Chevy/GMC coil/leaf debate....fuel for the fire

[CPNE]

Originally posted by GloryHound
The point I am trying to make is that I do not believe they actually listed it as standard equipment whether it was or was not when these trucks where made. So if I order a GMC and didn't say anything about it I got leaf springs and it was listed on my option sheet even though I did not check a box on my order form that said leaf springs, but if I wanted to save money I could say no don't give me leaf springs give me the cheaper coils then I would have nothing listed on my option sheet concerning the rear suspension unless of course it was a special coil spring!

This is my belief as well

[Gee_Emm]

Another consideration is that the people that wrote the option lists didnt seem to do their work uniformly, some trucks are loaded up on the sheet and other trucks might have the options but they arent listed.

[racedvl]

What about my option sheet?

[Longhorn Man]

I still want to laugh when I see that option sheet.

[racedvl]

Originally posted by longhornmail
I still want to laugh when I see that option sheet.

I really , really wish I had a pic of my sheet from my old 67, it had less that this!

[Hooter]

well to throw more gas on this here fire, my truck (69 cst 10 custom camper) did come with rear leafs but it was written on the glovebox so I dont really know what to say about this contriversy but i do have one thing, springs are better, cuz they just are

[tom hand]

Originally posted by Hooter
well to throw more gas on this here fire, my truck (69 cst 10 custom camper) did come with rear leafs but it was written on the glovebox so I dont really know what to say about this contriversy but i do have one thing, springs are better, cuz they just are

Yes springs are better...I had a truck one time with no springs and it sucked...lol.

Where is the search when you need it...Last time this came up GMC Paul had a long post that had all the facts. Seems that the Chevy had coils, GMC had leafs was true in 67 only and after that coils were standard, leafs were optional except for 71/72 GMCs...both coils or leafs were standard.

[GMC Jim]

Per 'Chevrolet Truck Chassis Service Manual'...Chapter 4; "Rear Suspension and Drive Line".......Service information is listed for both coil and leaf springs....The load capacity chart in front of manual lists RPO G50 option which allows an increase of 521 lbs. rear end weight. This option is available only with RPO J70 (Power Brakes)......
My '71 GMC 1500 , 127 WB has leaf springs........

[casey]

my 70 gmc came standard with coils, and look out when I had the camper on, you couldn't steer that baby over 30mph, longhornmail you wouldn't happen to have a pic of the old v6 that came in theses trucks would you, after 30 yrs of playing with vehicles I've yet to see a v6 in one of theses trucks.

[Longhorn Man]

Sure do...it's a friggen monster too.

[casey]

thanks longhornmail, what do you know about theses motors, how did they perform? were they a cut down V8,

[Longhorn Man]

Nothing at all like a small block...nor any other V8 ever built.
go here ( http://www.6066gmctrucks.org/305V6.htm ) for the low down.
A truely awsome engine that was killed becouse GM wasn't making any money off of it. It was TOO dependable and the GM repair shops were never working on them. No revinue.
Read the page there if you get a chance. Pretty awsome.
I have never driven one...yet. One day when chevy_fat_man comes by driving his GMC longhorn I'll talk him into letting me take his for a spin.
From what I understand, they will pull absolutly anything that you hook up to, but they are pretty booring and start wheezing at 3500 or 4000 RPM. (I may be off on the numbers...see the link) Even though the web site says good MPG, from what I understand, it was nothing to write home about.
Here is a better pic of one.
I have a valve cover off of one of these beasts hanging in my TV room.

Something i find amazing, the fact that GMC had an engine way back then with the spark plugs up by the intake instead of by the exhaust so the plug wires wouldn't be so long (which gives more plug wire to rot) and they killed it...yet these days, they have gone back to that same set up...to keep the plug wires short.
Go figure!

[casey]

man that sounds like one awesome engine, I wonder if you can get rebuild parts for them, I'd love to drive one, they sound quite torquey, and reliable too, I can't believe I've never seen one, and they only came in GMC did they.Man those were the days when they were actually trying to make the best motor they could make,

[Longhorn Man]

Parts ----> http://www.kanter.com/truck/gmcn.html
NAPA also has some once you prove to them that it exists.
My truck had one originally..but it hit the shop floor many many years ago.
I have access to 2 or 3 of these in the local shopping center. (junk yard)

[Joesjunk]

Originally posted by Gee_Emm
Another consideration is that the people that wrote the option lists didnt seem to do their work uniformly, some trucks are loaded up on the sheet and other trucks might have the options but they arent listed.

On the fancier trucks (like a Cheyenne or Custom deluxe) some options were part of that "package" and there for were not listed as options on the glove box sticker.