The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1973 - 1987 Chevrolet & GMC Squarebody Pickups Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 11-30-2012, 07:45 PM   #1
shoob
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Atl, GA
Posts: 103
? cut coils --> coils to inch ratio?

im dropping the 81' SWB 350/350. i have 2" spindles. i want to go lower and am not ready to buy drop springs yet, so.....

whats the ratio?

1 coil cut = 1" drop?
2 coils cut = 1" drop?


what are you guys experiance with the coil cutting, and drop ratio?

pics of front drops, and specs? (how many coils cut, etc.)
shoob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-30-2012, 07:47 PM   #2
shoob
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Atl, GA
Posts: 103
Re: ? cut coils --> coils to inch ratio?

also, does anyone do the flipped upper control arms on these trucks, like s-10's?
shoob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-30-2012, 08:08 PM   #3
JCampbell
Account Suspended
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Hesperia, Ca
Posts: 1,332
Re: ? cut coils --> coils to inch ratio?

Generally speaking, one coil equates to two inches.

Maybe it's something all the cool kids are doing now, but I can honestly say I've never heard of anybody "flipping upper control arms".
JCampbell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-30-2012, 08:51 PM   #4
Hertzdaddy
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Montpelier, VA
Posts: 315
Re: ? cut coils --> coils to inch ratio?

In my experience the first coil gets you between 1 and 2 inches. Every coil thereafter is definitely 2", maybe a little more.
Hertzdaddy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-30-2012, 09:03 PM   #5
thesickc10
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: New Hope, PA
Posts: 279
Re: ? cut coils --> coils to inch ratio?

Can you explain the flipped control arm?
__________________
1985 c10 355 th350 (working on 4 speed conversion to super t10)

1979 camaro 358 super t10

2003 f250 superchip slp exhaust
thesickc10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2012, 01:56 AM   #6
shoob
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Atl, GA
Posts: 103
Re: ? cut coils --> coils to inch ratio?

on some import mini's and other full sizes, when you go low in the front, like more than 4" it puts the upper ball joint in a pinch, a very, very hard angle, that will actually snap a ball joint. so you take the right upper control arm off and basically in a rainbow motion flip it 180 degrees to the left side, to where its upside down, press out the ball joint and install it "right side down" and bolt the control arm in.


ill see if i can find you guys some pics, its actually a very old school trick, lol. it can decrease the balljoint angle by almost 30 degrees.

people say dont do it on an s10, but we have, but some manufacturers of drop spindles for full size gm trucks, suggest doing it.


you can also "slip" you balljoints....meaning instead of mounting them oem in from the top of the control arm, you can mount them underneath, and gain more camber if your trying to tuck larger, wider rims.

Last edited by shoob; 12-01-2012 at 02:10 AM.
shoob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2012, 02:15 AM   #7
shoob
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Atl, GA
Posts: 103
Re: ? cut coils --> coils to inch ratio?

http://www.s10forum.com/forum/f125/f...l-arms-464550/

http://blazerforum.com/forum/lifting...p-54468/page2/
shoob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2012, 02:16 AM   #8
shoob
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Atl, GA
Posts: 103
Re: ? cut coils --> coils to inch ratio?

also, do you guys know the camber per inch ratio? like 3"= 4 degrees, etc.
shoob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2012, 03:29 AM   #9
KQQL IT
At the body shop.
 
KQQL IT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Land of fruits and nuts.
Posts: 5,254
Re: ? cut coils --> coils to inch ratio?

Ive seen flipped A arms on squares. It would help ive never done it though.
And typically 1 coil = 2" and i cut them with a chop saw.
Posted via Mobile Device
__________________
" That didnt make it any newer "
" Dont antique the equipment "
KQQL IT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2012, 03:54 AM   #10
bk2life
Account Suspended
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: phx, az
Posts: 868
Re: ? cut coils --> coils to inch ratio?

Quote:
Originally Posted by shoob View Post
also, does anyone do the flipped upper control arms on these trucks, like s-10's?
lol, haven’t heard of anyone tryin this since like 1990

Quote:
Originally Posted by shoob View Post
im dropping the 81' SWB 350/350. i have 2" spindles. i want to go lower and am not ready to buy drop springs yet
lowered coil springs are like $50 for the pair. Or get our yer’ sawzall and Z your frame. Or add air bags..?

Finally, all you have to do is pie cut the upper and your fine. You can lay a 24 with stock upper/lower control arms and spindles.
bk2life is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2012, 01:12 PM   #11
shoob
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Atl, GA
Posts: 103
Re: ? cut coils --> coils to inch ratio?

good to know, thanks for the input guys.

why not cut with a die grinder or ziz-wheel? what ive always used, just curious.


"pie-cut"? please explain.
shoob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2012, 06:17 PM   #12
LEEVON
Moderator
 
LEEVON's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Ozark, MO
Posts: 4,888
Re: ? cut coils --> coils to inch ratio?

Just cut one coil. You didn't say what rear drop but with 2" front spindles, a coil cut and a flip kit you'll be 4/5 to 4.5/6. Perfect static drop. Mark one coil on top, cut it, re-install...not a big deal.
__________________
'20 Silverado Trail Boss ~ '17 Tahoe ~ '79 K15 Sierra Grande ~ '76 Blazer 2wd ~ '71 Cheyenne swb ~ '55 Pontiac Safari ~'50 3100 bagged ~ '80 Wife ~ Late model kids
LEEVON is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2012, 10:18 PM   #13
KQQL IT
At the body shop.
 
KQQL IT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Land of fruits and nuts.
Posts: 5,254
Re: ? cut coils --> coils to inch ratio?

Chop saw wheels seem to cut spring steel with less drama.
Posted via Mobile Device
__________________
" That didnt make it any newer "
" Dont antique the equipment "
KQQL IT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-02-2012, 06:25 PM   #14
shoob
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Atl, GA
Posts: 103
Re: ? cut coils --> coils to inch ratio?

i ended up cutting 2.5 coils, flipping the rear, and removing the helper leaf. 2" spindles, hangers, and shackles, should put me were i want to be.

whats the drama about running drop spindles, and aftermarket lower control arms together?
shoob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-02-2012, 06:39 PM   #15
J Knight
Registered User
 
J Knight's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Baytown TX
Posts: 2,219
Re: ? cut coils --> coils to inch ratio?

Quote:
Originally Posted by shoob View Post
i ended up cutting 2.5 coils, flipping the rear, and removing the helper leaf. 2" spindles, hangers, and shackles, should put me were i want to be.

whats the drama about running drop spindles, and aftermarket lower control arms together?
If you cut 2.5 rounds off the stock springs your going to be dragging the lower control arms when you install a set of 2.5in spindles. I doubt you will have enough alignment bolt to set the camber and caster.
__________________
John
82 Chevy Silverado 350ci/TH350
J Knight is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-02-2012, 09:10 PM   #16
bdiamond
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Wichita Falls, Texas
Posts: 459
Re: ? cut coils --> coils to inch ratio?

Quote:
Originally Posted by shoob View Post

whats the drama about running drop spindles, and aftermarket lower control arms together?
If you use dropped arms and dropped spindles the spring bucket will most likely hit the ground.
bdiamond is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-03-2012, 01:56 PM   #17
JCampbell
Account Suspended
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Hesperia, Ca
Posts: 1,332
Re: ? cut coils --> coils to inch ratio?

Quote:
Originally Posted by shoob View Post
i ended up cutting 2.5 coils...
Whoa! Go big, or go home, eh?
JCampbell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-02-2012, 07:16 PM   #18
KQQL IT
At the body shop.
 
KQQL IT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Land of fruits and nuts.
Posts: 5,254
Re: ? cut coils --> coils to inch ratio?

Thats why you knock out the studs and use a 4" xgrade8 1/2" diameter bolt...
Posted via Mobile Device
__________________
" That didnt make it any newer "
" Dont antique the equipment "
KQQL IT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-02-2012, 07:37 PM   #19
J Knight
Registered User
 
J Knight's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Baytown TX
Posts: 2,219
Re: ? cut coils --> coils to inch ratio?

Quote:
Originally Posted by KQQL IT View Post
Thats why you knock out the studs and use a 4" xgrade8 1/2" diameter bolt...
Posted via Mobile Device
I did this in 1986. Its a pita IMO
__________________
John
82 Chevy Silverado 350ci/TH350

Last edited by J Knight; 12-02-2012 at 07:58 PM.
J Knight is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-02-2012, 08:08 PM   #20
KQQL IT
At the body shop.
 
KQQL IT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Land of fruits and nuts.
Posts: 5,254
Re: ? cut coils --> coils to inch ratio?

Not fun. But gets the camber and caster without spindles.
Posted via Mobile Device
__________________
" That didnt make it any newer "
" Dont antique the equipment "
KQQL IT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-02-2012, 08:24 PM   #21
Harney Boy
Registered User
 
Harney Boy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Geneva, FL
Posts: 78
Re: ? cut coils --> coils to inch ratio?

I have a 77 c20 swb. I just cut one coil and got 2 inches of drop. And removed 3 out of 9 leafs in the rear and got 2 inches out of that also. How far is your bump stop from your upper control arm right now?
Posted via Mobile Device
__________________
77' 3/4 Shortbed Stepside Silverado
Harney Boy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-02-2012, 08:25 PM   #22
sqzbox
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: ft.branch, in.
Posts: 36
Re: ? cut coils --> coils to inch ratio?

Chop cut reubild recomends 1/2 a coil at a time. You can cut more but you can't put it back. If you want it lower, then try cutting the other half.
sqzbox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-02-2012, 08:27 PM   #23
J Knight
Registered User
 
J Knight's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Baytown TX
Posts: 2,219
Re: ? cut coils --> coils to inch ratio?

Stull Industies used to have a kit for lowering a square that had 2 flip brackets and 2 shock extenders just like DJM makes now and it also came with 2 longer alignment bolts, not splined like they should be but off the shelf grade 8 bolts. It does work but a very crude way to do it by todays standards.
__________________
John
82 Chevy Silverado 350ci/TH350
J Knight is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-02-2012, 10:41 PM   #24
shoob
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Atl, GA
Posts: 103
Re: ? cut coils --> coils to inch ratio?

hmmm. any pictures of this? like and example of camber and caster adjustment.

as of right now my cross member and control arms are about 4-5" off the ground....i dont see where 2" spindles will lay the cross member on the ground.

care to enlighten me with some pics or examples? i mean, i am in no way doubting you guys, im just trying to get this c10 thing down, when it comes to dropping them.
shoob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-02-2012, 11:00 PM   #25
J Knight
Registered User
 
J Knight's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Baytown TX
Posts: 2,219
Re: ? cut coils --> coils to inch ratio?

Quote:
Originally Posted by shoob View Post
hmmm. any pictures of this? like and example of camber and caster adjustment.

as of right now my cross member and control arms are about 4-5" off the ground....i dont see where 2" spindles will lay the cross member on the ground.

care to enlighten me with some pics or examples? i mean, i am in no way doubting you guys, im just trying to get this c10 thing down, when it comes to dropping them.
Did you cut out your bumpstop mounts? Hear is a pic of the alignment studs. (I know the shims are crooked)
Attached Images
 
__________________
John
82 Chevy Silverado 350ci/TH350
J Knight is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:18 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com