Knight]

You realy can't compare a light duty 4 leaf pack to a heavy duty 8 leaf pack with regard to ride height. They are both designed for the same ride height just different load carrying abilities.
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[canadian 4x4]

i cant get my truck to sit level. back is 26" from ground to fender lip. front is 28 1/2" its only out by about an inch at the body line, but still not the way i want it to look. do those measurements seem reasonable? tires are 275/60 i believe for some reason i cant remember now

[baclay9]

The front fender opening is taller than the rear. I bet if you set a level on your bed rail on a level surface the truck is sitting level.
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[canadian 4x4]

the body line is out by about 1/2". i have only drove about 200 miles. will the front springs settle more?

[canadian 4x4]

Its a Belltech kit