What is stock height - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

smorg007 · 05-31-2010, 11:45 AM

Hey guys. I'm trying to determine how lowered my truck is by the PO. I measured from the ground to the bottom of the wheel well and this is what I have. 29" in the rear and 27" in the front. The tires are 245/R6015. I don't know if it matters but the front coils are orange and the rear are black. It has monroe shocks all the way around. How do I tell if it's just drop spindles and coils.

made2drag · 05-31-2010, 12:43 PM

hard to tell from the picture. maybe a 3-4. give us a picture of the front spring/spindle and also the trailing arm/rearend. the front spring could be cut and then painted.

smorg007 · 05-31-2010, 03:15 PM

Okay I'll take the pics, the shocks are Monroe 34817 which is a stock shock for this truck according to an on-line parts store.

smorg007 · 06-01-2010, 02:52 PM

Here are three pic's of the right front spindle. Hope this helps. I'll raise the back to photograph the trailing arms. When on jack stands as in pictures, should the coil springs be loose and easily moving around?

**Palf70Step** · 06-01-2010, 06:09 PM

My 70 SWB has 275/60x15s onall 4. The front measurement is 31" the way you measured.

I don't have my bed on at the moment, but from the ground to the bottom of the frame where (just in front of bump stop) is like 22"

I have the original 6 cylinder springs up front (with 350 & T350 now) and HD springs in rear.

smorg007 · 06-01-2010, 06:11 PM

Thanks

made2drag · 06-01-2010, 07:41 PM

the coil spring are loose because they are either cut or aftermarket lowering springs. 2 or 3 inch lowering springs. if they were cut then you should be able to see the cut at the end of the spring ( most likely the bottom) if they are cut, then it probably dropped 3. hard to say about the spindle from the picture. look for a brand on the spindle, for instance i have western chassis 2 1/2" 73-87 spindles and they have their brand molded into the metal and it is easily seen. if it has drop spindles, then you have 2-3 inch springs and 2" spindles most likely.

OhOneWS6 · 06-01-2010, 08:03 PM

You need to measure from the center line of the spindle to the bottom of the fender on the front. This will eliminate tire size as a factor. This measurement should be ~ 19" for stock height so (19 - your measurement) will give you the drop you have. Even with that measurement it's still going to be a guess how much your truck is lowered. Remember these trucks were built 40 years ago. There was a lot of variance even when they were new.

smorg007 · 06-01-2010, 09:13 PM

I learn more everyday from your help and this forum. Is it possible that my truck is only lowered by coils and nothing else since it has the shocks (as previously mentioned) for a stock 1972 C-10. If this is the cased than I can just replace the coils to less of a drop so I can clear a 2x4 that might be laying in the roadway. lol

**Palf70Step** · 06-01-2010, 09:48 PM

Yes, very possible that all they did to lower it was change or cut the springs.

made2drag · 06-02-2010, 01:20 PM

did you figure out the back or are you still going to post pics?

smorg007 · 06-02-2010, 01:50 PM

I will be replacing the shocks later today. Will take photo's then. What would be the best way to show you what it has from the rear section.

made2drag · 06-02-2010, 07:46 PM

just a shot of the spring/ trailing arm area

gkesseru · 06-02-2010, 08:30 PM

Lowered spindles relocate the front axle higher relative to the ball joints. The upper and lower control arms do not change position hence a shorter shock is not needed. A shorter shock is only needed for shortened springs, especially if the bump stops are removed.

OhOneWS6 · 06-03-2010, 10:38 AM

Thanks to Tx Firefighter here are good pics from another thread to help you identify stock VS. drop spindles. It's a little hard to tell form your pics but those look like drop spindles on your truck to me. I say this because it looks like the arm where the tie rod end connects is somewhat upswept and not relatively straight like the stock spindle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

73-87 stock spindles...

Dropped...

smorg007 · 06-03-2010, 12:53 PM

Thanks again for the input. Here are two pics of the rear coil and trailing arm. I took one when jacked up and one while on the ground.

made2drag · 06-03-2010, 10:47 PM

looks like a 2" drop block between the axle mount and the trailing arm. it is hard to see the springs, but the rear springs can't be cut due to the way the springs are shaped at the top and bottom. if you want to take the lowering blocks out, you could, and gain 2 back to match the front. or put a 1 inch block in. seems like you were going raise the front back? i have a leaf spring gmc so i havent dealt much with the trailing arm suspension.

05-31-2010, 11:45 AM	#1
smorg007 Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Redding, Ca Posts: 371	What is stock height Hey guys. I'm trying to determine how lowered my truck is by the PO. I measured from the ground to the bottom of the wheel well and this is what I have. 29" in the rear and 27" in the front. The tires are 245/R6015. I don't know if it matters but the front coils are orange and the rear are black. It has monroe shocks all the way around. How do I tell if it's just drop spindles and coils. Attached Images

05-31-2010, 12:43 PM	#2
made2drag Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: alabama Posts: 2,079	Re: What is stock height hard to tell from the picture. maybe a 3-4. give us a picture of the front spring/spindle and also the trailing arm/rearend. the front spring could be cut and then painted.

05-31-2010, 03:15 PM	#3
smorg007 Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Redding, Ca Posts: 371	Re: What is stock height Okay I'll take the pics, the shocks are Monroe 34817 which is a stock shock for this truck according to an on-line parts store.

06-01-2010, 02:52 PM	#4
smorg007 Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Redding, Ca Posts: 371	Re: What is stock height Here are three pic's of the right front spindle. Hope this helps. I'll raise the back to photograph the trailing arms. When on jack stands as in pictures, should the coil springs be loose and easily moving around? Attached Images

06-01-2010, 06:09 PM	#5
Palf70Step State of Confusion! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gulfport, MS USA Posts: 46,787	Re: What is stock height My 70 SWB has 275/60x15s onall 4. The front measurement is 31" the way you measured. I don't have my bed on at the moment, but from the ground to the bottom of the frame where (just in front of bump stop) is like 22" I have the original 6 cylinder springs up front (with 350 & T350 now) and HD springs in rear. __________________ Bill 1970 Chevy Custom/10 LWB Fleetside 2010 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner SR5 Double Cab - DD Member of Louisiana Classic Truck Club (LCTC) Bill's Gallery Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God! Last edited by Palf70Step; 06-01-2010 at 06:16 PM.

06-01-2010, 06:11 PM	#6
smorg007 Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Redding, Ca Posts: 371	Re: What is stock height Thanks

06-01-2010, 07:41 PM	#7
made2drag Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: alabama Posts: 2,079	Re: What is stock height the coil spring are loose because they are either cut or aftermarket lowering springs. 2 or 3 inch lowering springs. if they were cut then you should be able to see the cut at the end of the spring ( most likely the bottom) if they are cut, then it probably dropped 3. hard to say about the spindle from the picture. look for a brand on the spindle, for instance i have western chassis 2 1/2" 73-87 spindles and they have their brand molded into the metal and it is easily seen. if it has drop spindles, then you have 2-3 inch springs and 2" spindles most likely. Last edited by made2drag; 06-03-2010 at 10:49 PM.

06-01-2010, 08:03 PM	#8
OhOneWS6 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: DFW, TX Posts: 764	Re: What is stock height You need to measure from the center line of the spindle to the bottom of the fender on the front. This will eliminate tire size as a factor. This measurement should be ~ 19" for stock height so (19 - your measurement) will give you the drop you have. Even with that measurement it's still going to be a guess how much your truck is lowered. Remember these trucks were built 40 years ago. There was a lot of variance even when they were new. __________________ 72 Cheyenne Super 1/2 LWB White/Dark Yellow 07 Avalanche 2LT 74 Sleek Craft Rebel Jet Boat W/Pontiac 400 Last edited by OhOneWS6; 06-01-2010 at 08:19 PM.

06-01-2010, 09:13 PM	#9
smorg007 Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Redding, Ca Posts: 371	Re: What is stock height I learn more everyday from your help and this forum. Is it possible that my truck is only lowered by coils and nothing else since it has the shocks (as previously mentioned) for a stock 1972 C-10. If this is the cased than I can just replace the coils to less of a drop so I can clear a 2x4 that might be laying in the roadway. lol

06-01-2010, 09:48 PM	#10
Palf70Step State of Confusion! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gulfport, MS USA Posts: 46,787	Re: What is stock height Yes, very possible that all they did to lower it was change or cut the springs. __________________ Bill 1970 Chevy Custom/10 LWB Fleetside 2010 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner SR5 Double Cab - DD Member of Louisiana Classic Truck Club (LCTC) Bill's Gallery Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God!

06-02-2010, 01:20 PM	#11
made2drag Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: alabama Posts: 2,079	Re: What is stock height did you figure out the back or are you still going to post pics?

06-02-2010, 01:50 PM	#12
smorg007 Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Redding, Ca Posts: 371	Re: What is stock height I will be replacing the shocks later today. Will take photo's then. What would be the best way to show you what it has from the rear section.

06-02-2010, 07:46 PM	#13
made2drag Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: alabama Posts: 2,079	Re: What is stock height just a shot of the spring/ trailing arm area

06-02-2010, 08:30 PM	#14
gkesseru Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: California, Maryland Posts: 544	Re: What is stock height Lowered spindles relocate the front axle higher relative to the ball joints. The upper and lower control arms do not change position hence a shorter shock is not needed. A shorter shock is only needed for shortened springs, especially if the bump stops are removed. __________________ 72 Fleet (died) 78 Step (sold) 55 Step named Fred (sold) 00 F150 68 Step (named El Scorcho by PO) Build thread for the new El Scorcho http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=392932

06-03-2010, 12:53 PM	#16
smorg007 Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Redding, Ca Posts: 371	Re: What is stock height Thanks again for the input. Here are two pics of the rear coil and trailing arm. I took one when jacked up and one while on the ground. Attached Images



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06-03-2010, 10:47 PM	#17
made2drag Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: alabama Posts: 2,079	Re: What is stock height looks like a 2" drop block between the axle mount and the trailing arm. it is hard to see the springs, but the rear springs can't be cut due to the way the springs are shaped at the top and bottom. if you want to take the lowering blocks out, you could, and gain 2 back to match the front. or put a 1 inch block in. seems like you were going raise the front back? i have a leaf spring gmc so i havent dealt much with the trailing arm suspension.

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