lowering my truck

[my67C10]

i would like to lower the front about 4 inches and the back around 5 what would be the best way to do this. my girlfriends dad said i should just heat the springs till it sits where i want the truck to sit... what do all of you think i should do.

[LockDoc]

I would cut a coil off before I would heat them.
Or buy the shorter springs and replace them.

Just my 2¢ worth

LockDoc

[gouldie]

i'd say drop spindles and new springs

[BowTieOgre]

Drop spindles = $250
Springs and shocks all around = $350
Cutting your existing springs = $0

I guess it all depends on your budget. Dont forget that when you lower your ride that much you might want to consider getting a new panhard bar and some shock mount relocators. Thats another $150 or so. I went the $$$ way.

Edit: Ive heard that if you are lowering any more than 2" you better use drop spindles or your handling is going to go down faster than a $2 ho.

[jimmydean]

drop spindles and new springs, shock relocators and new shocks all around, new panhard bar and you may even look at notching the frame with a 5" drop.

Many online shops have a 3/5 drop kit for about $700. I would say that's the most cost effective way to go about it. New sprins make a huge difference in ride quality, even if you think your existing springs seem to be ok.

[rodstored-72]

i have 2.5 spindles & 2" springs in the front with 5" springs in the rear. i only modified the carrier bearing opening (more) as far as mods. go. i would not recommend the heat spring method! i would only do the cut spring method if you have done it before. for the money it is worth it to me. you get new components & you basically have it apart already. i am usually on the side of caution. you can cut the money down by looking for sales (xmas is right around the corner) & maybe fleabay...

good luck!!
rodstored-72

[panhandler62]

Every time I have tried to take a cheap shortcut on my projects it has ended up costing me more in time, $$ and heartache than doing it correctly in the first place would have.

Maybe that problem really lies with my own brand of Southern Engineering, but I strongly recommend a considered, planned approach using quality parts that are properly matched when rebuilding a suspension.

Getting the look you want for free instead of $700 won't actualy save you anything when a de-tempered spring binds and puts your truck into a ditch.

[my67C10]

[QUOTE=Getting the look you want for free instead of $700 won't actualy save you anything when a de-tempered spring binds and puts your truck into a ditch.[/QUOTE] that was my concern on heating the springs. but my girlfriend's dad says "all you got to do is stick jack stands 3 inches under the bumper, heat the same coil up on both sides and let it drop to the jack stands, let it cool for 2 days and it will be fine." i told him that i would rather buy a lowering kit than heating the springs up and messing with the tempering of the spring. if you heat the springs up intel they are red hot and able to be bend wont it turn the spring metal into regular steel? and snap when you hit a big bump/dip? i would like to get disk brakes in all four corners, can i get the spindles off a 68 or 69 for the front? and if so can i get a lowering spindle for the 68/69?

[gouldie]

i know you can get a disk brake conversion with drop spindles included. i've seen them at early classic enterprise and year one i'm sure more companies have them.

[my67C10]

awesome thanks!

[my67C10]

well i am looking through Early Classic and i have found 2 1/2" drop spindles/disk brake conversion kit for $899, and a 2/4" inch lowering springs for $359. how bad will the lowering spring effect my camber?

[pharcyde05]

also by heating the spring you will lose the most amount of ride geting a set of sprins would be the cheapest way to go without cutting or heating we ust put a set in this truck

[biglou55]

Check the board vendors I think they are a lot cheaper than ece.

[sick69]

just my .02 but i've been told by many people (both rodders and circle track racers) that heating the springs makes them brittle and weak so i've always ran from that idea even if it is wrong I never wanted to take the chance

[N2TRUX]

Fortunately for you my67C10 you have this forum to listen to and you are not paying attention to your girlfriends Dad. DO NOT EVER heat coil springs to lower your truck. It will soften the tempering and they will sag until the become useless. As mentioned above there is a possibility they could collapse causing spring bind.

You can safely cut one coil from your stock springs if done correctly. The key to doing this correctly is not heating the spring while cutting. This can be done in many ways. You can use a cut off wheel in a high speed grinder, a Sawzall, or even a hacksaw. I have put tile blades in a circular saw as well.

If you have no other option and you need to use a plasma cutter or torch, you can set the spring in a bucket of water leaving the area you need to cut right above the surface. If you cut it quickly the water will prevent the rest of the spring from heating.