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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Gainesville, TX
Posts: 144
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'79 GMC frontend drop help
Hey everyone, I could use a little help / info dropping the front end of my '79 GMC. The truck had been dropped some before I purchased it, but the guy I bought it from had no info on what methods had been used... I'm guessing maybe different springs. I'm thinking that the spindles on the truck are the originals. I'm not wanting to go much lower for now, just wanting the tops of the tires slightly tucked. I've attached pics of the frontend, springs/spindles and a pic of the way the truck sits now. If you can tell... do you think that these are the stock spindles? If so, new dropped spindles are probably going to be the route I'm going for the extra drop. Let me know your thoughts... Thanks!
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Thibodaux, LA
Posts: 479
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Re: '79 GMC frontend drop help
you have stock spindles and aftermarket drop springs. The spings look like the drop spings I have in my truck now. Deff go with spindels that is the route im going too.
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"Buckle up I wanna try somethin!!" "of course it will hold!, I welded it!" 1977 c10 under knife for full rebuild, 5.3l 4l60e drive rain swap, replacement frame and green repaint |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Denver Co
Posts: 36
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Re: '79 GMC frontend drop help
Yep, what he said. ^^^^^
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79 C10 Stepside, on 22's, 350, AFR 2.02 Heads, Victor Jr, Holley 770 Ultra, 12 bolt 3:73, 700r4... |
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#4 |
Slots go on anything!
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Richardson, TX
Posts: 5,957
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Re: '79 GMC frontend drop help
Most aftermarket spindles will have a name cast into them. Judging from the fender height, I would say they are stock spindles. While you have the tire off, measure the rotor width. You will need to know if they are HD (1.25) or light duty (1") rotors.
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1974 Jimmy- 5.3/4L80e/NP241 |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Baytown TX
Posts: 2,219
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Re: '79 GMC frontend drop help
Looks to me you got 2.5 spindles and stock springs. At that ride height you would be riding the bumpstop pads if those were stock spindles.
Note The bent brake line to clear the spindle. How low the control arm is relative to the dust cover. Stock spindle shaft is closer to bottom ball joint mount hole. Posted via Mobile Device
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John 82 Chevy Silverado 350ci/TH350 ![]() Last edited by J Knight; 09-20-2011 at 01:46 PM. |
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#6 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Thibodaux, LA
Posts: 479
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Re: '79 GMC frontend drop help
Quote:
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"Buckle up I wanna try somethin!!" "of course it will hold!, I welded it!" 1977 c10 under knife for full rebuild, 5.3l 4l60e drive rain swap, replacement frame and green repaint |
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#7 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Gainesville, TX
Posts: 144
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Re: '79 GMC frontend drop help
Quote:
Thanks for all the input so far everyone! |
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#8 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Baytown TX
Posts: 2,219
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Re: '79 GMC frontend drop help
Quote:
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John 82 Chevy Silverado 350ci/TH350 ![]() |
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#9 |
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Baytown TX
Posts: 2,219
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Re: '79 GMC frontend drop help
I couldnt see it earlier on my phone but yes it looks ground down to clear 15in wheels.
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John 82 Chevy Silverado 350ci/TH350 ![]() |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Gainesville, TX
Posts: 144
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Re: '79 GMC frontend drop help
I hope to get the wheels/tires back on the truck later this afternoon... Then I'll re-check the clearance to see how much it changes. I'm also gonna snap several different pics (different angles) on the spindles first before i mount everything back up. I'll get back with everyone later... Thanks again for the help!
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Thibodaux, LA
Posts: 479
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Re: '79 GMC frontend drop help
if you get a chance try and clean them up as best you can. see if there is a stamped name on them from a company
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"Buckle up I wanna try somethin!!" "of course it will hold!, I welded it!" 1977 c10 under knife for full rebuild, 5.3l 4l60e drive rain swap, replacement frame and green repaint |
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#12 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Baytown TX
Posts: 2,219
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Re: '79 GMC frontend drop help
Quote:
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John 82 Chevy Silverado 350ci/TH350 ![]() |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Baytown TX
Posts: 2,219
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Re: '79 GMC frontend drop help
The spindle on the left is stock.
The spindle on the right is a McGaughys 2.5 drop. BTW the casting for McGaughys is behind the rotor, nothing on the backside.
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John 82 Chevy Silverado 350ci/TH350 ![]() |
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Sonora California
Posts: 860
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Re: '79 GMC frontend drop help
Looks like they lowered it correctly Leave it alone.
Let's see how the back was done. And do I see 15x10 rally wheels in back? |
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#15 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Gainesville, TX
Posts: 144
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Re: '79 GMC frontend drop help
Quote:
Well I didn't have much time this afternoon to work on the truck but I did get some better pics of the spindles. Based on the pics you posted of your stock & dropped spindles I'm feeling pretty confident that I've got dropped spindles on my truck. Check out the pics below and see what you think. ![]() ![]() |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Gainesville, TX
Posts: 144
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Re: '79 GMC frontend drop help
Thanks, but I'm not looking to drop the front much more... I just need the nose down a bit more to get the rod / rake look. The rear was dropped by way of a flipped axle, and yes.. those are my new 15x10 rallys with BFG 295/50's on the rear.
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#17 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Baytown TX
Posts: 2,219
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Re: '79 GMC frontend drop help
Quote:
Posted via Mobile Device
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John 82 Chevy Silverado 350ci/TH350 ![]() |
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Gainesville, TX
Posts: 144
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Re: '79 GMC frontend drop help
Alrighty... finally got a chance to get the wheels back on and the truck on the ground. Under the trucks weight there's about 1.75"-2" of clearance between the top of the rubber bumpstop and the spingtower. I've included a couple pics below. It's hard to see the spring tower because its hiding behind the tie rod but hopefully you can see enough.
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Baytown TX
Posts: 2,219
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Re: '79 GMC frontend drop help
Looks to me you have stock springs and drop spindles only. A 2in drop spring would put the tip of the pad within a 1/4 in from the spring tower. Thats about the normal clearance. If It was lowered any with a drop spring with the pad in place it would hit more often and start to flatten out and crack. At the very most you could have a 1in drop sping.
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John 82 Chevy Silverado 350ci/TH350 ![]() Last edited by J Knight; 09-21-2011 at 07:27 PM. |
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#20 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Gainesville, TX
Posts: 144
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Re: '79 GMC frontend drop help
Quote:
Thanks again to everyone for their input! Posted via Mobile Device |
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#21 |
6.0 powered square
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mesquite texas
Posts: 3,459
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Re: '79 GMC frontend drop help
you could also cut the coil one revolution off the coil cut equals 2" off drop, If you already have some kind of cutting tool all it will take is R&R time for the coils
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Aaron 1980 c-10 short bed lowered, cammed 6.0, 4l80e 3600 stall, smp tune, wilwoods, and flames best time so far best et 7.86 @87 on motor 7.57 90 on a 75 shot Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=283326 |
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#22 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Baytown TX
Posts: 2,219
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Re: '79 GMC frontend drop help
Quote:
Posted via Mobile Device
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John 82 Chevy Silverado 350ci/TH350 ![]() |
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#23 |
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Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 39,023
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Re: '79 GMC frontend drop help
Its hard to tell from the pics if thats an aftermarket spring. Stock springs arent painted, but the PO could have done that when he installed the spindles.
If you need it lower, I would cut half a coil and see what you get.
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#24 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Gainesville, TX
Posts: 144
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Re: '79 GMC frontend drop help
I'm thinking I'm probably going to cut the springs I have and see what I come up with... if I'm not happy with it, then I can buy new springs. Now all I've got to do is find time to pull the springs and get to cutting! Thanks for the info!
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#25 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Thibodaux, LA
Posts: 479
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Re: '79 GMC frontend drop help
if you cut the springs do it in a bucket of water. That will help displace the heat a the coil should retain its structural integrety.
__________________
"Buckle up I wanna try somethin!!" "of course it will hold!, I welded it!" 1977 c10 under knife for full rebuild, 5.3l 4l60e drive rain swap, replacement frame and green repaint |
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