My 68 1/2 ton GMC has 8 leafs. Is this right? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

68gmsee · 05-10-2008, 02:55 AM

About 15 yrs ago a friend of mine removed some springs from my 68 half ton short bed GMC to lower it for me. He removed 2 springs from the bottom on each side and left 6. Now I'm trying to put it back the way it used to be and not sure if I have it right.

Is 8 springs on each side correct? The springs are the 2 1/4" width.

Second, do the springs go shortest on bottom longest on top? On my truck the shortest one (about 12" long is on the very top). Not sure if he did that.

And last, the distance from the center of the spring to the ends is not equal. Does the longer half go to the rear???

Any help appreciated...

Disregard oil on the wheel. I replaced a leaking brake cylinder.

lilred67 · 05-10-2008, 05:46 AM

it appears that someone has added some leaves to that spring pack. a couple of the thicker bottom springs.i have a '72 gmc 1/2 ton frame and it only has 5 springs. my '68 gmc 3/4 ton beater has 7 or 8 springs. the springs should be stacked shortest on bottom to the longest on top.hope this helps.

68gmsee · 05-10-2008, 04:26 PM

Thanx, lilred67... I guess that the short piece on top should go on the very bottom. I'm think my buddy placed it on top to assist in the lowering.

I may just look around for some lighter springs or leave the extra ones off since I won't be using it for heavy hauling...

68_GMC · 09-08-2008, 10:32 AM

My truck came stock with 9 leafs. I had a new set made because the 2 main leafs were broke. I was told only 10% of the 68 GMCs made are leaf springs.

68_GMC · 09-08-2008, 10:35 AM

I just noticed the U bolts are missing. Do you have them on now?

68gmsee · 09-08-2008, 01:38 PM

Yeah. I was experimenting with removing some of the springs to lower it a couple of inches when I took the picture...

Longhorn Man · 09-08-2008, 04:04 PM

who told you that 10% of the GMC trucks had leafs?
GM didn't keep very good records back then, but considering GMC had a lot of trucks sold as work trucks, and the fact that in 68, the leafs were base equipment on ALL there truck models.... your source is probably mistaken.
Add that to the fact that all the GMC records were lost... and I say someone was pullin numbers outta his dana.

Senator350 · 09-08-2008, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

... and I say someone was pullin numbers outta his dana.

WOMP WOMP WOOOOMMMMMMP

67mater · 09-08-2008, 04:51 PM

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/c...ct=2277&cat=12

check my for sale ad; 7 mains and 3 overlaods!!!!, shortest to longest; completely factory.

**too much stuff** · 09-08-2008, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 68_GMC

My truck came stock with 9 leafs. I had a new set made because the 2 main leafs were broke. I was told only 10% of the 68 GMCs made are leaf springs.

I don't think i have ever seen a 68 gmc without leaf springs. I think one of mine has 7 on one side, and 8 on the other. Also a 1/2 ton. I would have to look at my other to see...

68GMCCustom · 09-08-2008, 08:06 PM

my bare '68 GMC 1/2 ton chassis has 8 leafs...but they're coming off to make room for a 4 link.

eseaton · 09-08-2008, 09:40 PM

My 67 1/2 GMC has 8 on it. How much drop did you get out of the removal?

68gmsee · 09-08-2008, 10:41 PM

I took the bottom three and put the shortest one on the top of my 68 and I believe it gave me about a 2 to 2 1/2 inch drop. I'm thinking of getting some shackles to drop it another 2 inches.

The reason I'm doing it is that the front coils were cut 2 inches and I wanted to level the truck. It just sat too high up before.

05-10-2008, 02:55 AM	#1
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	My 68 1/2 ton GMC has 8 leafs. Is this right? About 15 yrs ago a friend of mine removed some springs from my 68 half ton short bed GMC to lower it for me. He removed 2 springs from the bottom on each side and left 6. Now I'm trying to put it back the way it used to be and not sure if I have it right. Is 8 springs on each side correct? The springs are the 2 1/4" width. Second, do the springs go shortest on bottom longest on top? On my truck the shortest one (about 12" long is on the very top). Not sure if he did that. And last, the distance from the center of the spring to the ends is not equal. Does the longer half go to the rear??? Any help appreciated... Disregard oil on the wheel. I replaced a leaking brake cylinder. Attached Images

05-10-2008, 05:46 AM	#2
lilred67 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: weatherford,texas Posts: 1,003	Re: My 68 1/2 ton GMC has 8 leafs. Is this right? it appears that someone has added some leaves to that spring pack. a couple of the thicker bottom springs.i have a '72 gmc 1/2 ton frame and it only has 5 springs. my '68 gmc 3/4 ton beater has 7 or 8 springs. the springs should be stacked shortest on bottom to the longest on top.hope this helps. Last edited by lilred67; 05-10-2008 at 05:48 AM.

05-10-2008, 04:26 PM	#3
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: My 68 1/2 ton GMC has 8 leafs. Is this right? Thanx, lilred67... I guess that the short piece on top should go on the very bottom. I'm think my buddy placed it on top to assist in the lowering. I may just look around for some lighter springs or leave the extra ones off since I won't be using it for heavy hauling...

09-08-2008, 10:32 AM	#4
68_GMC Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Missouri Posts: 211	Re: My 68 1/2 ton GMC has 8 leafs. Is this right? My truck came stock with 9 leafs. I had a new set made because the 2 main leafs were broke. I was told only 10% of the 68 GMCs made are leaf springs. __________________

09-08-2008, 10:35 AM	#5
68_GMC Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Missouri Posts: 211	Re: My 68 1/2 ton GMC has 8 leafs. Is this right? I just noticed the U bolts are missing. Do you have them on now? __________________

09-08-2008, 01:38 PM	#6
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: My 68 1/2 ton GMC has 8 leafs. Is this right? Yeah. I was experimenting with removing some of the springs to lower it a couple of inches when I took the picture...

09-08-2008, 04:04 PM	#7
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: My 68 1/2 ton GMC has 8 leafs. Is this right? who told you that 10% of the GMC trucks had leafs? GM didn't keep very good records back then, but considering GMC had a lot of trucks sold as work trucks, and the fact that in 68, the leafs were base equipment on ALL there truck models.... your source is probably mistaken. Add that to the fact that all the GMC records were lost... and I say someone was pullin numbers outta his dana.

09-08-2008, 04:51 PM	#9
67mater Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mundelein, IL Posts: 862	Re: My 68 1/2 ton GMC has 8 leafs. Is this right? http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/c...ct=2277&cat=12 check my for sale ad; 7 mains and 3 overlaods!!!!, shortest to longest; completely factory. __________________ time is inversely proportional to money; that's why it takes me so long 1967 K10 1967 Camaro Last edited by 67mater; 09-08-2008 at 04:52 PM.

09-08-2008, 08:06 PM	#11
68GMCCustom Truck and auto performance nut Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: McKinney,Texas Posts: 3,848	Re: My 68 1/2 ton GMC has 8 leafs. Is this right? my bare '68 GMC 1/2 ton chassis has 8 leafs...but they're coming off to make room for a 4 link. __________________ Kurt - '68 GMC short step - NIB '09 LY6 6.0L crate motor w/mods, NIB '12 crate 4L85e w/billet 3k stall Circle D, 3.73 posi 12 bolt, DynaTech f-swap headers, 3/4 drop, handling mods, etc. - my toy '72 Chevy LWB C-10 Highlander - 350/350 ps/pb/tilt/ac - not original but close '06 Chevy TrailBlazerSS - LS2/4L70e - little black hot rod SUV - my DD '18 Kia Sorento - wife's econo-driver '95 Chevy S10 - reg cab shortbed, LS, 4.3, auto... my '68's powertrain and chassis build -links broken A surprise phase - carb to efi -links broken

09-08-2008, 09:40 PM	#12
eseaton Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Amarillo, TX Posts: 190	Re: My 68 1/2 ton GMC has 8 leafs. Is this right? My 67 1/2 GMC has 8 on it. How much drop did you get out of the removal?

09-08-2008, 10:41 PM	#13
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: My 68 1/2 ton GMC has 8 leafs. Is this right? I took the bottom three and put the shortest one on the top of my 68 and I believe it gave me about a 2 to 2 1/2 inch drop. I'm thinking of getting some shackles to drop it another 2 inches. The reason I'm doing it is that the front coils were cut 2 inches and I wanted to level the truck. It just sat too high up before. Last edited by 68gmsee; 09-08-2008 at 10:42 PM.

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