Lowering a '69 leaf spring C10

[Tquillen]

I have looked for information on leaf setups on the 67-72 trucks, and how they compare to the later squarebody trucks, without a whole lot of success, so here is a question for those in the know:

I'm in the process of doing a mild (2"/2.5") drop on my LWB C10. This one has leafs instead of trailing arms. While looking at the prospects for doing a simple leaf shackle install, I noticed that there is not much room between the rear leaf spring eye and the bed floor crossmember that runs above it. In all, there is maybe 1.75-2" clearance. In order to achieve a 2.5" drop, my math says that I'm going to need to raise the rear spring eye mount around 4-5" or so, or drop both the front and rear spring eyes by 2.5". Is this correct? I can notch the bed floor crossmember if I need to, I'm just looking for the best way to get there from here. I am planning on doing some light (less than 5000 lb) towing, so I really would like to keep the leaf spring setup. I am also planning on installing airbag spring helpers/levelers for use while towing. If I do this, can I eliminate the bottom leaf to help drop it some? Will this hurt ride quality? When not towing, I'll use this truck as a driver. Not a drag truck, not a pro touring ride. So a nice, comfortable ride would be nice (I know leafs give up a little in this department).

Thoughts?

[Tquillen]

To add: This truck has four leaves only. No overload. Which compounds the issue, and makes some of the other advice I have seen/heard (eliminating the overload) not applicable.

[mitchell72]

I used some extended shackles from an online speed shop. It lowered the truck nicely (i can't specify numbers) but when i put the bed back on the ears rubbed the floor. You may need to trim the ears.

I would go this route because it is cheapest. Measure twice.

[Mike C]

Early Classic has shackles for the narrower 1 3/4" springs the 2 wheel drive 67-72 trucks have. But as you can see, 1 1/2" is about all you can get from a shackle.

I did a DJM flip on my 69 short step and it lowered the rear 7 1/4" which is exactly what I was looking for. If you want anything in between, the correct answer is to buy leaf springs with that much drop.

2 1/2" in the front would go good with a 4" in the rear. I did ECE spindles and disc conversion with 2" springs in the front for a 4 1/2"/7" drop on my truck and I am super pleased with how it all came out. But you are getting really close to the bumpstomps all the way around at that point.

[Tquillen]

Thanks for the suggestions. After sleeping on it, I think my plan is to do the front first (CPP modular 2" drop spindles), measure the wheel well heights, and then drop the rear accordingly. I want the truck to be fairly level, maybe a tick higher in the back. Right now , the rear is about 1/2" higher. I'm thinking that I'll end up with a drop spring in the back and add blocks back to get to my desired ride height, and use the blocks to fix any pinion angle irregularities that come up.

[Mike C]

I like the back up just a bit as well. Here is a pic of my truck with the 4.5" front 7" rear.

[Tquillen]

Great looking truck! That's a fair bit lower than what I want for my truck. Interestingly, my truck has 2.25 inch leaf springs.

[72MARIO]

2.25 is standard 1/2 and 3/4 ton width. Using a longer shackle on a wood floor tends to cause interference with the bed floor. years ago ECE had custom spring pack to lower the ride height. If I was to do it aging a trailing arm swap would be the route I go..