First Post - 71 C20 - Leveling

[Voorhees]

Hello everyone. This is my first post on the forums. I have been reading a lot of the forum posts and decided to create an account. The short story is that I am 25 years old and bought a 71 C20 with my brother about a year ago. Nothing special, other than it is my first older vehicle. This truck did have some rust but for the most part was pretty straight. We bought the truck in September of 2013 with the intention of restoring it as time and money became available.

After about a month of having the truck, we dismantled it in our driveway and started bodywork. I build cabinets for a living, and we do our own finishing, so I said lets just paint it ourselves. Anyways, it took between 3 and 4 months of working on it when we could to get it stripped and painted. This is a driveway paint job. We didn't have a spray booth, or much bondo skills, so we did miss a few dents, but I feel they add character. After getting the truck back to a driveable state, we took a break for about 6 months. It was just so hot during the summer months and we needed a break.

The truck has a 454 out of a 76 1 ton donor truck paired to a factory th350 with a dana 60 4.10:1 rear end. Not to great on mileage, but it sure breaks those rear tires loose easily. We have been going through the systems, and are at the suspension. It is an 8-lug truck and it is going to stay that way, because it will on occasion tow a vintage trailer. The brakes are done, however the bushings everywhere need replacing. We are just trying to level the truck out because the rear end sticks up kind of high. We took it to our buddy who owns an alignment shop and he said that he would first replace the front springs and do the bushings before trying to mess with the rear.

Anyways, that project will be coming up one weekend, however I am trying to get a couple inch drop in the rear. I can't find any shackles specific for 3/4 ton trucks. From my best estimates, the shackles are the same on c10's and c20's. Am I correct in assuming this? I know it has the weird 2.25" leaf pack too. The reason I ask, is because those bushings are shot as well and it is just easier to get new shackles with bushings already inside. Any place that sells them would also be greatly appreciated too. Thanks.