Slightly Lowered Questions

[Zero to 65]

I'm rebuilding a 65 C10 and got an 84 C10 donor. I've got the front end torn down. Tell me if I'm wrong but IF I want to lower this truck (and I only want to lower it a little) the time is now, before I get everything put together, right?
I think I only want a 1 inch drop in the front and a 2 inch drop in the back.
So I've got the springs out of the 84, The spacing of the bottom coils are 1-1/2" apart. Does this mean I don't want to cut a whole coil out of it (equaling 1.5 inches of drop)? Is the spring height from an 84 the same as the 65 ? And will this negatively affect the spring (is the bottom coil supposed to be a 1/2 in closer to the rest? In the rear, if I do the 2" lowering block method that TX FIREFIGHTER explains = http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=196457
will i have to buy different springs than came stock with the 65 c10?
I hope I'm making sense, and sorry for the NOOB questions, just never lowered a truck before.


overall length of spring
[IMG][/IMG]

coil spacing
[IMG][/IMG]

close to what I'm looking for - just still want the rear 1 inch higher than the front.
[IMG][/IMG]

[cortcomp]

Overall length of spring isn't all (or doesn't matter) as a lesser diameter spring wire with the same coil spacing would compress more under the same weight. You need to figure if it's progressive or linear. Even more helpful, is take the stock spring height and spring rate, then compare to the new one.

Personally, i just opted for the kits to lower my 66 1" in the front and i think 3" in the back, like the picture shows, but got the kits from summit which was a lot cheaper than a lot of the other vendors. (i do like and buy a lot from LMC, i just shop each part to like 5 vendors and make a spreadsheet and divide my order up. not always cheaper is better though, like some include screws in a kit for something while others charge extra, one is SS vs chrome, etc.)

Anyways, that's what i did because i didn't want to be redoing it later.

[NEWFISHER]

+1

And you have to figure spring rate. A taller spring with less spring rate will compress shorter than a shorter spring with greater spring rate. The only way to be certain is order the correct ones, or trial and error. A good baseline is 1 coil for every 1.5 inches, but time, use and load have affected those springs for 30+ years in the 85 so "baseline" is just that.

[Zero to 65]

Ok, so it sounds and looks like the best and cheapest way for me to do this is to :
Buy 1" drop Front coil springs for a 65 and Do the 2" lowering blocks as the TX FIREMAN explained. I don't have to buy rear springs if I do this, do I? Can I buy stock shocks for this setup?

My budget is just really tight.

[BMERDOC]

I'll sum it up. The front springs on both the '65 and '84 were probably sagging before hand and are not sitting at the "as brand spanking new ride height". If you buy 1" springs you may not notice a difference in ride height because of the original sag. One full coil equals a 2" in drop. If you buy new springs consider a 2" drop.

2" blocks can be installed without having to replace the rear coils. Be aware that a 2" block will put the u-bolts below the scrub line when using a 15" wheel. Just gotta put that out there. I'm using 2" blocks with 15" wheels.

[Zero to 65]

Thanks fella's! Like I said, I'm a rookie at lowering anything and if that's not bad enough, I don't have enough money to throw at it to make it easy.

[forestb]

I would put it all together with the coils you have now for the 84 and let it settle. Then see how it sits and determine how much lower you want it.

[Zero to 65]

ok. will do.

[AcampoDave]

I once started a thead titled "Mystery Drop" because when I put a squarebody suspension on my '66 using my original factory height replacement springs, my truck came out about 1-1.5 inches lower in front. I was quite suprised and the rake was too much. I had to put a 1.5" block kit on the rear to get back a factory rake. I know a squarebody spring has a higher rate but I also surmise they may have a taller lower ball joint which raises the spindle by an inch or so. I recommend you use your original springs and see if the same happens for you too. The pick shows my finished stance.

[AcampoDave]

Heres a side view posed with a stock longbed that has a 2/4 spring drop. Longbed has 225/75-15 tires and my shortbed has 235/75-15's