front coil springs - stock or what?

[DaveofTona]

Can somebody tell me how many turns should the front coil springs have on a 67 C-10? Also, what is the correct distance between upper and lower control arms measured through the spring? (with the truck seated normally). I´m trying to work out if my springs have sagged or were shortened, since my front end hangs too low, and I can't see any front suspension drop components installed.

[Fast68Chevy]

whats specs on the truck ? original V8 or 6 or BB or ? 2wd ? longbed ? I once measured on the 68 C01 longbed 2wd with 307 engine form the ground to the bototm of the front bumper and remember getting measurement of 12". I will measure the 68 panel when i ge tit back together in the spring although it will be wearing 79 control arms and spindles.



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It's 68's or bust !!!
Happy Holidays !!!
Randy-
Lincoln, IL
r68c30@hotmail.com
217 735 3230
-'68 C-10 Panel delivery- The big restification project currently in progress!
-'68 C-30 1 ton dually 292 4speed 5.14,
-'77 Buick Electra 403/Th350 LTD 8.5" rear
-'79 G-20 9 passenger van 350/TH350
-'79 white Cadillac De Ville Limousine 425/TH400 8.5" rear
-'88 lil red Chrysler LeBaron 2.5L/31TH
-Following to hopefully be built as '68's:
-72 K-5 almost rolling chassis,
-71 LWB 4x2 coil longbed rolling chassis and cab-should be here soon- is the next project MSN messenger

http://communities.msn.com/196772ChevroletCSTsforever

http://communities.msn.com/RandyR72K5

[DaveofTona]

L6 250, 2WD shortbed. Tires are 29". I have 8.5" from the ground to the bottom of the control arm cross member which seems rather low to me (I have no front bumber at present so I can't use that measurement). My coil springs have about 6-1/2 turns; the inside measurement between upper and lower control arms at the spring is 4-1/2". Can anyone confirm these specs? The control arms are almost horizontal (front view) with the truck on the ground. Is that how they should sit?

[Fast68Chevy]

hmm i already removed the 250 off the 68 panel truck or i could have measured on it, hmm. 8.5" seems normal to me, thats quite a bit of room considering normally find 12" form gorund to bottom of the bumper, which is alot of room.

what are you comparing the height of your truck to, or what vehicle are you used to/daily driver?

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[This message has been edited by Fast68Chevy (edited 12-26-2001).]

[DaveofTona]

This truck IS my daily driver! OK, here´s the full story: according to the glovebox sticker the truck came with both "4G60AB Auxiliary spring EQ" and "4G50BA HD rear spring" options, neither of which I am familiar with. It left the factory as a cab + chasis, but picked up a fleetside bed somewhere along the road. It still has conventional (not auxiliary) leaf springs at rear, though I'm not sure if they're stock. The result is that the truck is definately nose down, though this could be due to the rear suspension pushing the back up, rather than a problem with the front end. Like I mentioned, there is no sign of lift or drop components at either end, so my conclusion is that the front end is too low. Take the front lower control arms for instance: they are pretty much horizontal and have 7" ground clearance at centre. That just feels too low for a pickup to me, especially on mountain dirt tracks. Did the 69-72 trucks really have that little ground clearance at the control arms? Like I say, my concern at present is if my front springs are still good, and haven't been shortened. Here are some other measurements to ground level: open fleetside tailgate: 27.5", rear ladderframe rail: 19.5", front ladderframe rail: 11.5", front wheel arch: 30", rear wheel arch: 19.5" (but note this bed has a low, non-symmetical flat-topped arch).

[LILREDGMC]

Just my 2 cents, 71 GMC SWB 355 4spd original, 275/60/15 on rallys all around, its 12 degrees so I didn't spend much time but 31.5 to wheel opening LF fender, and about 11.5 to the center of the bottom of the front bumper. You can have more if and when it warms up. This was done in the driveway so it may not be dead level etc. It may give you a general picture. Hope it helps.

[Fast68Chevy]

If the truck is original leaf rear suspensuion truck then G70 should be listed on the glovebox door, see if the rear shackle brackets are riveted or bolted ot the frame rails back there. 11.5" is normal stock height of front bumper to ground.
You cannot have G60 on a leaf truck, it was not available with leaf type rear suspensnion, G60 is the half leaf looking thing that is on each side of the axle and connected at the rear of the frame rails and extends down to the axle tubes on both sides.
This was auxilliary rear suspension and only available on coil spring type rear trucks.

Original factory installed tires were 31" on these trucks, 8.00-15 was the size in the early years 67-69 or 70, then size markings style changed again soonafter. If the truck is a true cab and chassis C10, then the model number wil be CS or CE10903, can find this on the glovebox door or writeen across the very top of the firewall in plain sight under the hood and sometimes alos on the backside of the very last rear frame crossmember.
If it ends with 34 then its a factory fleetside and if its 04 then it is a factory stepside.


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A 68 C-10 panel and a 68 dually C-30 dump truck and a couple 71/72 chassis projects.
http://messenger.msn.com
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r68c30@hotmail.com

[LILREDGMC]

Dave,
If you want more info on specs from the GMC remember it has a leaf rear, I'll dress for it and roll out the creeper. We need to be at the same points for dimensions if you really want more details. Randy, 71 72 models ran a G78-15 ? as an OEM tire, best of my recollection, which would make it a bit less than the 31 inch or my 275/60/15's which I havent measured. Do you have any other info on stock?

[DaveofTona]

Lilred, our measurements pretty much coincide and tires are same dia. Will ask you to measure rear end when the weather warms up a bit! Randy, u sure about 31" as the factory tire size? I thought 8.00-15 / 8.15-15 tires were about 27", though I've never been able to work out how to decode those old tire numbers. I checked the rear leaf hangers - they're bolted so not original. What was the G50 HD rear spring? This is listed together with G60 on the options sticker.

[Fast68Chevy]

being that your leaf hangers are bolted on, your truck has been modifed a bunch, the 8.00 15 tires work like this: 8.00 is side wall hiegth, and 15 is rim diameter, 8.00 + 8.00 + 15 = 31" stock original tires were 31" back then from factory, period.


G50 on a coil truck was 2000lbs each side

and G50 on a leaf truck was 1750lbs each side

G60 can only be had on coil trucks, so your frame was oriignally coil or your glovebox door was off a coil spring rea rtruck


G60: auxilliary rear springs; 500lbs each side, quote from 1967 GM data sheet: "not available when leaf type rear suspension is ordered".

good luck
© 1967 GM Corp




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A 68 C-10 panel and a 68 dually C-30 dump truck and a couple 71/72 chassis projects.
http://messenger.msn.com
http://communities.msn.com/196772ChevroletCSTsforever
r68c30@hotmail.com

[Fast68Chevy]

G50 are heavier than standard equipment springs, IE., HD springs