Lowered too much! Need options

[1badtransam]

Hey everyone!

I'm pretty sure I dropped my truck too much. and need some options to raise it to clear the tires. Bummed about it after the lowering kit and new disc brake conversion.

I installed 2.5" drop spindles and 2" lowering coil springs from Brothers. I'm running P245 50 20 tires on 20" rims.

As for the rear, I have on order from Western Chassis lowering leaf springs - 4" drop

Check out the photo and let me know what you might recommend.

Thanks!
Fred

[Abomb]

If the rear is still at stock height, just wait....when you lower the rear, the front won’t look so extreme. If at that point, it’s still too low, put the stock front springs back in...

[1badtransam]

OK, they should be here in a week. I'll install them and wait and see if the tires rub. Thanks for your time

[Mike C]

What's the wheel size and offset? My truck is lowered 4 1/2" front 7" back with 235 55 17 and 275 55 17 with no tire rub. 8" and 9" rims respectively, both zero offset (4.5" bs front 5" bs rear)

[1badtransam]

I have no idea what the off set of the wheels are. I know the wheels are 20"

[raggedjim]

Nice looking truck, you got more pics? Actually, I think it sits just right...

Good luck, Rg

[ltdmstr]

If you want it to sit level, and are going to use 4" drop springs in the rear, the 2.5" drop spindles are all you need in the front. That's what's on the truck in my avatar. If you want it raked, I would leave the front as is.

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by 1badtransam

Hey everyone!

I'm pretty sure I dropped my truck too much. and need some options to raise it to clear the tires. Bummed about it after the lowering kit and new disc brake conversion.

I installed 2.5" drop spindles and 2" lowering coil springs from Brothers. I'm running P245 50 20 tires on 20" rims.

As for the rear, I have on order from Western Chassis lowering leaf springs - 4" drop

Check out the photo and let me know what you might recommend.

Thanks!
Fred

One option is air bags in the front and back. I have all 4 in my 71 and it rides very nice. They never scrub are bottom out. Air Lift I have the backs on a small compressor and the backs just stay at 20lbs all the time. You can physically see it lift the truck up when filling them. It's as your riding on air!

[REDROCKER652002]

What is rubbing? Might be you just need to trim the fender where it folds in, if that makes sense. I had an old ford I had to do that with. Just trimmed the fender, and bam, all good.

[Ironangel]

When I first dropped my first truck (72 C/10 LWB) with 2-1/2" drop spindles and 2" drop springs it rubbed in turns and bumps with BFG 275/60R-16's...It was spongey in the bumps, bouncy...So I pulled the 2" drop springs and cut 1/2 coil off the bottom of the factory springs and "wahlah!" I gained 1" clearance and a stiffer rub free ride. I ran my sway bar through the front frame brackets too. If you don't have a front sway bar get one!

[SactoJim]

Hey 1badtransam......could you do me a huge favor and get dimension from fender edge to wheel center? I'm trying to nail down springs and spindles for my truck......much appreciated!
Jim

[67ChevyRedneck]

I did the same thing, 2.5 spindle, 2" spring. It was too low, my wheels were rubbing too.

Swap to a 1.5" spring or use a coil spacer.

My truck ended up somewhere around a 4/6 drop.

See my post #112 here:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=609973&page=5

[cebra]

I did a 2.5" drop spindle and 2" cpp springs with 245/40/20 and I was rubbing a ton. Switched to stock springs with the 2.5" spindles.

[KevinK7]

I am by no means the expert here, but as for your options, I think as others have noted, going back to a less spring drop seems the easiest correction.
Although unlikely, consider a change in the rim/tire setup (50 series 20" may be too much for the drop you're shooting for)

[Jcfcamaro]

I did the same frontend swap and I think it's to low also. I'm going to put my stock front springs back in and see what it looks like.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by cebra

I did a 2.5" drop spindle and 2" cpp springs with 245/40/20 and I was rubbing a ton. Switched to stock springs with the 2.5" spindles.

I did the same, factory coils with 2.5" drop spindles. With the 4" drop leaf springs my truck is level.

From what I understand, a 2.5" spindle drop + 2" drop springs is a 6.5" drop Word is you double the amount of the coil spring reduction, so a 1" coil spring is actually a 2" drop.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402

I did the same, factory coils with 2.5" drop spindles. With the 4" drop leaf springs my truck is level.

From what I understand, a 2.5" spindle drop + 2" drop springs is a 6.5" drop Word is you double the amount of the coil spring reduction, so a 1" coil spring is actually a 2" drop.

That's only if you're adding/taking material from stock springs. I added a 3/8" spacer to my springs and it raised it about 1/2".

If you order a set of "1 inch drop" or "2 inch drop" springs, those springs are designed to be that much lower than a stock set up. The only caveat to that is these trucks are 50+ years old and the stock springs may be sagging by a whole 1/2"-1" already, so you might not get as much drop as you thought because you're comparing it to a worn out suspension.

[clear-lake-gmc]

good info here was looking into 2.5 drop spindles and a 2" spring maybe i will just got with the spindle for now, would a modular drop spindle from cpp bring the wheel in a little just looking through the products available and find most drop spindles push your wheels out modular ones are supposed to retain track width, im sure someone knows more about this and it would be costly to swap out drop spindles now.

[Old_Gold]

Another question for 1badtransam:
Great fender emblems, where'd you find those!?

Jim

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

That's only if you're adding/taking material from stock springs. I added a 3/8" spacer to my springs and it raised it about 1/2".

If you order a set of "1 inch drop" or "2 inch drop" springs, those springs are designed to be that much lower than a stock set up. The only caveat to that is these trucks are 50+ years old and the stock springs may be sagging by a whole 1/2"-1" already, so you might not get as much drop as you thought because you're comparing it to a worn out suspension.

That makes sense, thanks for the clarification.

[1badtransam]

Thanks everyone for all of the input! Rear leaf springs fin ally came in. I just put them on and dropped the truck. I love how it sits. I ended up putting a new booster/MC/PV in it so now have to bleed the brakes to see if and how much it will rub up front. I like the spacer idea.

I'll get those measurements for you SactoJim.

The side emblems are a custom job by me. I had the original ones rechromed, repainted the GMC red and added my own 3M graphic of the American Flag. I'm glad you noticed it - first person.

Here is a new photo of how it sits now and the one below is what it looked like when I bought it. Yes.. it's a long bed.

[1badtransam]

Originally Posted by KevinK7

I am by no means the expert here, but as for your options, I think as others have noted, going back to a less spring drop seems the easiest correction.
Although unlikely, consider a change in the rim/tire setup (50 series 20" may be too much for the drop you're shooting for)

Thanks Kevin, let's hope once I get it out of the shop it rolls and turns without rubbing.

[1badtransam]

Originally Posted by Old_Gold

Another question for 1badtransam:
Great fender emblems, where'd you find those!?

Jim

The side emblems are a custom job by me. I had the original ones rechromed, repainted the GMC red and added my own 3M graphic of the American Flag. I'm glad you noticed it - first person.

[1badtransam]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

I did the same thing, 2.5 spindle, 2" spring. It was too low, my wheels were rubbing too.

Swap to a 1.5" spring or use a coil spacer.

My truck ended up somewhere around a 4/6 drop.

See my post #112 here:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=609973&page=5

Very nice truck! I like the idea about adding the spacers.

[1badtransam]

Originally Posted by SactoJim

Hey 1badtransam......could you do me a huge favor and get dimension from fender edge to wheel center? I'm trying to nail down springs and spindles for my truck......much appreciated!
Jim

Here you go:

14 3/8" Fender Edge to the center of the wheel