Has anybody out there cut coils or heated them for a drop?

[50MOTORHEAD]

Which do you think is better,cutting coils or heating them for a cheap drop? Has anyone tried either? If so,how much? I am down to a bare frame so I can't apply heat and go til I am satisfied. I figure that if anyone has done it they could tell me how much coil to take off. Yea,,I know that this is not the best way to do this,but it is the cheapest. That's what I'm going for.Thanks-Keith

[b-rad]

tag

[big_al_71]

Have done it in the past cut one coil at first then go from there...dont like heating

[stllookn]

Cut the fronts and heated the rears (can't cut the rears due to the mounts)...been running them for about 5 yrs...no problems....except the stiff ride...LOL! Temporary since I am going to bags.

[50MOTORHEAD]

Originally Posted by stllookn

Cut the fronts and heated the rears (can't cut the rears due to the mounts)...been running them for about 5 yrs...no problems....except the stiff ride...LOL! Temporary since I am going to bags.

Do you remember how much you took off the fronts?-Thanks-Keith

[bobbo]

I took about one coil off of mine on the front and heated the rears until I got the stance I wanted.

[AlienYouth]

i cut 2 coils up front, 6in drop springs out back

[69c-10chevy]

my truck has heated coils all around, it's dropped i'd say a good 3 inches

[71swb4x4]

If I had a limited budget I would cut the front, and buy drop springs for the rear.

I had a truck that the PO had cut the front springs and heated the rears. The front was an uncomfortable ride, but nothing I couldn't stand. The rear was horrible.

You can't cut the rear coils, they have special ends used for mounting. Your best choices are heating or replacement. Do you plan to haul anything in your truck? Heating will kill the majority of your ability to haul a load.

[corn]

Ive done them both ways in the past. I prefer to cut them. Put a set of chevelle coils in the back & cut one coil in the front. Any more than that, would require getting the billfold out of the back pocket to be done correctly.

[yotaforce]

I cut the front and heated the rears as well. I cut two out front, loaded some cinder blocks in the bed and torched the rear. Heating the springs aren't really the best way to do it because it makes them more brittle, however, I have loaded the bed of my truck with dirt (to the rail with the tires about to pop), but never had a problem. I think it would be a real problem on girly little import springs, not the manly chevy springs we're running.

[bobbo]

I've loaded the crap out of mine with the heated springs and haven't had any problems. Of course it rode very rough and on the bump stops the whole time. Had a riding lawnmower, my 5.3L engine, engine hoist and push mower in the back.

[70GMCer]

Last year, me & 70c10 cut his fronts. PM him as I can't remember how much we cut off. Worked out good. I would not us heat, as you don't have control on the amount of heat used for each side.

[50MOTORHEAD]

Thanks guys. Lots of good information ,as usual. This gives me something to go by. -Keith

[c10addict]

When cutting I think 1 turn is equal to about one inch... I agree with others.. Cut the front and replace the rears.

[Gray Ghost]

If you want any ride quality at all do neither and buy a set of drop springs.
When I bought my truck some kiddo had cut all four and it rode like a buckboard.

If you heat them they lose their strength. I'd pas on both methods.

[MT71c-10]

I just cut the fronts on mine, 1 coil cut off will get you 2" - 2 1/2", depending on sag of coil. For the rear you can do a lowering block to get a few inches.

[lts70]

Cut the fronts and make some drop blocks for the rear out of some scrap tubing. We did that on my brothers truck and sometimes I think it rides better that my kit from CPP on my truck. I know it hauls loads better

[ed70]

Originally Posted by stllookn

Cut the fronts and heated the rears (can't cut the rears due to the mounts)...been running them for about 5 yrs...no problems....except the stiff ride...LOL! Temporary since I am going to bags.

how much drop did you do?

[PHAT TONY]

When you heat them, heat at the bottom-not in the middle; I dropped a long box about 3" all around this way and it rode fine; wheel align was still in spec too.

[ed70]

yea iv made that mistake on my impala and it crushed side ways.... u think you could have gone lower than 3inch? im looking for a cheap way to go 4/6 or so...i dont care to much on ride qaulity...

[PHAT TONY]

Spose you could go low as you want....I just wanted it to "settle" a bit.

[ed70]

i see what you mean... i just want that obviously lowered look... wont to be to hard considering mines a long bed and long and low is an easy look but still. i like the route u went with the ralleys... i cant decide between white wagons or ralleys... keeping it six lug tho

[dhaymaker]

Everybody has done it...it's just not a good idea. Unfortunately, sometimes it's a matter of the budget, but you still want to get the look without spending a bunch of money. I'm going to go along with stllookn's advice...if you are going this way, cut the fronts and heat the rears. If you can, try to get drop springs for the rear, it will help maintain a degree of ride quality. Cutting the fronts will give you the drop, although they will "stiffen" up and your ride quality will be affected.

[midniteblues]

Originally Posted by corn

Ive done them both ways in the past. I prefer to cut them. Put a set of chevelle coils in the back & cut one coil in the front. Any more than that, would require getting the billfold out of the back pocket to be done correctly.

I,ve been curious on the chevelle springs they look very similar but are thinner,how are these working for you?what kind of drop did you get from them,can you put anything in the bed weight wise?I have a new set that was bought for a 67 that Ive been holding on to just too try sometime is it worthwhile?anybody else try this?