Advice on lowering 69 C/10

[Longley428]

Hello, I have recently picked up a 69 C/10 that is coil springs all the way around. I am not interested in doing drop spindles and disc conversion just yet, but Im wanting the leveled slammed look..... from what I’ve found the 4/6 drops don’t make them sit very level... Question is can I order a 4/6 drop spring kit then cut 1/2 a coil or 1 full coil to make it a 4/7 drop to make the rear sit more level or do something different etc??? I can notch the frame if it is a must.. the truck will be only driven on the weekends and not hauling anything heavy. When I get the truck sitting how I want I will be running 22x8 or 22x9 wheels... Any help with this would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks!

If you have pictures of your trucks slammed on just springs or a different set up please post pics!!

[1970chevc101994]

Ridetech makes nice kits but are very expensive. Not sure how much you are looking to spend on this

[Longley428]

Thanks the quick reply, but not really wanting to go full air setup yet either

[1970chevc101994]

http://www.ridetech.com/store/1963-1...n-level-1.html

Check it out. It's not bags

[aod92]

Originally Posted by 1970chevc101994

http://www.ridetech.com/store/1963-1...n-level-1.html

Check it out. It's not bags

I bought this kit for my truck. Haven't started installing it but the stuff is very nice!

[1970chevc101994]

aod92- please share pictures when you begin the install because I am going to purchase this kit too. Thanks

[Ironangel]

I could slam four trucks for the price of that kit and do it right! You wont get 7" without notching...Anything past 5" will require shock relocators, adjustable panhard bar, and C-notching the frame...You cant cut rear springs and I wouldn't even consider dropping the front without drop spindles first. "just sayin"

[Mike C]

Drop spindles and a disc conversion are a must on the front IMO. I don't have a coil truck, but mine is dropped 4.5"/7" using a DJM flip kit. I have not c-notched and do not plan to. You can use a 6" spring and a 1" block to get to your 7" #.

[Longley428]

Mike C is your lowered on drop spindles in the front or is yours 4.5" on springs?

[Mike C]

Drop spindles and disc conversion. I am SO much more comfortable driving the truck in traffic now. It stops HARD and I no longer panic when a car pulls out knowing I can stop it.

If you don't have the money to do disc conversion and lower now, wait. I know it's tough, but it's the right way to do it. The spindles help keep the stock geometry. And with the 2" spring, I still have stock length front shocks. (Stock fronts in the rear too, LOL.)

[Swar]

I'm probably going to get negative feedback on this, but you don't need to do drop spindles. Just get an alignment. Mine is bagged with stock spindles. Rides and handles great, straight as an arrow flying down the highway. Here it is aired all the way up and down:

My thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=651651

[Mike C]

Your truck already has disc brakes and not sure what height you drive around at, but that first pic is near stock height it seems so geometry doesn't play much roll. 3" spring is about the limit where the alignment can be brought back in, but each truck differs to some extent.

I know there are plenty of these drum equipped trucks on the road, but if traffic where you live is non-existent, then go with them. But where I live people are MORONS to the nth degree. They will pull out in front of you 25 mph slower than you are going, they will randomly change lanes into yours with no signal, and they will stop for no reason. I figure the disc conversion on my truck cut the braking distance in HALF at any speed. Which will not only save my truck but my insurance premiums since I do drive it.

And since the disc conversion needs new spindles you can lower the truck with zero change in ride characteristics 2 1/2" and in my case 4.5" and I still am able to use stock length shocks that are only $25 each for KYB's.

[leftybass209]

You need to have at the bare minimum, shock re locator brackets front and rear, and an adjustable rear track bar if you want to go that low on springs alone. The problem is the angle of the shocks becomes rather useless and puts stress on the mounting points which can cause the frame to give out and crack. Those kits are designed as the PROPER way to lower a truck. For the most part they aren't trying to sell you useless stuff you don't need. Ride in a truck with just springs, and ride in one done correctly and you CAN tell the difference in ride quality. If you don't have the cash to do it, you can always wait and fix the numerous other things that plague these trucks like body mounts and suspension bushings.

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by Longley428

Mike C is your lowered on drop spindles in the front or is yours 4.5" on springs?

You can't go more than 3" with just coils, the springs will fall out of the pockets.

[Swar]

Originally Posted by Mike C

Your truck already has disc brakes and not sure what height you drive around at, but that first pic is near stock height it seems so geometry doesn't play much roll. 3" spring is about the limit where the alignment can be brought back in, but each truck differs to some extent.

I know there are plenty of these drum equipped trucks on the road, but if traffic where you live is non-existent, then go with them. But where I live people are MORONS to the nth degree. They will pull out in front of you 25 mph slower than you are going, they will randomly change lanes into yours with no signal, and they will stop for no reason. I figure the disc conversion on my truck cut the braking distance in HALF at any speed. Which will not only save my truck but my insurance premiums since I do drive it.

And since the disc conversion needs new spindles you can lower the truck with zero change in ride characteristics 2 1/2" and in my case 4.5" and I still am able to use stock length shocks that are only $25 each for KYB's.

Yes, my truck came stock with disc brakes. I also have tubular control arms, and drive around about 3 inches lower than stock. There is plenty of room to add shims on the upper control arms if I wanted a lower ride height.

I am surrounded by moron drivers as well, upgrading to rear disc brakes asap. lol

[original-71]

early classic enterprise 4.5/6 drop kit with 1" drop block for 7" rear no c-notch. took a couple a tries to level it out but it can be done.

[Longley428]

Thanks for all the feed back!!! I guess I will just have to bite the bullet and go ahead with spindles and disc conversion. But only thing is I’ve only found the disc conversion kits are 5 lug (which mine is 6 all the way around) so when I go to do the conversion for the front along with the spindles I’m going to have 5 lug in the front and still 6 lug in the rear? I would prefer to have 5 lug when its all said and done just because I think theres better wheel options out there in 5 lug in my opinion... But whats the best way to get the rear to 5 lug as well???

[low&slow]

You can buy 6 lug rotors to keep it 6 lug all the way around.

[Mike C]

You can do the 6 lug disc conversion but it's $100 more than the 5 lug. I chose to go 5 lug as well because of the wheel availability, hardly anything I like in 6 lug. I used the $100 I saved towards a Craigslist 72 axle.

You can also buy 5 lug conversion axles for your existing rear and some brake drums that are 5 lug. Either new or junkyard and get them turned.

I was lucky that the 72 axle I found was for a leaf spring truck and that the drums were able to be turned which made it a great buy for $150.

If you have a fleetside truck, you may not need the extra 3/4" of axle on each side that the 70-72 axle housings provide. I did on my stepside truck for the wheel/tire combo I picked to fit.

Early Classic Enterprises: they are great to deal with and sell first class products. Spend some time on their website checking out what they have and what it costs.

[Longley428]

original-71’s truck is EXACTLY how I would like mine to sit, but from what I’m finding on ECE is kits, I need a disc brake kit, with everything ill need and Ive found theres comes with drop spindles, so theres the front minus the springs/shocks but do I need to buy a lowering spring kit as del or do they have a kit with everything and I’m just missing it? Sorry for the lack of knowledge.... still learning lol bare with me....

[Mike C]

Call them. Tell them what you are doing and that you are new to all this. They will sell you what you need to do what you want.

I bought the disc conversion for a 67-70 converting to 5 lug. I threw the 2" small block spring in. They don't do a flip kit for the rear so I sourced a DJM which was way cheaper than springs and shackles for me. I spent that extra money on CalTracs. I sourced (4) front KYB shocks from RockAuto for mine, but remember it's a leaf truck so different than what you are doing.

But if you get them on the phone and tell them the truck you have and what you want, they will put all the parts you need together. Call them.

I did not get a power kit but have since added a booster off eBay that's not yet installed. My truck rides great and I could not be happier.