C20 front coil spacers

[nevada]

wanting to level out my 2wd truck a bit. wanting to buy a .5" coil spacer from Summit which reviews say will actually lift 1 inch or more. anyone have luck with spacers? don't want to change springs in fear of making ride too stiff, rides smooth now and thinking small spacer shouldn't impact ride. thoughts?

[davepl]

I'm now of the opinion that shimming (spacers) are the RIGHT thing to do if you still have your original springs.

I'm not certain about trucks, but I know for cars like my B-Body they weighed up every option, counted up the weight that each option added to the front and rear, and then looked up in a table to pick from maybe 25 or more different letter-coded springs. Nowadays you can buy "coupe" or "wagon" springs. What are the odds that one spring is really able to cover 25 different applications?

So I'm in favor of retaining the original spring that has the correct spring rate for your truck, even if it has sagged a little, which you fix with a spacer. I think that's your best bet for preserving original ride and handling.

Not sure why a half inch spacer would raise the truck a full inch. What am I missing? Can anyone explain that?

[onebigjohn]

Not the best pic....Ill get more when I get home.
72 C/20 454 with (2) 1/2in spacers in each side'

[nevada]

Specialty Products Company (SPC 1703) .5" coil springs per their website states that this spacer will raise the height of front suspension 2 1/2 to 3 times the spacer width or 1.25 to 1.5 inch increase.

Big John, is that pic show truck with only front spacers? stock height in rear with leafs?

[onebigjohn]

Originally Posted by nevada

Specialty Products Company (SPC 1703) .5" coil springs per their website states that this spacer will raise the height of front suspension 2 1/2 to 3 times the spacer width or 1.25 to 1.5 inch increase.

Big John, is that pic show truck with only front spacers? stock height in rear with leafs?

As far as I know the leafs are stock....No Blocks or Shackles

[nevada]

I'm looking to do the exact same thing as you...can you post a better side profile of your rig? from what I see, it leveled it out nice.

[onebigjohn]

Here are some Pics
The tires are 285 75r 16's all the way around

[Mike C]

The usual method to level the truck out is lower the rear and not raise the front. I lowered my C2500 leaf truck with ECE shackles and was quite pleased with that. And a lot less work...

[Steeveedee]

I bought front coils for a '70 3/4T with 400 and A/C. That put it back to stock ride height. The new springs actually ride better than the old ones. Of course, rebuilding the entire front end and adding new shocks probably helped. The shocks were toast. I used to work on this truck when it belonged to my FIL, and I'm pretty sure I put those shocks (and brakes) on at least 16 YA. It has front discs now, as well.

[nevada]

Your truck looks good sitting that way. I ordered the spacers, my trucks front sits lower and tires do rub a bit. am running 235/85r16 for that tall, skinny farm truck look.

[rcazwillis]

Originally Posted by davepl

Not sure why a half inch spacer would raise the truck a full inch. What am I missing? Can anyone explain that?

Lower control arm is a lever. Not knowing the true ratio and to simplify the math, lets say the spring sits at the half way point of the lower control arm. It has a ball joint at one end and a pivot point at the frame. If the spring pocket moves 1/2", the ball joint will move double the distance or 1". Same logic applies to shocks and springs.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by nevada

Your truck looks good sitting that way. I ordered the spacers, my trucks front sits lower and tires do rub a bit. am running 235/85r16 for that tall, skinny farm truck look.

If you are talking about my truck, thanks!

[toolboxchev]

Originally Posted by onebigjohn

Here are some Pics
The tires are 285 75r 16's all the way around

I am liking that look, I put some Hellwig adjustable overload springs in the back an my buddy does not like the drag car rake it looks like now.

Now when I have a load on it sits correctly.