Lowering Help / Questions - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

cetek · 05-08-2002, 09:36 PM

I have a 72' GMC Shorty with a fleet side. I want to lower the truck, but retain towability for our 22' boat, so I'd like to go with an air ride suspension in the rear.
(Note: truck has stock leaf springs in the rear).
Can anyone give advice:
1. Lowered springs or drop spindles for the front - which is better?
2. Has anyone had any experience with air systems on the rear - what vendor? I know of Early Classics and Air Ride, but I don't know which vendor is better.
3. How hard is an air ride install?

Thanks -
Ed

Longhorn Man · 05-08-2002, 10:02 PM

I can only answer #1.
It all depends. IF you are going 2 inches down, you can use just springs. If you wanna go more than 2, you better get either spindles, or a combo of spindles and springs.
If you do more than 2 inches on just springs, it'll mess up your geomitry and you'll get nasty sie effacts like bump steer.

------------------
'69 G.M.C. 350/350. Trying to clean up the left over damage from the Dope-Smokin-Old-Man
I've been dubbed the Longhorn Freak/Fanatic/Expert, I just hope I can live up to it.
FINALLY got the HORNIAC...a '70 one ton Longhorn with a Pontiac 350/350 and lots of 'personality'. Check out The Longhorn Webite.
If you need a pic posted, E-mail me at longhornmail@yahoo.com
My name is Andy...not Randy...I'm in Ohio...Not Illinois...close enough?
Columbus Ohio

Low69CST · 05-08-2002, 10:15 PM

I would go with spindles on the front. It will help you retain some of your ride quality. Also, Early Classic has an Air Ride installation article on their website. I considered putting that on the back of my truck, but I decided not to because of $ and time reasons. Also, call up air ride technologies. I think you can pretty much just buy a pair of bags from them that will bolt up to the back of your truck. I spent alot of time looking up this info when I was thinking about it. The good thing about going through Air Ride Technologies is you can actually look at the load capacity of each bag and match it up to your needs.

------------------
'69 CST Short fleetside
Lowered, 400 small block, 700R4, 3" dual exhaust, 40 series Flowmasters, 4 wheel disc brakes, all stainless hard and flex lines, front & rear sway bars, Dana 9 1/4" rear end 4.11's w/Detroit Locker, soon to have 18" rims
Not my daily driver. More like my weekend A$$ KICKER.
See my truck at: http://www.geocities.com/low69cst/
Future Automotive Engineer attending the University of Kentucky.
Feel free to message me on AOL, SN- SS95ZQ8
My Dad's projects:
72 Short Fleet 4x4 Chyenne Super
72 Long Fleet 4x4 Chyenne Super
Both 350 autos restored original

SCOTI · 05-09-2002, 06:46 AM

Air ride should have a set-up for 73 up leafs that you can make work w/67-72 trucks. Definitely go w/drop spindles up front & you won't compromise ride quality at all. My 68 is lowered 5/7 & I tow a 18' car hauler on occasion w/air bags in place of the coils on my swb.

Number98 · 05-09-2002, 08:38 AM

Air Ride Technologies makes a "Bolt ON" kit specifically for 67-72 trucks.
http://ridetech.com

Jason

------------------
1971 C-10 shortbed fleetside with a/c and big block currently in ground-up resto process.

SCOTI · 05-09-2002, 10:20 AM

That 'bolt-on' kit I believe is for coil spring applications. To my knowledge I haven't seen a kit for 67-72 leaf applications in any of their catalogs but it shouldn't be too much trouble adapting later model kits to fit/work properly.

cetek · 05-09-2002, 10:43 AM

Thanks for all the response and help. It looks like I'll go the 2" drop spindle route up front to begin with along with Air Ride bags in the back - (I've noticed that they're much more affordable...)

I should be starting this project next weekend.

05-08-2002, 10:15 PM	#3
Low69CST Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA Posts: 2,163	I would go with spindles on the front. It will help you retain some of your ride quality. Also, Early Classic has an Air Ride installation article on their website. I considered putting that on the back of my truck, but I decided not to because of $ and time reasons. Also, call up air ride technologies. I think you can pretty much just buy a pair of bags from them that will bolt up to the back of your truck. I spent alot of time looking up this info when I was thinking about it. The good thing about going through Air Ride Technologies is you can actually look at the load capacity of each bag and match it up to your needs. ------------------ '69 CST Short fleetside Lowered, 400 small block, 700R4, 3" dual exhaust, 40 series Flowmasters, 4 wheel disc brakes, all stainless hard and flex lines, front & rear sway bars, Dana 9 1/4" rear end 4.11's w/Detroit Locker, soon to have 18" rims Not my daily driver. More like my weekend A$$ KICKER. See my truck at: http://www.geocities.com/low69cst/ Future Automotive Engineer attending the University of Kentucky. Feel free to message me on AOL, SN- SS95ZQ8 My Dad's projects: 72 Short Fleet 4x4 Chyenne Super 72 Long Fleet 4x4 Chyenne Super Both 350 autos restored original __________________ '69 CST Short fleetside Lowered, 400 small block, 700R4, 4 wheel disc brakes, front sway bar & rear camaro sway bar (in progress) '87 V10 4x4 Short Fleetside Quad Suspension and Dual Tanks

05-09-2002, 06:46 AM	#4
SCOTI Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: DALLAS,TX Posts: 22,031	Air ride should have a set-up for 73 up leafs that you can make work w/67-72 trucks. Definitely go w/drop spindles up front & you won't compromise ride quality at all. My 68 is lowered 5/7 & I tow a 18' car hauler on occasion w/air bags in place of the coils on my swb. __________________ 67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... *Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.*

05-09-2002, 10:20 AM	#6
SCOTI Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: DALLAS,TX Posts: 22,031	That 'bolt-on' kit I believe is for coil spring applications. To my knowledge I haven't seen a kit for 67-72 leaf applications in any of their catalogs but it shouldn't be too much trouble adapting later model kits to fit/work properly. __________________ 67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... *Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.*

05-09-2002, 10:43 AM	#7
cetek Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Denver, CO USA Posts: 14	Thanks for all the response and help. It looks like I'll go the 2" drop spindle route up front to begin with along with Air Ride bags in the back - (I've noticed that they're much more affordable...) I should be starting this project next weekend. __________________ 72 GMC SWB-In progress 67 Camaro Conv (next project) -Cetek

05-08-2002, 09:36 PM	#1
cetek Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Denver, CO USA Posts: 14	Lowering Help / Questions I have a 72' GMC Shorty with a fleet side. I want to lower the truck, but retain towability for our 22' boat, so I'd like to go with an air ride suspension in the rear. (Note: truck has stock leaf springs in the rear). Can anyone give advice: 1. Lowered springs or drop spindles for the front - which is better? 2. Has anyone had any experience with air systems on the rear - what vendor? I know of Early Classics and Air Ride, but I don't know which vendor is better. 3. How hard is an air ride install? Thanks - Ed __________________ 72 GMC SWB-In progress 67 Camaro Conv (next project) -Cetek

05-08-2002, 10:02 PM	#2
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	I can only answer #1. It all depends. IF you are going 2 inches down, you can use just springs. If you wanna go more than 2, you better get either spindles, or a combo of spindles and springs. If you do more than 2 inches on just springs, it'll mess up your geomitry and you'll get nasty sie effacts like bump steer. ------------------ '69 G.M.C. 350/350. Trying to clean up the left over damage from the Dope-Smokin-Old-Man I've been dubbed the Longhorn Freak/Fanatic/Expert, I just hope I can live up to it. FINALLY got the HORNIAC...a '70 one ton Longhorn with a Pontiac 350/350 and lots of 'personality'. Check out The Longhorn Webite. If you need a pic posted, E-mail me at longhornmail@yahoo.com My name is Andy...not Randy...I'm in Ohio...Not Illinois...close enough? Columbus Ohio

05-09-2002, 08:38 AM	#5
Number98 Prestige Worldwide Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Worldwide Posts: 2,553	Air Ride Technologies makes a "Bolt ON" kit specifically for 67-72 trucks. http://ridetech.com Jason ------------------ 1971 C-10 shortbed fleetside with a/c and big block currently in ground-up resto process.



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