lowering 62 with torsion bars

[s11sean11]

I'm building my first truck with my dad and I want to know if anyone has experience with lowering torsion bar suspension?

[markeb01]

From the various threads I’ve read on the subject, you should soak the adjuster bolts with something like PB Blaster so they don’t strip, jack up the front of the truck to unload the some of the tension on the T-Bars, and slowly work the bolt back and forth until it moves easily. Then unscrew the bolt until the front end settles where you want.

Be careful – as you unwind the tension the adjuster arms angle further down toward the road. Too low and can become a road hazard.

And welcome to the forum! Good luck on the project. If you need photos of the adjuster bolts just advise and I'll post the section out of the Service Manual.

[PAPA KENT]

mark is correct,if your are like mine there's been enough oil dripping off the engine or transmission to oil soak the adjusting bolts,if you are using a 1/2 drive impact gun you will have to hold the upper (square) nuts on the other end of the adjusting bolts,be sure to bring down both bolts the same number of turns so you drop the front end evenly and if you dont use a air impact drop the truck several times so you dont go to far,they are of course very hard to crank up manually.

good luck!

[forestb]

When lowering if you lift the truck completely off the ground to lower it make sure you drive the truck around a little afterwords. I takes a little while for the torsion bars to settle. It might be lower than you think. Also it is completely doable with a socket wrench it just takes a lot more strength and keep an eye on the nuts on the other side they tend to turn sometimes. Make sure you count how many time you turn it and you might want to check what the height of the truck is now so that when you lower it you know how much you lowered it.

[s11sean11]

thanks for the help

[LostMy65]

I did it with my 65 on a 62 frame

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[s11sean11]

how do I post pictures from my pictures in my computer its not working i wanted to post some pictures of it?

[61_FL_Apache]

I did this with my 61 and it works great. You do have to watch out for the bolts being low to the road and if you dont have bumpstops in place, at least install some thin ones so you have something to bang on.

I do have future plans to bag the front of my truck and I can remove the T bars.

[logan6437]

does this work with all years or just the early years, and how much lowering can you get from just doing this

[61_FL_Apache]

All years with tortions, I think its 60-63.

You can get a couple of inches of drop leaving some suspension travel, or ride on the bumpstops and get more, but then you will need some dental work for the loose teeth

[logan6437]

damn yeah i have a 64 and 66 so im out, i love having lowered vehicles everything except my c10's have been lowered kinda dissapointing

[s11sean11]

yes me to i would like to bag and drop it right down but im still in school and dont have the money for now. I would like to drop it as mush as possible without having problems with the police.

[**grumpy**]

Heres my old 60 with lowered torsion bolts. sat nice but as was stated, the bolts hung low...

and my buddys 62 but he took his torsion bolts out and indexed them, so he got the drop, but the bolts dont hang nearly as low.
But this isnt a mod everyone is capable of..

[s11sean11]

[ATTACH][ATTACH][ATTACH][/ATTACH][/ATTACH][/ATTACH]
Here is some pictures of were doing the body work at the moment almost ready for paint

[61_FL_Apache]

Your truck is lookin good!!

[s11sean11]

thanks it looks better now I'm painting it Flat red

[tooslo60]

Torsion bars were used from 60-62. Here's my 60.It rides a 1/2 inch from the bump stops.

[62 Longbed]

Heres a picture of my 62 w/60 grill ... Still rides nice but have to watch the driveways before entering , usually have to go in a little sideways ... The fact that its a longbed figures in also , more to drag .. I'm down on the torsion bars as far as I feel comfortable ..

[s11sean11]

looks good

[62 Longbed]

Thank You !! Welcome to the site !! Lots of good info here ..

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by 62 Longbed

Heres a picture of my 62 w/60 grill ... Still rides nice but have to watch the driveways before entering , usually have to go in a little sideways ... The fact that its a longbed figures in also , more to drag .. I'm down on the torsion bars as far as I feel comfortable ..

Wow!

You've made some nice changes since I saw you last.
I really like the 60 grill.
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[steve'62]

Hey grumpy. what do u mean by he took the bolts out and "indexed"them?

[iehotrod]

I was wondering the same thing what do you mean by indexing the bars?

[**grumpy**]

Best way for me to say it is...he pressed out the bars from the control arms, rotated them and reinstalled.
sorta same idea as the dudes lowering old vw bugs...something about rotating the splines...

Ask Mister Twister on here. Its his truck.

[steve'62]

ok will do thanks