Four inch drop coil spring question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Wootdog · 05-17-2009, 12:44 PM

All,
I have been thinking of installing some four inch drop springs on the rear of my 67 C10. A couple questions come to mind. Do you have to C Notch the rear for a four inch drop? Back ground the truck has a narrowed nine inch Ford rearend with discs. It has a beefy sway bar setup that is in the way of the original location of the springs. I am thinking of taking that sway bar out. I already have bags but that has caused some problems in the past. When the rear was setup, additional metal was installed to the inside of the trailing arms. This was for the cups the bags would set in. I found out the hard way that this was not done right. When air is put in the bags, the trailing arms flex downward which caused the axle to slam into the frame which in turn caused the axle housing to fail. I have since had a shop putting the axles and third member in a narrowed F150 housing. They stated that if I wanted to get the rear right, I have to C Notch the frame. I would like to just install four inch drop springs on the rear trailing arms in the original location. I am over the air bag setup. I had been using the bags like you would for air shocks. I never acquired the rest of the setup due to money constraints. Any suggestions would be appreciated. This if the C Notch is done will be expensive.
Thanks,
Kerry

nsuengineer06 · 05-17-2009, 01:10 PM

I don't think you need a notch with the 4" coils. I have 4" coils to go in the rear of mine, but I haven't installed them yet. I read alot of threads on here, and I don't think you will need one. I'm sure someone who has this setup will chime in soon. There are a lot of em on here! Also, before anyone else does it I'm gonna do it for the first time!.... >>>

Sorry, I just had to...

Wootdog · 05-17-2009, 01:22 PM

No pictures it is in the shop.
Kerry

Highsteel · 05-17-2009, 01:37 PM

I have 4" springs and no notch on my LWB and have 2 or 3 inches of travel left to the rubber bumpers.
These are McGaughys "variable rate" springs. I was a little skeptical when I put them in as I thought they looked pretty wimpy but have since decided they are OK. I can haul a 350/350 and a slug of tools and it still takes a pretty big bump to bottom on the stops.

ufricka · 05-17-2009, 02:03 PM

I installed the 5'' coils and no notch needed, if you already purchased them they only take a few minutes to install, and go for a ride they settle down just a hair, and their easy to swap back to the old one's if it dont work for ya...

see ten · 05-17-2009, 03:13 PM

Most guys drop em at least 6" before a notch is even being thought of.

If they're trying to sell you on a notch to go with 4" drop springs.... It sounds like they don't have a lot of experience with these trucks...or they're just trying to pad your bill.

Here's the write up I did on the last truck that we dropped and notched.

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...ight=worthless

PanelDeland · 05-17-2009, 04:31 PM

I got 4" drop springs and they're fine except I need to swap to adjustable bumpstops or pull mine out and trim them.

big_al_71 · 05-17-2009, 04:40 PM

I have the five inck in mine and I still have about two inches of clearance to the frame...

Wootdog · 05-17-2009, 07:23 PM

The shop it is at thought I wanted to keep it slammed so to speak. I am over that. I just want to drop it some. Not radically. I did the poor man drop on the front. I cut one coil off of it. I just want the truck to be driveable. I already have the four inch drop coils for the rear. I also have a C Notch kit I bought a while back. I think I will just go with the four inch drop coils.
Thanks everyone.
Kerry

Highsteel · 05-17-2009, 09:08 PM

How much drop did you get in the front?

05-17-2009, 12:44 PM	#1
Wootdog Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Virginia Beach, Va, USA Posts: 1,676	Four inch drop coil spring question All, I have been thinking of installing some four inch drop springs on the rear of my 67 C10. A couple questions come to mind. Do you have to C Notch the rear for a four inch drop? Back ground the truck has a narrowed nine inch Ford rearend with discs. It has a beefy sway bar setup that is in the way of the original location of the springs. I am thinking of taking that sway bar out. I already have bags but that has caused some problems in the past. When the rear was setup, additional metal was installed to the inside of the trailing arms. This was for the cups the bags would set in. I found out the hard way that this was not done right. When air is put in the bags, the trailing arms flex downward which caused the axle to slam into the frame which in turn caused the axle housing to fail. I have since had a shop putting the axles and third member in a narrowed F150 housing. They stated that if I wanted to get the rear right, I have to C Notch the frame. I would like to just install four inch drop springs on the rear trailing arms in the original location. I am over the air bag setup. I had been using the bags like you would for air shocks. I never acquired the rest of the setup due to money constraints. Any suggestions would be appreciated. This if the C Notch is done will be expensive. Thanks, Kerry __________________ 1969 Chevelle 1990 IROC Z Convertible 2002 Silverado LT

05-17-2009, 01:10 PM	#2
nsuengineer06 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Natchitoches, Louisiana Posts: 230	Re: Four inch drop coil spring question I don't think you need a notch with the 4" coils. I have 4" coils to go in the rear of mine, but I haven't installed them yet. I read alot of threads on here, and I don't think you will need one. I'm sure someone who has this setup will chime in soon. There are a lot of em on here! Also, before anyone else does it I'm gonna do it for the first time!.... >>> Sorry, I just had to... __________________ 1967 C10 LWB 454/TH400 1971 C10 SWB 1984 C30 LWB Dually 454/4 spd 4:10 2003 GMC Sierra 2500HD Crew 4x4 6.6L Duramax/Allison

05-17-2009, 01:22 PM	#3
Wootdog Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Virginia Beach, Va, USA Posts: 1,676	Re: Four inch drop coil spring question No pictures it is in the shop. Kerry __________________ 1969 Chevelle 1990 IROC Z Convertible 2002 Silverado LT

05-17-2009, 01:37 PM	#4
Highsteel Chasin' the Dream Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lost in the 70's Posts: 200	Re: Four inch drop coil spring question I have 4" springs and no notch on my LWB and have 2 or 3 inches of travel left to the rubber bumpers. These are McGaughys "variable rate" springs. I was a little skeptical when I put them in as I thought they looked pretty wimpy but have since decided they are OK. I can haul a 350/350 and a slug of tools and it still takes a pretty big bump to bottom on the stops. __________________ Born with a Bowtie 1971 C/10 350/350 Daily Driver/project Assumption=The mother of all -ups

05-17-2009, 02:03 PM	#5
ufricka Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: kailua hawaii Posts: 2	Re: Four inch drop coil spring question I installed the 5'' coils and no notch needed, if you already purchased them they only take a few minutes to install, and go for a ride they settle down just a hair, and their easy to swap back to the old one's if it dont work for ya...

05-17-2009, 03:13 PM	#6
see ten WTB this ad Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Lafayette Georgia Posts: 5,074	Re: Four inch drop coil spring question Most guys drop em at least 6" before a notch is even being thought of. If they're trying to sell you on a notch to go with 4" drop springs.... It sounds like they don't have a lot of experience with these trucks...or they're just trying to pad your bill. Here's the write up I did on the last truck that we dropped and notched. http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...ight=worthless

05-17-2009, 04:31 PM	#7
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,993	Re: Four inch drop coil spring question I got 4" drop springs and they're fine except I need to swap to adjustable bumpstops or pull mine out and trim them. __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil"

05-17-2009, 04:40 PM	#8
big_al_71 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: South Florida Posts: 11,375	Re: Four inch drop coil spring question I have the five inck in mine and I still have about two inches of clearance to the frame... __________________ Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please!!!!!. Sylvester's build thread >>>http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ht=big+rebuild

05-17-2009, 07:23 PM	#9
Wootdog Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Virginia Beach, Va, USA Posts: 1,676	Re: Four inch drop coil spring question The shop it is at thought I wanted to keep it slammed so to speak. I am over that. I just want to drop it some. Not radically. I did the poor man drop on the front. I cut one coil off of it. I just want the truck to be driveable. I already have the four inch drop coils for the rear. I also have a C Notch kit I bought a while back. I think I will just go with the four inch drop coils. Thanks everyone. Kerry __________________ 1969 Chevelle 1990 IROC Z Convertible 2002 Silverado LT

05-17-2009, 09:08 PM	#10
Highsteel Chasin' the Dream Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lost in the 70's Posts: 200	Re: Four inch drop coil spring question How much drop did you get in the front? __________________ Born with a Bowtie 1971 C/10 350/350 Daily Driver/project Assumption=The mother of all -ups



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