Heating coils to lower - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Longhorn Man · 11-28-2003, 07:22 PM

I know this is not the prefered way to do things, and I am not doing it...however, a friend of mine is wanting to do it and we need to know whats the bast way of going about it.
Do we heat the entire spring. or can we do 2 or 3 coils since we only want a few inches.
Once we have the desired height, do we quench them, or let them cool on there own?

mooneyes · 11-28-2003, 07:45 PM

.......i've never done it but i dont think i would throw the water to them...my guess is they would probably break

cableguy0 · 11-28-2003, 08:08 PM

do not throw em in water they will break in short order. they become extremely stong and hard but yet they are brittle. i do not know the correct way to heat which by the way as it seems you already know there is no correct way bad bad idea but its not your life its your buddies. to me its worth the 200 bucks or whatever its going to cost to get new springs just for the safety factor

jef5150 · 11-28-2003, 08:12 PM

his front suspension is gonna become "really" bouncy, because he will be loosing his "spring rate" by heating them,he will probably end up with a front end that sits crooked,because you cant control the amount of heat in the same spot on both springs.(counting out loud wont work),if you throw cold water on the "hot" springs, you will harden them and they will become very brittle,,,,, heat the same coil on both sides to minimize sag,"DONT" use the middle coils ,it will cause the front end to drop real fast,,,,,i really dont think he is gonna end up a very happy camper after this,,,but who knows you guys might get them even ...jeff

gr8scott51 · 11-28-2003, 08:15 PM

Find somebody with a plasma wrench and cut them in place. Still not the best, but better than heating them til they collapse. Then get an alignment! good luck, scott

ozarkhippie · 11-28-2003, 08:16 PM

I've done a few of my beaters. I always throw jackstands under the frame horns and heat a 1 coil at a time until it sags to rest on the jackstand and let them air cool.

junkyardjohn · 11-28-2003, 08:53 PM

DON'T DO IT ANDY ..... IT'S THE SAME COST (0) TO CUT EM & YOU'LL BE MUCH MORE SATISTFIED WITH THE RESULTS. JOHN

*67Fleetsidedream* · 11-28-2003, 09:02 PM

Heatem 1 2 3 coils at a time. The spring is junk afterwards anyway.......Just make sure the truck/car is level.....

**old Rusty C10** · 11-28-2003, 09:07 PM

dont do it if this guy wipes out and the insurance company finds mods like this they may refuse coverage due to the fact that its not a modification made by putting in tested parts and believe me these days they check like the other guy said its not that expensive for lowering springs and a hell of alot safer

tom hand · 11-28-2003, 09:36 PM

If you do the front the truck will not even be drivable, it will bounce up and down with the slightest bump. Before they made lowered spings for these trucks, I have done the rear...just set jackstands to the correct height and heat one coil till it sat down on them and used air shocks to get rid of the bounce....worked ok but I would not do it now since you can get the springs for what the air shocks cost.

Longhorn Man · 11-28-2003, 11:29 PM

I guess I left out the act that is is the rear of the truck he wants to drop. He already chopped a coil out of the front with the plazma cutter.
While I agree that it is not the prefered way, and there is a chance of the spring shattering...I also know of about 25 or so cars and trucks that were done like this back in highschool and none ever had any problems with breakage.
Heck, one guy even had a 69 or 70 GMC short/step, and he still loaded it up with rail road ties all the time.
Thanks for the info though.

ozarkhippie · 11-28-2003, 11:42 PM

I suppose the rear is coil. If it is the cheap way put a set of coils out of a early chevelle or elcamino.

cdowns · 11-28-2003, 11:43 PM

IT"S A VERY STUPID THING TO DO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

junkyardjohn · 11-28-2003, 11:44 PM

ANDY .. TWO WORDS........ LOWERING BLOCKS........... SHOOT AS AN EXPERT ...... I'M SURE YOU KNOW THIS & WOULDN'T EVEN CONCIDER TAKING A TORCH TO SPRINGS.

FOR EVERY SET I'VE SEEN COME OUT OK..... THERE IS 47 HOROR STORIES. JOHN

(P.S., ELCAMINO COILS WILL DROP IT ABOUT 3 1/2 INCHES)

*rickspickuppart* · 11-29-2003, 05:15 AM

No two pieces of metal ever warp the same, why would he think the springs in his truck would. Have him spend the money on the kit and be done w/ it - - - he won't regret it.

Shawn

SEVEND2 · 11-29-2003, 06:34 AM

I had a friend lower his El camino a few years back, by heating up springs, he heated them up mostly in the middle. It was about 1 pm, he stopped about 5pm, and drove it, looked real cool road ok.
we all went in and bar b Q'd , had some beers, etc, we all left about 9 or 10, next morning it well Cooled the rest of the way and the springs settled out and the E-Camino was sitting flat, univeral and bed was sitting on together and there was about 1 1/2" between the ground and his bumpers.

hmm We all learnt NOT to heat them up.

Cost more to fix it then it would have just to replace springs with lowered ones in the first place!!

i would say Dont do it

jamis · 11-29-2003, 09:45 AM

If you dont want to spend the $100 on dropped springs, You can buy a kit of compression clamps, they look like U bolts and you put them around a couple of coils and squeeze the coils together. I think Napa sells them in PSE catalog around $20. There made by the same company that make the coils lifts and drop blocks, etc etc

I have a set of new 4" springs I will sell you for $50 plus shipping. Dont ask me what the shipping is, I wouldnt know how to figure it out. I will UPS them to you and you can pay me for them when you receive them. This offer is only for members with a post count of 20000+, PM me if you intrested.

Moloko · 11-29-2003, 01:08 PM

For how cheap some lowering kits are, just do that. You wont be happy with heating the springs or the kit to press them together, the truck will ride and drive horrible and he'll never be able to put any weight in it ever again.

Longhorn Man · 11-30-2003, 03:31 AM

jamis, thanks for the offer. I'll pass the info to the owner and see what he says. He is trying to take a total turd and doll it up for a quick buck.
A marylin manson to marylin monro type deal.

11-28-2003, 07:22 PM	#1
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Heating coils to lower I know this is not the prefered way to do things, and I am not doing it...however, a friend of mine is wanting to do it and we need to know whats the bast way of going about it. Do we heat the entire spring. or can we do 2 or 3 coils since we only want a few inches. Once we have the desired height, do we quench them, or let them cool on there own?

11-28-2003, 07:45 PM	#2
mooneyes Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Slippery Rock PA USA Posts: 1,692	.......i've never done it but i dont think i would throw the water to them...my guess is they would probably break __________________ Ken Lyons, Slippery rock pa 68 short step 327 t10 4 gear 72 2wd blazer project 70 lwb 305/700r driver 78 caprice project 02 cavalier D.D ( hate it!!)

11-28-2003, 08:08 PM	#3
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,950	do not throw em in water they will break in short order. they become extremely stong and hard but yet they are brittle. i do not know the correct way to heat which by the way as it seems you already know there is no correct way bad bad idea but its not your life its your buddies. to me its worth the 200 bucks or whatever its going to cost to get new springs just for the safety factor __________________ 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.

11-28-2003, 08:15 PM	#5
gr8scott51 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bremerton, WA Posts: 1,839	cut 'em Find somebody with a plasma wrench and cut them in place. Still not the best, but better than heating them til they collapse. Then get an alignment! good luck, scott __________________ Silence is golden, duct tape is silver. - Scott

11-28-2003, 08:16 PM	#6
ozarkhippie Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Eureka Springs AR Posts: 494	I've done a few of my beaters. I always throw jackstands under the frame horns and heat a 1 coil at a time until it sags to rest on the jackstand and let them air cool. __________________ Buy Sale or Trade 71 3/4 4x4 72 1/2 ton cheyenne 4x4

11-28-2003, 08:12 PM	#4
jef5150 Inline 69 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: valleysprings,california Posts: 1,018	his front suspension is gonna become "really" bouncy, because he will be loosing his "spring rate" by heating them,he will probably end up with a front end that sits crooked,because you cant control the amount of heat in the same spot on both springs.(counting out loud wont work),if you throw cold water on the "hot" springs, you will harden them and they will become very brittle,,,,, heat the same coil on both sides to minimize sag,"DONT" use the middle coils ,it will cause the front end to drop real fast,,,,,i really dont think he is gonna end up a very happy camper after this,,,but who knows you guys might get them even ...jeff

11-28-2003, 08:53 PM	#7
junkyardjohn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SOMERSET KY. Posts: 6,427	DON'T DO IT ANDY ..... IT'S THE SAME COST (0) TO CUT EM & YOU'LL BE MUCH MORE SATISTFIED WITH THE RESULTS. JOHN __________________ junkyardjohn 69 1 TON TOW TRUCK // 84 4WD CUCV BLAZER// 85 1 TON 4WD STAKE TRUCK// 86 M1031 5/4 TON 4WD CUCV// ALOT OF OLD TRUCKS FOR ONE OLD MAN TO DRIVE. THERES ROOM FOR ALL OF GODS CREATURES RIGHT NEXT TO MY MASHED POTATOES// LIFE MEMBER OF P.E.T.A (PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS) DON'T RENT U-HAUL ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH IT WILL AMAZE PART OF THE PEOPLE & ASTONISH THE REST

11-28-2003, 09:02 PM	#8
67Fleetsidedream Wiseass secured himself a BAN Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: MOON!!! Posts: 2,282	Heatem 1 2 3 coils at a time. The spring is junk afterwards anyway.......Just make sure the truck/car is level.....

11-28-2003, 09:07 PM	#9
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,277	dont do it if this guy wipes out and the insurance company finds mods like this they may refuse coverage due to the fact that its not a modification made by putting in tested parts and believe me these days they check like the other guy said its not that expensive for lowering springs and a hell of alot safer __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!!

11-28-2003, 09:36 PM	#10
tom hand CCRider Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Olive Branch,MS,USA Posts: 2,232	If you do the front the truck will not even be drivable, it will bounce up and down with the slightest bump. Before they made lowered spings for these trucks, I have done the rear...just set jackstands to the correct height and heat one coil till it sat down on them and used air shocks to get rid of the bounce....worked ok but I would not do it now since you can get the springs for what the air shocks cost. __________________ 72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail Olive Branch MS

11-28-2003, 11:29 PM	#11
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	I guess I left out the act that is is the rear of the truck he wants to drop. He already chopped a coil out of the front with the plazma cutter. While I agree that it is not the prefered way, and there is a chance of the spring shattering...I also know of about 25 or so cars and trucks that were done like this back in highschool and none ever had any problems with breakage. Heck, one guy even had a 69 or 70 GMC short/step, and he still loaded it up with rail road ties all the time. Thanks for the info though.

11-28-2003, 11:42 PM	#12
ozarkhippie Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Eureka Springs AR Posts: 494	I suppose the rear is coil. If it is the cheap way put a set of coils out of a early chevelle or elcamino. __________________ Buy Sale or Trade 71 3/4 4x4 72 1/2 ton cheyenne 4x4

11-28-2003, 11:43 PM	#13
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	IT"S A VERY STUPID THING TO DO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

11-28-2003, 11:44 PM	#14
junkyardjohn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SOMERSET KY. Posts: 6,427	ANDY .. TWO WORDS........ LOWERING BLOCKS........... SHOOT AS AN EXPERT ...... I'M SURE YOU KNOW THIS & WOULDN'T EVEN CONCIDER TAKING A TORCH TO SPRINGS. FOR EVERY SET I'VE SEEN COME OUT OK..... THERE IS 47 HOROR STORIES. JOHN (P.S., ELCAMINO COILS WILL DROP IT ABOUT 3 1/2 INCHES) __________________ junkyardjohn 69 1 TON TOW TRUCK // 84 4WD CUCV BLAZER// 85 1 TON 4WD STAKE TRUCK// 86 M1031 5/4 TON 4WD CUCV// ALOT OF OLD TRUCKS FOR ONE OLD MAN TO DRIVE. THERES ROOM FOR ALL OF GODS CREATURES RIGHT NEXT TO MY MASHED POTATOES// LIFE MEMBER OF P.E.T.A (PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS) DON'T RENT U-HAUL ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH IT WILL AMAZE PART OF THE PEOPLE & ASTONISH THE REST Last edited by junkyardjohn; 11-28-2003 at 11:47 PM.

11-29-2003, 05:15 AM	#15
rickspickuppart Account Suspended Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,284	No two pieces of metal ever warp the same, why would he think the springs in his truck would. Have him spend the money on the kit and be done w/ it - - - he won't regret it. Shawn



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11-29-2003, 06:34 AM	#16
SEVEND2 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Menifee, Calif, USA Posts: 2,145	I had a friend lower his El camino a few years back, by heating up springs, he heated them up mostly in the middle. It was about 1 pm, he stopped about 5pm, and drove it, looked real cool road ok. we all went in and bar b Q'd , had some beers, etc, we all left about 9 or 10, next morning it well Cooled the rest of the way and the springs settled out and the E-Camino was sitting flat, univeral and bed was sitting on together and there was about 1 1/2" between the ground and his bumpers. hmm We all learnt NOT to heat them up. Cost more to fix it then it would have just to replace springs with lowered ones in the first place!! i would say Dont do it __________________ With a 1972 Chevy Custom-10 Long bed w/350cid th350, (under-construction). Progress on truck so far (follow link): http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=51051 and stage 2 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=58132 ~ "Why couldn't you have just put the bunny back in the box?" ~

11-29-2003, 09:45 AM	#17
jamis F.A.S.T. president Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 1,883	If you dont want to spend the $100 on dropped springs, You can buy a kit of compression clamps, they look like U bolts and you put them around a couple of coils and squeeze the coils together. I think Napa sells them in PSE catalog around $20. There made by the same company that make the coils lifts and drop blocks, etc etc I have a set of new 4" springs I will sell you for $50 plus shipping. Dont ask me what the shipping is, I wouldnt know how to figure it out. I will UPS them to you and you can pay me for them when you receive them. This offer is only for members with a post count of 20000+, PM me if you intrested.

11-29-2003, 01:08 PM	#18
Moloko Hoarding Rusty Objects Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Slatington, PA Posts: 267	For how cheap some lowering kits are, just do that. You wont be happy with heating the springs or the kit to press them together, the truck will ride and drive horrible and he'll never be able to put any weight in it ever again. __________________ 1985 Chevrolet K20 Silverado 1994 GMC Yukon Follow me on Youtube! - http://www.youtube.com/user/FuelInjectionSucks

11-30-2003, 03:31 AM	#19
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	jamis, thanks for the offer. I'll pass the info to the owner and see what he says. He is trying to take a total turd and doll it up for a quick buck. A marylin manson to marylin monro type deal.

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