lowering front coil spring clearance

[Belair51]

Recently bought a 71 GMC short bed with lowered springs and dropped spindles. It has 18's and 20's with low profile tires. Question - will different lengths or heights of the front lowering coil spring effect the clearance on the lower A arm (bottom of A arm to pavement)? Not sure what lowering spring it has but it sits pretty low. Would like to get a little more ride height clearance.

Also, how do you ad photos to the site and also to your profile?

Thanks for any responses.

[lolife99]

Spring and front tire height will dictate the ground clearance you have.
That's the bad part about these trucks,... the lower a-arms are so close to the ground when you use a moderate amount of drop.
Unless you swap in an aftermarket crossmember, like the Dropmember from Porterbuilt Street Rods,... or "Z" the frame,... you will just have to deal with it.

[Belair51]

Keith - Thanks for the response. I knew the springs would change the cross member clearance but was not sure if they would have any effect on the A arm clearence.

Randy

[lolife99]

The a-arms hang lower than the center of the crossmember.
That's why stuff like this happens,...

[Belair51]

Doesn't look real good. Maybe I should try to get a little more clearance and not tear something up. Where can you find out the overall length of the different lowering springs, ie. 2", 3" drop? I bought the truck lowered and do not know the exact drop of the springs.

Thanks, Randy

[1LowToy]

It's more than just the length of the springs. Differnt manufactures use different designs. I.e. more or less coil, length and diameter of the coils. I cut one coil off my original stocks and ended up too low for practicality. I bought some new Moog springs and they were shorter than my originals but still kept the stock ride hight.

Pic is of 2" spindle and one coil cut off. Bothe the lowering spindle and the spring made the control arm too low. Best bet is a 2.5" spindle to avoid a lot of othe clearance issues, including smashing your lower control carm.

[Belair51]

Thanks for the photo and information. Who are some of the better companies to get springs from? Based on what you said I guess it is hit or miss as to what ride height you will end up with depending on who made the springs.

Sounds like you might have to buy several sets and experiment with them. And I guess there is no way to really determining what exact springs are currently in the truck?

Randy

[stich626]

I'd think a big block spring would raise it enough as you said it had drop spindles..

[Belair51]

Thanks for the information. Might give it a try.

[Mike J]

I have 3" drop springs and 2.5" drop spindles, and yeah, the control arms are definitely close to the ground- looks really cool but I definitely don't wanna hang them up on anything...

I think mine sits a little higher because I'm running an I6 and 3sp Manual- V8 and Auto would weight more...