1978 GMC Sierra C35 "Project Second Life"

[slammed427]

I wonder if cutting 1.5 coils out would give more drop on the 1ton than a half ton.


This thing is turning out beautiful, and just remember the credo, thou shalt not drive stock.
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[Conundrum]

Agreed, you only want to cut one coil from your coils. 7" in the front should get you level. To get where you are wanting to be in the front with a slight rake in the stance, you can pick up some 3" drop coils and possibly cut a coil off those or see if a place like eaton detroit springs could make you a 4" coil but that'll probably be more costly and will only get you level. The other options I can think of are either more costly or more involved, one is aftermarket crossmember (plus bags) or section the factory crossmember and/or Z the frame.
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[cochino12]

Yeah nothing really wrong with removing the inners other than the battery tray is no longer supported and having to worry about driving through mud, water, etc...

Shh dont tell anyone but when my truck was static I cut two complete coils off and it drove great, didnt bottom out, and I didnt see any negative effects.

All of that being said, since you dont want to cut it up just buy some bags and an aol kit and be done with it.

[Lobie]

I have a ?? On the rear disc brake. Did you have any trouble bleeding the brakes with the calipers on the top? I've done the conversion in the past and have always put them at the 3 o'clock position. Just curious.
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[tc4x4]

I just got an offer on the truck for 5700 dollars he will take it he will take it half finished give me guidance brothers.
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[MTCK]

Cool build, I just saw this. Obviously it's up to you on where you go with it. I think it's pretty cool that you and your wife work on it together, and you're not far from having something to drive. I would keep it, drop the front and drive it. If you need to raise the back up an inch or two to make it work so be it. I like your idea of keeping the steel wheels too. I love driving my old truck, which is why I bought it. It was also pretty original, but my thought is that if modernizing / customizing it a bit gets it on the road, then it is a plus. Not a huge fan of survivors that sit in garages and get polished and not driven, but that is my taste. I hope to see it get finished! Oh and if you do keep it, throw a 4L80E in it and go to town.
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[JRANGER]

I wouldnt sell it...Just think about all the hard work you have put in it and when you get it how you want it how you feel.... Plus you cant find many good body's like that easy

[tinydb84]

I would sell it and put it towards another truck that is more done. You get more bang for your buck buying people's projects.

[slammed427]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

I would sell it and put it towards another truck that is more done. You get more bang for your buck buying people's projects.

You can also get more headaches fixing their shortcuts. I'd see this one through.
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[tinydb84]

Originally Posted by slammed427

You can also get more headaches fixing their shortcuts. I'd see this one through.
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Very true! I am fixing all the headaches on my brother's 74 right now....

[slammed427]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

Very true! I am fixing all the headaches on my brother's 74 right now....

I spent the first month I had my 74 fixing it to make it road worthy. Its part of the fun
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[tc4x4]

Hey guys,

I'm back. So I still have the truck for now. Its winter again and I have time now to work on it again. The tree service business was crazy busy this year so I had no time to work on it all summer. I drove her a couple times from garage to garage.

So anyways, I'm going with one of two options:

1) Undo the work to the rear end and lift it back up and drive it daily in summers.
OR
2)Lower the front buy getting spindles and lowering springs. I don't want to have to remove the front inner wheel wells. But the issue is the rear end. The rear will be to low for what the front will end up, so what are my options for raising the rear a couple inches?

[79 blue monster]

so did you end up selling it or keeping it?

[JRANGER]

Add leafs back?

[tc4x4]

The leafs are under the axle so i dont think that would do anything.

[canadian 4x4]

belltech sells shorter shackles

[MTCK]

Welcome back. The add a leaf might put a little more arch in the springs but would likely be negated by the axle being on top of the springs. You could add some overload airbags and keep a little air in them.
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[JRANGER]

Air shocks that you can add air too?

[79 blue monster]

my truck has the same problem, its an inch lower in the back than the front, so i was just going to put airshocks and leave it. i think the "moving front leaf mounts down" is a good idea!

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by 79 blue monster

my truck has the same problem, its an inch lower in the back than the front, so i was just going to put airshocks and leave it. i think the "moving front leaf mounts down" is a good idea!

The prob is you might run out of real estate before reaching the amount of lift desired since the height increase is half of what you move it on the frame.

[canadian 4x4]

the front end of my truck was a about and inch higher when i put in my 4.5/6 drop belltech kit. i put about 500 miles on the truck and the front springs settled alot and it has leveled out.

[tc4x4]

Well thanks for the responses guys. Ill have to do some research. I want to continue with the build but I don't want to be able to be stuck not being able to drive it. My wife and I like our summer rides.

[moregrip]

subscribed!

[tc4x4]

So I am going to go forward with the front end drop? Any suggestions for drop spindles to get the most drop and also drop springs. I am going to try to get it as low as I can with out hitting the inner fenders.

Question, what size tires are people running with my size drop because I'm pretty sure that with how low im planning on going to finish this drop that the tires will be running.

[notallthere]

I am running 275/60 r17 with a 2 inch drop on the front of my C20. I should be able to go another 2 inches with spindles this summer without issue.