Help with choosing correct parts

[bbcmudtruck]

I would like to run some after market a arms on my truck as well as new springs and shocks. My wheels seem to be pretty much in the center of the wheel well as far as I can determine. Heres the problem that I have. I have a shortened leaf bed frame of unknown year. It has had the leafs relocated under the axle and the axle hits the bottom of the frame quite frequently. I like how low the rear is, so what do I need to order to get the front to sit level with the rear. Also, a 496 bbc is going into the engine bay, so I will need suspension/springs accordingly. Here is how it sits currently:

[Pro Performance]

Going with just tubular control arms will not lower the truck anymore, but will improve upon the suspension geometry. In your case, I would recommend going 1" forward on just the lower arm and going with standard on the upper. This will increase the caster on the front, and move the wheel slightly forward, not quite a complete inch.

Do you know what springs you currently have up front? Do you have a small block now in it? Reason I ask, is because it seems to sit almost level now, so I am thinking if you put the big block in, it will probably drop a little in front. This slight drop might be where you want it, but it is hard to tell the amount of rake now in the picture.

I would suggest putting the big block in first, and see how it sits then. If not low enough for your desired height, then change springs accordingly. This is where it would be good know what springs you have now in there. My thinking is a 2" drop spring with a 2.5" drop spindle would be a good starting point.

The tubular arms would be a good additions no matter what springs you have or engine.

- Travis

[CHRIS67GMC]

RideTechs new coil over kit would work well. I'm changing a truck over soon and pulling some tubular arms off of it and drop spindles if you need a cheaper route.
Im a dealer for RideTech if you like that kit. link
http://www.ridetech.com/store/1963-1...rm-system.html

[bbcmudtruck]

It has stock spindles and stock arms in it now. I'm about certain that the coils in the front are just heated up! Also, the picture may be a little deceiving, it sit about an inch higher in the front. Also, it does have a sbc in it now.

Are you pulling those tube arms and spindles off to sell them as a kit? I'm paypal ready if you are. Thanks for the help so far!

[CHRIS67GMC]

Yes I will be selling them..

[bbcmudtruck]

I'd like to buy them! I just need a little help identifying what frame I have. Shoot me a pm with a price and approximate date you'd be ready to sell them. THanks!

[ksshane]

They may have just done a axle flip and then cut the rear bracing to fit that bed. If you want to have a rough idea on how low your rear has been dropped just measure the height of the axle house and the height of the leaf spring pack. Usually about 6-7 inches.
Then you could get some drop spindles and drop springs that are close to the same drop for the front.

[bbcmudtruck]

Thanks for the help and advice! I have determined that my cross member and arms are from a 73+ vehicle. So with that in mind, I would like to keep all the parts that I buy from here on out the same year. A question that I have for you guys now is, since it has 73+ arms, would I want to order 73+ drop springs for a bbc? Or should I order 67-72 drop springs for a bbc? I wasn't sure if the two different model of trucks would have different spring rates for a bbc. I don't want to mess with ordering up a bunch of steering linkages etc, so if my current setup works, I'm going to run it. I just need to know what year of springs to order! Thanks for all the help! I really do appreciate your time and effort to help me get this project rolling in the right direction.

[lolife99]

67-72 and 73-87 front springs will interchange.