How to level front end or accomplish a 2" lift

[Jahloha]

I have a 2WD 1970 C20 with all original shocks, coils, and leafs. I am a tall person and want to at the minimum level out my truck by raising the front end, but possibly add 2" lift for ease of accessing the cab.

Is this common?

What is the tire clearance once this is achieved?

How would I go about it?

I have read about rancho coils, but they seem to lift the front end way more then is needed. Am I right?

Thanks for all your input and suggestions, I really appreciate it.

[Jahloha]

I can only assume that its not a simple strip and swap of the coils and adding a leaf to the back, or could it be that simple?

[terry b]

I think you could find coils with a two inch lift if you call them. Let them know what engine is in the truck so they can match the spring rate you need. Call eaton spring in michigan i think they will help you. Not real cheep.

[Jahloha]

I can only assume that its not a simple strip and swap of the coils, or could it be that simple?

[terry b]

It's not that hard. About two hours each side. I think you can buy coil spring spacers that will give you two inches of lift on the cheep if you need to. I have run them back in the 70's with know problem.

[Longhorn 70]

I wanted to raise the front of my truck about 10 years ago. I got 1½" by installing new coils in the front. I had a big Olds engine with A/C on it at the time. I have a small block Chevy in there now.

I installed the Big Block with A/C springs in the front and things picked right up. They are made by Moog but they aren't a lift or cargo coil spring. I didn't notice any handling change. I haven't touched the rear springs. I did have some Rancho lift springs in for about 6 months and they were TOO stiff. Put the suspension bumper right against the A-frame. They made it handle lilke poopy too. The truck has 235x85x16s on it in the pic.

Sorry I don't have a before and after.

[Jahloha]

Originally Posted by Longhorn 70

I wanted to raise the front of my truck about 10 years ago. I got 1½" by installing new coils in the front. I had a big Olds engine with A/C on it at the time. I have a small block Chevy in there now.

I installed the Big Block with A/C springs in the front and things picked right up. They are made by Moog but they aren't a lift or cargo coil spring. I didn't notice any handling change. I haven't touched the rear springs. I did have some Rancho lift springs in for about 6 months and they were TOO stiff. Put the suspension bumper right against the A-frame. They made it handle lilke poopy too. The truck has 235x85x16s on it in the pic.

Sorry I don't have a before and after.

Thanks for the input. Two quick questions: What are A/C springs? What springs do you have in the shown picture? And would you consider it "leveled" out with the current setup?

I do not plan to change the rear springs and am hoping to run 285/70-17 tires, which I think are just an inch taller then your setup...too much?

[terry b]

1972 C-20 ebay has coil spring spacers up to three inch for about sixty bucks.

[Jahloha]

Originally Posted by terry b

1972 C-20 ebay has coil spring spacers up to three inch for about sixty bucks.

I am shying away from doing spacers, hoping that when I do the disc conversion, I can swap in some coils to achieve the desired look. Am I wrong in this thinking?

[Longhorn 70]

When I bought the springs they asked me if I had big or small block. I said big. They asked if A/C "yes".

Those are the Moog stock replacement big block with A/C springs. IIRC I did some research about the spring part number when I bought them. I only found 2 designations. Small block without A/C and Small/big block with A/C.

I did just look at O'Rieley auto parts and didn't see any thing that asked A/C or not. They may have changed the springs.

I think the AC springs are just a tad heavier to support the extra 100 lbs. of A/C equipment.

It does sit pretty level. I also did a disc conversion recently. It looked like it dropped an inch when I did. I didn't measure though.

[Mike C]

JC Whitney used to list lift springs and I know some of the off-road equipment makers have lift springs for 2x4 trucks.

[terry b]

No i think you are thinking right. You should do ball joint's tie rod's and spring's at the same time. The hard part is going to get the hight right. I think you will need to buy the spring's from someone who knows how tall they will be installed and will be willing to take them back in exchange if they are wrong.

[Jahloha]

Originally Posted by Longhorn 70

When I bought the springs they asked me if I had big or small block. I said big. They asked if A/C "yes".

Those are the Moog stock replacement big block with A/C springs. IIRC I did some research about the spring part number when I bought them. I only found 2 designations. Small block without A/C and Small/big block with A/C.

I did just look at O'Rieley auto parts and didn't see any thing that asked A/C or not. They may have changed the springs.

I think the AC springs are just a tad heavier to support the extra 100 lbs. of A/C equipment.

It does sit pretty level. I also did a disc conversion recently. It looked like it dropped an inch when I did. I didn't measure though.

Originally Posted by terry b

No i think you are thinking right. You should do ball joint's tie rod's and spring's at the same time. The hard part is going to get the hight right. I think you will need to buy the spring's from someone who knows how tall they will be installed and will be willing to take them back in exchange if they are wrong.

Terry & Longhorn:

Would the tie rods and ball joints be done with a disc conversion? I am planning on doing the conversion, along with the new coils.

Also, Longhorn, why would it drop an inch or so after the conversion? Thats a head scratcher for me.

[terry b]

Yea i would not reuse any of the old stuff on the conversion.

[Longhorn 70]

Originally Posted by Jahloha

Terry & Longhorn:

Would the tie rods and ball joints be done with a disc conversion? I am planning on doing the conversion, along with the new coils.

Also, Longhorn, why would it drop an inch or so after the conversion? Thats a head scratcher for me.

Tie rods and ball joints MUST be done with a disc conversion. At least the one I did. The tapers are different sizes.

I don't know why it looked like it dropped. What I do know is, I did the disc on the left side one day and didn't get to the right side. It looked as if the side I had done was down an inch. This may have been due to lifting and not settling the suspension after the work was done.

[jocko]

If your truck has a sbc, I think you'll find what you seek by installing the bbc coil springs when you do your front end rebuild/disk swap. Even just sbc NEW springs will pick your front end up a good bit. If you really want to level, then bbc coils should work out just fine. Longhorn 70's is the perfect example.

[special-K]

New C/30 coils

[Longhorn 70]

I was able to take a look at the truck on more level ground. It is higher in the rear than the front by 2" or so. It isn't as low as when the old springs were in it. I found a pic of the truck from the side before I put the disks on. It just looks to have more front fenderwell exposed. That is also while the BB Olds motor was in it.