Lowering and shortening a C20

[Boog]

Is this guy one of our members? He's got a few videos up on youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqj6BOQWkss

[SCOTI]

The youngster cracked me up. Kids....

[May70]

I think I shed a tear watching a deluxe 20 get mutilated like that

[lousyflyer]

Too bad the little girl didn't use the ladder to knock him unconscious and shout "That's NOT how you lower a vehicle!"

But little girls love their dads. And it's a kind of love that knows no bounds.

[Boog]

The "University of Youtube" lead him wrong. He wanted 4 inches off so he cut 1 and 1/2 rings off the coil and got about 2 1/2". He wouldn't have been happy with a front 4" spring drop anyway.

[gmc684x4]

I stopped watching soon as I realized he was cutting the coil

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by gmc684x4

I stopped watching soon as I realized he was cutting the coil

I know, right? That is no kind of precise science, there. I ain't even gonna touch the shortening, though. That's a sticky subject.

[gmc684x4]

Its not like the 60s or 70s and not options to to lower our trucks with out making them rougher
New drop coils are not that expensive

[Overdriven]

Looks like this youtuber tries to do everything on the cheap. Cut up a used front bumper to use as a rear bumper and pulled leafs out of the rear to lower the truck. Best part is he wants to haul 2 motorcycles in the bed like this. At least he didn’t take a torch to the springs.

[BRL]

The little girls are adorable and I don't think he's shooting for an award at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance anyway.

Could be one of us poor folk who can't afford springs and beer at the same time.

Oh well, hope he's happy with the results and that's what counts in the end.

[ChevyRacefan]

Originally Posted by gmc684x4

Its not like the 60s or 70s and not options to to lower our trucks with out making them rougher
New drop coils are not that expensive

Perspective is what your reality is.
To some at this moment the cost of new drop coil springs, might mean the difference in Christmas gifts for the kids, or not. or food that week.
If the end user is ok with a stiffer,harsher ride, who are we to judge.
There is room in this hobby for the Kindig show truck, the back to chalk mark resto, and the down and dirty fun truck.
Your mileage may vary.

Videos like this might make you cringe, but for the kid that isn't making much while in school, buying the drop springs at 100.00 a set (part and shipping). Might not be in the cards and this is just fine and cost nothing but time, and maybe a cut off wheel or two.
Part of why the automotive hobby is aging out is, many forget what they were like/acted at a young age, and the lack of funds to just go order parts .
Even if the person in the video can afford to just buy new parts, videos like this do a service for those that can't but still want to enjoy the hobby.
Just my 2 cents.

[Boog]

Correct. The point of posting this is to show there are alternatives to altering ones vehicle though not all will agree with this chosen method. Not everyone can whip out the ole credit card and just order up parts. Those who have the passion and some mechanical abilities can tweak or modify their rides within their budget and put their touch on it. He started with an admitted $500 "pile of junk" and had no notion of it turning it into anything more than just his personalized daily driver. He put his touch on it. He has a nice welder and the skills to use it and he doesn't mind leaving his body panel welds exposed.
I give the guy major props for tackling this level of work in his small home garage.
And the celebratory burnout IN the garage? Well, I guess that's just cool too.

[SCOTI]

I've been lowering my cars & trucks since 1985. Heck... I'm in the process of lowering another one this week. There is nothing wrong w/cutting coils if those coils are in decent shape.

While aftermarket 'drop' coils are available, they don't provide a spring rate of said spring. They list a 'drop amount' for the coil but from a 'new' truck. What new truck? Every vehicle is different. You could spend $150 for a pair of coils that don't yield the drop you want. What then? You installed the dropped coils so you can't return them & the truck is not sitting where you want it.

I do limit the amount I'll cut a coil spring for the front of vehicles (1-coil/2" drop). Beyond that, I use alternative methods to get the vehicle lower if that's my goal but I can afford those other methods. Others may not be able to but still want the same thing so they do what they have to. It's not like they can't go back & update things.

Cutting a LWB down to a shorty? I only have issue w/that if you're starting w/an original LongHorn. Then, it doesn't make sense to me. Standard long-bed? Chop it if you want/need.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

I've been lowering my cars & trucks since 1985. Heck... I'm in the process of lowering another one this week. There is nothing wrong w/cutting coils if those coils are in decent shape.

Agree. I've done about a dozen that way, back in the day.

My '87 has been a daily driver for 30 years and 200,000 miles, with no issues relative to ride or durability.

K

[Keith Seymore]

Cut coils on my Chevelle, too (probably 40 years ago).

Solid as a rock at 140 mph.

K

[Boog]

I am down with cut coils too. I cut 1 ring off my stock front coils on the 69. Along with 2 1/2" spindles it dropped the front nicely and it has the correct spring rate for the year. I did pickup some 4" rear coils off the class ads board and expect it to still ride good back there. Nothing done that can't be easily corrected.
Now this guy with his C20 leaf spring rear chose a different method to shorten his truck. Moving the spring mounts forward 12" instead of chopping the frame apparently works. The long hump over the axle allowed him to move it forward and not c-notch the rails. Then raise the spring mounts 4" gets it down. One thing that looks possibly problematic is that short rear drive shaft. The angle looks real steep. Possible vibrations with that.

[lousyflyer]

The only problem with cutting coils off a 50 year old coil spring is ...well...you are cutting coils from a a 50 year old spring.

So the YouTube guy's truck has probably already got a 1" drop from age alone before he even touched it.

In his defense I will say that at least he wasn't heating it with a torch while under weight - which I have seen people try to do. (Note the word "Try")