1986 Chevy C10 SWB Step Side

[aotte1]

Lower control arm

[aotte1]

Another of the lower control arm

[aotte1]

Lower control arm shaft with modification increasing caster. This is the left side control arm.

[aotte1]

Been working on cutting the original front springs one coil off the bottom. Used a portable band saw ( hand held, made by Porter Cable) to cut the coil off. The cut was made perpendicular to the length of the spring. Cutting this way provides a flat area on the bottom of the spring to fit in the lower control arm spring grove like the spring did before cutting. This way, the spring will have less tendency to bend in a arc as it compresses.

This is a very slow cutting process, and I used a home made clamp/ bar to bolt the spring to work bench for cutting. The bar/clamp was a 6 inch piece of bar stock ( 1.5 " in width) with hole in center, spring placed on bench, "clamp" placed inside spring, bolt placed through hole in bar stock, spring, and through bench. Nut placed on bolt under work bench, and tighten down, thereby, securely holding spring FIRMLY to bench. Marked cut line perpendicular to length of spring, so that the beginning of cut is parallel to original end of spring ( this way it will fit in lower control arm in same rotational orientation as before cutting one coil).
Pictures of spring after cutting, cleaning in media cabinet with alu oxide 120 grit, then painting with gloss black ( actual paint used to be provided).

Next will start assembling suspension.

[aotte1]

Another picture of spring

[aotte1]

This picture shows their is a nice flat part of the spring to fit the lower control arm.

[aotte1]

This is just my thinking for why I chose cutting one coil off bottom of front springs as a way to lower front of truck.
1). I am new to working on these trucks, so have no direct knowledge of how changes effect the truck. Thank you to all the members here who have helped me by answering my questions !!
2). I am a go slow person, change one thing at a time and record results.
3. This process for me was an easy way to start lowering, with minimal steering and other effects (headers dragging , wheel back space issue, no problem with 8" wide wheels, 275x60x15 tires all the way around, etc.).
4. For me just want to lower some, basically have top of tires and wheel well opening at similar height. And
5). Low costs.

Will post pictures of truck in a few months ( body shop report- very slow progress, front fenders in primer, last week) hopefully.

Les