The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > General Truck Forums > Suspension

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 11-21-2005, 07:16 PM   #1
LUV2XCLR8
The LuvShack Garage
 
LUV2XCLR8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Maple Grove, TN (West Side)
Posts: 30,468
Question Heat or Cut - Coils

I am wanting to lower my 2wd a bit, gonna eventually bag it, but for now
it just sits up a little to high for my liking, In the past I have always been
the idiot who has heated up the springs and cut the snubbers in 1/2, It's
been said here to cut one coil off the springs and still retain the ride, Will
either one of these options make a diffeance later when I bag it? I don't
want to mess anything up I might need later, for once I'm thinking ahead.

__________________
Owner/Op: "TN Classic Transport Carriers"
The Toy: "Square Vette" 72 Hybrid Blazer
Toy Barn: "LuvShack" 40 x 60 x 20 Shop
Tow Piggy:"Maddy" 88 Silverado 3500
Hauler: "Feathers" 14 Aluma 8218T
LUV2XCLR8 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-2005, 07:18 PM   #2
Captkaos
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
 
Captkaos's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 6,935
Re: Heat or Cut - Coils

I personally don't recommend heating a spring EVER. Cutting a coil or half a coil or etc is not a problem though. Once you bag it, you won't need the coils.
__________________
Chris Lucas
1973 Chevy C-10
1978 GMC Jimmy (2WD) - SOLD
1987 R10 twin turbo LS
1991 R3500 SRW CrewCab
1985 K5 diesel swapped project
1989 K5 2WD conversion w/ Vette susp Project
Captkaos Customs
73-87chevytrucks.com
Captkaos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-2005, 07:20 PM   #3
LUV2XCLR8
The LuvShack Garage
 
LUV2XCLR8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Maple Grove, TN (West Side)
Posts: 30,468
Re: Heat or Cut - Coils

Quote:
Originally Posted by Captkaos
Once you bag it, you won't need the coils.

I was assuming that, but will it damage anything else? Thanks
__________________
Owner/Op: "TN Classic Transport Carriers"
The Toy: "Square Vette" 72 Hybrid Blazer
Toy Barn: "LuvShack" 40 x 60 x 20 Shop
Tow Piggy:"Maddy" 88 Silverado 3500
Hauler: "Feathers" 14 Aluma 8218T
LUV2XCLR8 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-2005, 09:33 PM   #4
70short/step
Registered User
 
70short/step's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Stockton, CA
Posts: 1,579
Re: Heat or Cut - Coils

I would cut the coils. You still have same ride just lower. Heating the coils will make it bounce more and you will loose your ride quality. Either way it wont damage anything.
Maybe heating the coils might wear stuff out faster because it will bounce more because of the springs will be soft.
__________________
For every person with a spark of genius, There are a hundred with ignition trouble.

70 Short/Step
70short/step is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-24-2005, 02:21 AM   #5
N2TRUX
Happy to be here
 
N2TRUX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 39,021
Re: Heat or Cut - Coils

Heating the coils ruins the coils and ruins the ride. It may not matter about the coils since you plan to trash them when you bag it. In the meantime the springs will sag and the ride will turn to crap. Take the time to cut a coil and keep the ride.
__________________
Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com

Articles-

"Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab

"Elwood" the77_Remix

85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett"

"Refining Sierra"
N2TRUX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-24-2005, 09:42 PM   #6
johnnyrockets187
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: modesto, ca
Posts: 3
Re: Heat or Cut - Coils

correct me if im wrong but the rear coil springs are tapered right? so if you were to cut a coil out they wouldnt be able to be bolted back down to the little mounting brackets that secure them to the trailing arms and or frame (depending on what side you cut)
johnnyrockets187 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-25-2005, 12:19 AM   #7
70short/step
Registered User
 
70short/step's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Stockton, CA
Posts: 1,579
Re: Heat or Cut - Coils

Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnyrockets187
correct me if im wrong but the rear coil springs are tapered right? so if you were to cut a coil out they wouldnt be able to be bolted back down to the little mounting brackets that secure them to the trailing arms and or frame (depending on what side you cut)
You are correct about the rear coils. I was assuming that He knew that he couldnt cut the rears and was talking about the front spring which can be cut and better to cut than heat. If you wanted to lower the rear of a coil spring truck, I have always used coils out of a car like an Olds cutlass and you can usally get those for $5 to $10 buck at junk yard. And they ride so much better than the stock truck springs, just cant haul the weight!
__________________
For every person with a spark of genius, There are a hundred with ignition trouble.

70 Short/Step
70short/step is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-03-2005, 08:57 PM   #8
chevydog66
GM ONLY BABY!!!
 
chevydog66's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Fort Wayne, IN.
Posts: 1,998
Re: Heat or Cut - Coils

Definatley CUT them!! I cut 1 round out of the front of my 72 GMC and it dropped it about 2". Which is good enough for me for now, until I install the 2" drop spindles next year, and a whole new front end. I used a die grinder with a cut off wheel on it. Worked great.
__________________
2 wrongs don't make a right, but 3 lefts do.

66 Chevelle Malibu 406ci, 573hp, 10.99@121mph
96 Chevy Silverado Z71
72 GMC 1500 Super Custom LS 6.0/4L65 on airride

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/707879...mc-c-k-pick-up
chevydog66 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-03-2005, 09:01 PM   #9
camaro__thunder
Epoxy Primer Friendly
 
camaro__thunder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: South of Houston TEXXXAS
Posts: 680
Re: Heat or Cut - Coils

just use some lowering blocks on the rear of a coil spring truck.
__________________
My Project 69 SWB
SHAVED BAGGED DOORED
camaro__thunder is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2005, 01:01 AM   #10
race-n-jason
-Praise the Lowered-
 
race-n-jason's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Garland, Tx, USA
Posts: 280
Re: Heat or Cut - Coils

I completely agree with everyone else, heating the springs IS the worst way to go. However, if you plan on replacing them soon and your just needin' to get "in the weeds" immediately, then you'll probably be alright. Your surely not the first to do it.

Stack a series of wood blocks or a pair of jack stands underneath your frame rails (front or rear depending on which end your working on) with a gap approximately the same amount you plan to drop the truck. Using a torch, start heating the bottom of the spring working your way around so that second coil collapses onto the first. If this isn't enough, then start heating the 3rd coil so that it collapses on the second. You don't want to start heating the spring in the middle or you will "overly" distort the spring. As the truck begins to touch your blocks or jack stands, stop. Let the coils cool, then remove the blocks or stands. I would do the above in small increments, say 1/2" at a time.

Your ride quality will no doubt get worse. It will be stiff and uncomfortable. And depending on how low you go, you may find that everytime you "jack-up" the front end of your truck, your springs will shift and will not seat properly in the upper perch.
__________________
Race-N-Jason
('71 Chevy C-10 LWB 454/TH350)
('07 Dodge Ram 2500, 5.9 Cummins/6-speed Manual)
race-n-jason is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:49 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com