1968 C20 50th Custom Camper, Positive changes

[lil hoodlum]

So happy that I've addressed the poor ride quality in my 68 C20 Custom Camper.

I've owned this truck for about 8 months now but the ride quality was horrible due to the lowering job on it. The front coil springs were heated up with a torch and 5 of the leaves were taken out of the rear leaf spring back. It would bang, clank, rattle, and shake as it went down the road.

I ended up replacing the front coil springs with the correct heavy duty ones. Replaced the leaf springs with the correct 10 leaf Custom Camper option. New shackles, hardware, and U-bolts. 4 new tires in LT265 /75 R16 Cooper Discoveries.

Leaf springs, shocks, and coil springs came from Eaton Detroit Spring. Took nearly 6 weeks to arrive as they are built to order and about a month behind.

[lil hoodlum]

Before and after

[lil hoodlum]

before....... after

[lil hoodlum]

Check out these leaf springs. They are heavy and weigh around 90 pounds each.

[lil hoodlum]

The truck has a few other things that need addressing to be another daily driver but for now I need to let my wallet cool off a little bit....

[Steeveedee]

Nice work! I have a Custom Camper, but only have 6 leaves on the rear springs. It has RPO G50 Heavy Rear Springs. Can you tell me the RPO code for yours? Those look a lot more heavy duty than mine. I'm looking to replace my originals (what is on there now).

[lil hoodlum]

My SPID calls out G70 optional leaf spring rear suspension and G50 HD rear Springs. My 1968 Chevrolet truck data book show optional leaf springs as 10 leaves, rated at 2750 pounds each at the ground, and 2469 pounds each rated at the pad. I've included some photos of the page from the truck data book.

[Steeveedee]

Interesting! Thanks for the info. I do not have the F60 HD Front Springs option, nor the G70 Leaf Springs called out. I guess I have the light duty Custom Camper!

How hard does it ride? I'm sure that the added leaves stiffened it up in the rear, but have you ridden in another truck and can tell the difference?

I'm confused as to why a 6-leaf rear spring isn't listed. That is what is on there now. I counted twice!

I'd like to find a data book for my truck and make sure that I have what I should. I rebuilt the front end when I put on disc brakes, but the rear springs are showing friction wear and I want to replace them at some point.

ETA- Mine's a Longhorn, so that's going to make a difference. Rear leaf springs were standard and they used a 1T frame. There's still something funny going on with the springs, though.

[body bolt]

Nice!!!

[lil hoodlum]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

Interesting! Thanks for the info. I do not have the F60 HD Front Springs option, nor the G70 Leaf Springs called out. I guess I have the light duty Custom Camper!

How hard does it ride? I'm sure that the added leaves stiffened it up in the rear, but have you ridden in another truck and can tell the difference?

I'm confused as to why a 6-leaf rear spring isn't listed. That is what is on there now. I counted twice!

I'd like to find a data book for my truck and make sure that I have what I should. I rebuilt the front end when I put on disc brakes, but the rear springs are showing friction wear and I want to replace them at some point.

ETA- Mine's a Longhorn, so that's going to make a difference. Rear leaf springs were standard and they used a 1T frame. There's still something funny going on with the springs, though.

Keep in mind this is for a 1968. Yours is a 1970 so there may have been more or less options. In '68 the leaf spring width is 2.25 inches, I believe in '70 and up the width is 2.5 inches.

Actually it rides real nice, it feels very solid so far. My daily driver is a 1968 C10, the baby blue one in my avatar. My goal for the C20 is to either tow a camper trailer or install an in-bed camper like yours to travel around the USA.

I used Eaton Detroit Springs for my springs. www.eatonsprings.com They were very knowledgeable and helpful.

For my shackles because it is the narrower size I ordered them through Michigan Truck Spring

[toms68cst]

It looks a thousand time better!

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by lil hoodlum

Keep in mind this is for a 1968. Yours is a 1970 so there may have been more or less options. In '68 the leaf spring width is 2.25 inches, I believe in '70 and up the width is 2.5 inches.

Actually it rides real nice, it feels very solid so far. My daily driver is a 1968 C10, the baby blue one in my avatar. My goal for the C20 is to either tow a camper trailer or install an in-bed camper like yours to travel around the USA.

I used Eaton Detroit Springs for my springs. www.eatonsprings.com They were very knowledgeable and helpful.

For my shackles because it is the narrower size I ordered them through Michigan Truck Spring

Thanks for the info! I also like the stance (stock is my preference).

[54blackhornet]

Love seeing folks going back original instead of the drop look...

[lil hoodlum]

Originally Posted by body bolt

Nice!!!

Originally Posted by toms68cst

It looks a thousand time better!

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

Thanks for the info! I also like the stance (stock is my preference).

Originally Posted by 54blackhornet

Love seeing folks going back original instead of the drop look...

Thank you everyone. I prefer the stock look and stock stance too. I am really enjoying driving this truck as it rides so smooth. Going over a rough patch in the road or something else and my truck is like, "Oh, I'm sorry were you there in the road!!"

I have a leaky power steering gear box that needs to addressed and the battery was dead on Sunday so I bought a new battery for the C10 and gave the older battery to the C20. I also want to swap out the intake manifold and the Holley double pumper to more stock intake and 4 barrel quadrajet. After that, I will be putting her into daily driving status to work out any more issues or kinks.

[lil hoodlum]

Other plans for now is to get rid of the long water pump and install a short water pump and move the alternator back over to the drivers side. I hate seeing the alternator on the passenger side.