Suspension help on 65 GMC - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

F-85 · 07-23-2010, 01:06 PM

I got a 65 GMC short step with leaf spring rear. Its gonna be a street/strip truck. BB and th400. Running 295/50/15 tires. 3.54 with powertrax. What do i need to do to get this thing to hook?

shortbed70 · 07-23-2010, 08:34 PM

Sticky tires and a prepped track! Honestly these trucks on street tires spin like crazy on the street. I cant get my 65 coil truck to hook on street tires and I'm sure leaf springs are worse. To start I would say good shocks that are adjustable and more rear percentage.

cableguy0 · 07-23-2010, 08:48 PM

You will likely need a set of cal tracs. With a big block i wouldnt want it hooking too hard with a powertrax. you will end up sweeping it up off the track.

shortbed70 · 07-23-2010, 09:06 PM

BTW I have bfg 295-50-15 on my truck.

F-85 · 07-23-2010, 10:30 PM

I looked up Cal tracs, but they dont make them for the 60-66. Will the 67-72s fit?

cableguy0 · 07-23-2010, 10:43 PM

Theres really no reason a coil truck doesnt hook up. There are guys on here going faster than 10.0 with the stock setup and nothing more than a set of coil over shocks and drag shocks in front. I cant give an honest answer on whether the 67-72 stuff will fit your 65 but as far as i know the rear suspension is pretty much identical.

F-85 · 07-23-2010, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cableguy0

Theres really no reason a coil truck doesnt hook up. There are guys on here going faster than 10.0 with the stock setup and nothing more than a set of coil over shocks and drag shocks in front. I cant give an honest answer on whether the 67-72 stuff will fit your 65 but as far as i know the rear suspension is pretty much identical.

I got leaf springs in the rear.

cableguy0 · 07-23-2010, 11:07 PM

I know I was answering both posts at the same time. I should have seperated it. I know the coil sprung setups are the same on the 65 and the 67-72 im just not sure if the leaf spring setups are the same. Im sure someone else here will know for sure. Leaf spring guys swear by the cal tracs.

F-85 · 07-24-2010, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cableguy0

I know I was answering both posts at the same time. I should have seperated it. I know the coil sprung setups are the same on the 65 and the 67-72 im just not sure if the leaf spring setups are the same. Im sure someone else here will know for sure. Leaf spring guys swear by the cal tracs.

Cool ill look into it more. I was just gonna add traction bars.

Now what about the powertrax? Are they junk or something?

cableguy0 · 07-24-2010, 12:15 AM

They arent known for holding up to a bunch of horsepower with traction. The better choice is an eaton clutch type posi but that requires the rear to rebuilt

djracer · 07-25-2010, 09:02 AM

I would swap to trailing arms and coilovers if I were you. Look for a donor truck or buy after market arms and a good coilover kit. The sticky tire will help a ton.

F-85 · 07-25-2010, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djracer

I would swap to trailing arms and coilovers if I were you. Look for a donor truck or buy after market arms and a good coilover kit. The sticky tire will help a ton.

This is just going to be a driver truck. The track a few times a year. Looking at mid 12s. You dont think i can get it to hook with leafs?

djracer · 07-25-2010, 09:43 AM

You can with caltracs but I would either do trailing arms or caltracs. I would call them I'm sure they can get you a set that will work on your truck.

07-23-2010, 01:06 PM	#1
F-85 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Paw Paw,il Posts: 389	Suspension help on 65 GMC I got a 65 GMC short step with leaf spring rear. Its gonna be a street/strip truck. BB and th400. Running 295/50/15 tires. 3.54 with powertrax. What do i need to do to get this thing to hook?

07-23-2010, 08:34 PM	#2
shortbed70 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Forney TX Posts: 4,512	Re: Suspension help on 65 GMC Sticky tires and a prepped track! Honestly these trucks on street tires spin like crazy on the street. I cant get my 65 coil truck to hook on street tires and I'm sure leaf springs are worse. To start I would say good shocks that are adjustable and more rear percentage. __________________ Troy 1965 Chevy Bagged,361 sbc,voodoo cam,1.5 full roller rockers,patriot 185cc vortec heads 2.02-1.60,vortec weiand polished intake,demon carb my truckhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=332884 Big Red Dog build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=572274 Last edited by shortbed70; 07-23-2010 at 09:05 PM.

07-23-2010, 08:48 PM	#3
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,950	Re: Suspension help on 65 GMC You will likely need a set of cal tracs. With a big block i wouldnt want it hooking too hard with a powertrax. you will end up sweeping it up off the track. __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

07-23-2010, 09:06 PM	#4
shortbed70 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Forney TX Posts: 4,512	Re: Suspension help on 65 GMC BTW I have bfg 295-50-15 on my truck. __________________ Troy 1965 Chevy Bagged,361 sbc,voodoo cam,1.5 full roller rockers,patriot 185cc vortec heads 2.02-1.60,vortec weiand polished intake,demon carb my truckhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=332884 Big Red Dog build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=572274

07-23-2010, 10:30 PM	#5
F-85 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Paw Paw,il Posts: 389	Re: Suspension help on 65 GMC I looked up Cal tracs, but they dont make them for the 60-66. Will the 67-72s fit?

07-23-2010, 10:43 PM	#6
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,950	Re: Suspension help on 65 GMC Theres really no reason a coil truck doesnt hook up. There are guys on here going faster than 10.0 with the stock setup and nothing more than a set of coil over shocks and drag shocks in front. I cant give an honest answer on whether the 67-72 stuff will fit your 65 but as far as i know the rear suspension is pretty much identical. __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

07-23-2010, 11:07 PM	#8
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,950	Re: Suspension help on 65 GMC I know I was answering both posts at the same time. I should have seperated it. I know the coil sprung setups are the same on the 65 and the 67-72 im just not sure if the leaf spring setups are the same. Im sure someone else here will know for sure. Leaf spring guys swear by the cal tracs. __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

07-24-2010, 12:15 AM	#10
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,950	Re: Suspension help on 65 GMC They arent known for holding up to a bunch of horsepower with traction. The better choice is an eaton clutch type posi but that requires the rear to rebuilt __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

07-25-2010, 09:02 AM	#11
djracer Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Wetumpka, Al, U.S. Posts: 8,891	Re: Suspension help on 65 GMC I would swap to trailing arms and coilovers if I were you. Look for a donor truck or buy after market arms and a good coilover kit. The sticky tire will help a ton. __________________ Kevin Special Thanks to All who have helped on the TRUCK! My Pass Time Show http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p...Chapter1-0.mp4 So Far my best Times are: Motor only: 6.44 1/8 @ 104.13 10.39 1/4 @ 125.83 Nitrous Times: 5.785 1/8 @ 118.65 with a 1.336 60ft 9.168 1/4 @ 142.58 with a 250 shot dead out of the hole!

07-25-2010, 09:43 AM	#13
djracer Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Wetumpka, Al, U.S. Posts: 8,891	Re: Suspension help on 65 GMC You can with caltracs but I would either do trailing arms or caltracs. I would call them I'm sure they can get you a set that will work on your truck. __________________ Kevin Special Thanks to All who have helped on the TRUCK! My Pass Time Show http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p...Chapter1-0.mp4 So Far my best Times are: Motor only: 6.44 1/8 @ 104.13 10.39 1/4 @ 125.83 Nitrous Times: 5.785 1/8 @ 118.65 with a 1.336 60ft 9.168 1/4 @ 142.58 with a 250 shot dead out of the hole!



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