Which is better???? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Charlie Coleman · 07-01-2003, 04:13 PM

Which is better?

A SWB 2wd Chevy chassis or a
SWB 2wd GMC chassis (coil vs. leaf springs)?

Is the traction better on one than the other?

Is one easier to lower (mild) than the other?

I've always been a 4x4 guy, but getting ready to build a street rod. Thanks for your opinions in advance!

**CPNE** · 07-01-2003, 04:17 PM

IMO, the only advantage to leafs is hauling capacity

Charlie Coleman · 07-01-2003, 04:21 PM

Jeff,
If I don't need to haul anything, would your opinion be to choose the coils over leafs?

**CPNE** · 07-01-2003, 04:23 PM

Yes, even if keeping it at stock height and definately yes if mildly lowering it.

Longhorn Man · 07-01-2003, 04:27 PM

The coils are way better IMO too. Good enough for the Bush cars on the NASCAR circuit...good enough for us.

**nightmare** · 07-01-2003, 04:32 PM

think of it like this. with the leafs, it is easier to have wheel hop because of the rear end torqueing the leafs up and down when trying to gain traction. with the coils, the trailering arms go half way up the truck, meaning that the rear end would have to try and lift the whole truck in order to get traction.

Longhorn Man · 07-01-2003, 04:39 PM

And those real long trailing arms are big 'ole honkin traction bars.

Huck · 07-01-2003, 05:41 PM

Classic Truck did a nice article on the two options in last months edition. The interesting thing is that the way the leaf verses coil handle do to the mounting position of the springs. Leafs mount outside the frame thus giving a more stable ride in turns whereas the coil mount inside the frame making it have a bit more sway in the turns. I have two trucks very similar except for the rear springs and the leaf truck is much more stable in turns and can handle loads better. The coil is a softer ride. Both have overloads. I did put wide ralleys on the coil which helped a lot but still not up to the leaf. For a street rod, I would tend to go with the coil as there is more you can do with it but as a work truck, you can't beat leafs. By the way, current production is all leafs.

Charlie Coleman · 07-01-2003, 05:52 PM

Thanks to you all for the input.

*Gee_Emm* · 07-01-2003, 06:47 PM

A GMC will not necessarily have leafs and a Chevy will not necessarily have coils.

I would go for coils.

70 CST 4X4 · 07-01-2003, 09:18 PM

Go for the coils. I have seen far more parts for the coil set up. ride nice too. (When- lowered, sway bars, ect)

tatters29 · 07-01-2003, 09:58 PM

guess what ..... nascar truck series use a very very close design to the coil and aframe set up we have on our older chev's hmmmm wonder how many of you nascar fans missed that point HEHE

07-01-2003, 04:13 PM	#1
Charlie Coleman Registered User Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Franktown, CO. USA Posts: 533	Which is better???? Which is better? A SWB 2wd Chevy chassis or a SWB 2wd GMC chassis (coil vs. leaf springs)? Is the traction better on one than the other? Is one easier to lower (mild) than the other? I've always been a 4x4 guy, but getting ready to build a street rod. Thanks for your opinions in advance!

07-01-2003, 04:17 PM	#2
CPNE Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: NH Posts: 6,664	IMO, the only advantage to leafs is hauling capacity __________________ Currently on or near the homestead: 67 Chevy SWB 2WD stepside 350/3 on tree (Pat's) 67 GMC SWB 2WD Fleet 402/auto (Brian's under construction) 67 Chevy 3/4 ton 2WD 402/auto (Business Hauler) 67 Chevy 1 ton dually 2WD 396/4 speed (Former business hauler, Needs TLC) 68 Chevy 1/2 ton Suburban 2WD 250 six/3 on tree (Brian's Needs TLC) 70 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD 350/4 speed (Pat's - Disguised as a 68 GMC) 71 Chevy SWB stepside (Crushed by tree - parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD (Parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD Suburban (Parts Donor) 72 GMC 3/4 ton 4WD 292 six/4 speed (Mine - Disguised as a 67 GMC) 81 GMC 4WD Dually Dump Body 350/4 speed (Business Hauler) 82 Camaro Z/28 355/Super T-10 (Pat's toy) 93 Caprice 9C1 (Brian's Cop Car) 02 Toyota Camry (Reliable but a souless steel and plastic hulk) 2011 2SS RS Camaro M6 Factory Hurst Shifter Maybe I need to sell some of this crap Yet another Bozo with a sawz-all

07-01-2003, 04:23 PM	#4
CPNE Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: NH Posts: 6,664	Yes, even if keeping it at stock height and definately yes if mildly lowering it. __________________ Currently on or near the homestead: 67 Chevy SWB 2WD stepside 350/3 on tree (Pat's) 67 GMC SWB 2WD Fleet 402/auto (Brian's under construction) 67 Chevy 3/4 ton 2WD 402/auto (Business Hauler) 67 Chevy 1 ton dually 2WD 396/4 speed (Former business hauler, Needs TLC) 68 Chevy 1/2 ton Suburban 2WD 250 six/3 on tree (Brian's Needs TLC) 70 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD 350/4 speed (Pat's - Disguised as a 68 GMC) 71 Chevy SWB stepside (Crushed by tree - parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD (Parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD Suburban (Parts Donor) 72 GMC 3/4 ton 4WD 292 six/4 speed (Mine - Disguised as a 67 GMC) 81 GMC 4WD Dually Dump Body 350/4 speed (Business Hauler) 82 Camaro Z/28 355/Super T-10 (Pat's toy) 93 Caprice 9C1 (Brian's Cop Car) 02 Toyota Camry (Reliable but a souless steel and plastic hulk) 2011 2SS RS Camaro M6 Factory Hurst Shifter Maybe I need to sell some of this crap Yet another Bozo with a sawz-all

07-01-2003, 09:18 PM	#11
70 CST 4X4 Have A Nice Day! Join Date: May 2003 Location: California Posts: 356	Go for the coils. I have seen far more parts for the coil set up. ride nice too. (When- lowered, sway bars, ect) __________________ 1970 CST K10 350/350/205 Short Bed - Fleetside Tach-Tilt-A/C-Tow Hooks Front & Rear Disc Brakes Front & Rear Posi 3.73 Gears 30 Gallon Stainless Fuel Tank SOLD 01/18 !!!!! 2007 2500 HD Classic Crew Cab LT2 4X4 Duramax LBZ

07-01-2003, 09:58 PM	#12
tatters29 Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Illinios Posts: 27	guess what ..... nascar truck series use a very very close design to the coil and aframe set up we have on our older chev's hmmmm wonder how many of you nascar fans missed that point HEHE __________________ http://www.lk3000.com/madura/pics/emblem_gold.jpg

07-01-2003, 04:21 PM	#3
Charlie Coleman Registered User Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Franktown, CO. USA Posts: 533	Jeff, If I don't need to haul anything, would your opinion be to choose the coils over leafs?

07-01-2003, 04:27 PM	#5
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	The coils are way better IMO too. Good enough for the Bush cars on the NASCAR circuit...good enough for us.

07-01-2003, 04:39 PM	#7
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	And those real long trailing arms are big 'ole honkin traction bars.

07-01-2003, 05:41 PM	#8
Huck Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Shelbyville, KY Posts: 3,269	Classic Truck did a nice article on the two options in last months edition. The interesting thing is that the way the leaf verses coil handle do to the mounting position of the springs. Leafs mount outside the frame thus giving a more stable ride in turns whereas the coil mount inside the frame making it have a bit more sway in the turns. I have two trucks very similar except for the rear springs and the leaf truck is much more stable in turns and can handle loads better. The coil is a softer ride. Both have overloads. I did put wide ralleys on the coil which helped a lot but still not up to the leaf. For a street rod, I would tend to go with the coil as there is more you can do with it but as a work truck, you can't beat leafs. By the way, current production is all leafs.

07-01-2003, 05:52 PM	#9
Charlie Coleman Registered User Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Franktown, CO. USA Posts: 533	Thanks to you all for the input.

07-01-2003, 06:47 PM	#10
Gee_Emm Account Suspended Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,002	A GMC will not necessarily have leafs and a Chevy will not necessarily have coils. I would go for coils.



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