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Old 06-03-2019, 10:43 AM   #1
HeavyHauler
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Anyone cut coil springs on 67-72 truck? How much cut and how much drop happened?

I am thinking about cutting front and rear coil springs on my 1968 chevy shortbed fleetside. Has anybody here done this? HOw much did you cut and how much did it drop? Did you notice a big difference in ride quality?
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Old 06-03-2019, 12:06 PM   #2
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Re: Anyone cut coil springs on 67-72 truck? How much cut and how much drop happened?

One coil from front equals 2-2.5" drop. Rear coils should not be cut (i used to say they couldn't be, but since then I have seen some really sketchy stuff) . As cheap as coils springs are I'd just buy some.
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Old 06-03-2019, 12:18 PM   #3
68 P.O.S.
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Re: Anyone cut coil springs on 67-72 truck? How much cut and how much drop happened?

I wouldn't cut them either. I'd do it correctly from the start.
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Old 06-03-2019, 12:41 PM   #4
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Re: Anyone cut coil springs on 67-72 truck? How much cut and how much drop happened?

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I'd do it correctly from the start.
That would consist of what? I'm not being a smarta** - I'm trying to learn. Still trying to figure out how to drop my '71.
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Old 06-03-2019, 12:46 PM   #5
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Re: Anyone cut coil springs on 67-72 truck? How much cut and how much drop happened?

Yep, one full coil equals about 2"...
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Old 06-03-2019, 01:03 PM   #6
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Re: Anyone cut coil springs on 67-72 truck? How much cut and how much drop happened?

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That would consist of what? I'm not being a smarta** - I'm trying to learn. Still trying to figure out how to drop my '71.
Rear coils can be purchased from a lot of different companies for $100 in any drop amount you want (mostly). To do this effectively over 3" or so, you will need shock relocators and an adjustable panhard bar. 6" and up generally need a c-notch added.
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Old 06-03-2019, 01:14 PM   #7
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Re: Anyone cut coil springs on 67-72 truck? How much cut and how much drop happened?

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Rear coils can be purchased from a lot of different companies for $100 in any drop amount you want (mostly). To do this effectively over 3" or so, you will need shock relocators and an adjustable panhard bar. 6" and up generally need a c-notch added.
^^^This. Get new coils of whatever drop you want so you don't mess up the performance of the spring by cutting or heating them.
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Old 06-03-2019, 01:58 PM   #8
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Re: Anyone cut coil springs on 67-72 truck? How much cut and how much drop happened?

One thing I learned about this the hard way. Old springs sag over time. I had 2.5" drop spindles but wanted another inch in the front. I bought 1 inch lowering springs, installed them only to find the front was now an inch higher not a inch lower. I ended up cutting a half coil to get the one inch I was looking for. No change to ride quality. So if you buy new springs make sure what you get will really give you the drop you want.
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Old 06-03-2019, 02:01 PM   #9
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Re: Anyone cut coil springs on 67-72 truck? How much cut and how much drop happened?

Id be looking at craigslist for some springs first.
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Old 06-03-2019, 05:20 PM   #10
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Re: Anyone cut coil springs on 67-72 truck? How much cut and how much drop happened?

I dropped mine 4.5 front and 6 in the rear. You can check out the parts, process and results here: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=612794

I know some people cut springs, but like people said, new drop coils are cheap.
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Old 06-04-2019, 02:20 PM   #11
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Re: Anyone cut coil springs on 67-72 truck? How much cut and how much drop happened?

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I dropped mine 4.5 front and 6 in the rear. You can check out the parts, process and results here: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=612794

I know some people cut springs, but like people said, new drop coils are cheap.
Whoa!!! You have a very nice truck. I want to duplicate what you did on my 1968 Chevy C10 shortfleet. Thanks for link to the thread!!!
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Old 06-04-2019, 08:47 PM   #12
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Re: Anyone cut coil springs on 67-72 truck? How much cut and how much drop happened?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHPosx2oStU

this is what i used and it is darn near as precise as you can get helped me out a lot dialing mine in
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Old 06-04-2019, 09:05 PM   #13
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Re: Anyone cut coil springs on 67-72 truck? How much cut and how much drop happened?

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Whoa!!! You have a very nice truck. I want to duplicate what you did on my 1968 Chevy C10 shortfleet. Thanks for link to the thread!!!
That is a good target. But it requires you to convert to disc brakes and use 2 1/2" drop spindles. I highly recommend the disc conversion for a truck you want to drive.

I dropped my 69 4 1/2" in the front and 7" in the rear. I used the conversion disc spindles from Early Classic Enterprises and a 2" drop spring. The rear of my truck is leaf and flipped with a DJM kit.

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Old 06-05-2019, 04:51 AM   #14
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Re: Anyone cut coil springs on 67-72 truck? How much cut and how much drop happened?

Sweet truck mike c! It just looks right!

Oh and don’t cut your coils guys! Do yourself a favor and buy lowered springs!

Last edited by Ganty101; 06-05-2019 at 05:11 AM.
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