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Old 11-28-2009, 01:23 AM   #1
Driveway Dreams
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Re: is cutting 2 drop coils a bad idea?

Smaller tires would lower the ride height but will also change your tire gaps and such.
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Old 11-28-2009, 01:25 AM   #2
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Re: is cutting 2 drop coils a bad idea?

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Smaller tires would lower the ride height but will also change your tire gaps and such.
is that a bad thing?
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Old 11-28-2009, 01:39 AM   #3
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Re: is cutting 2 drop coils a bad idea?

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is that a bad thing?
It is really a matter of personal preference, but putting too small of a tire on your truck can really make it look weird.

Let me just throw a thought at you though on the subject...

I have noticed that you are pretty fixated on lowering the truck substancially, you will be better served taking baby steps, getting the truck going with the parts you have now, get it assembled where you can look at it, then worry about the sizing of your tires and wheels, as well you will need to have the truck assembeled to measure for offset on your wheels as well.
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Old 11-28-2009, 01:33 AM   #4
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Re: is cutting 2 drop coils a bad idea?

Also remember this when it comes to tire size, shortening the tires is going to greatly increase engine speed.

For instance I belive the stock tire for your truck was a 235/75r15 that is 28.88 inches in diameter, with a 3.55 rear end and a TH700R4 you will run 2,111 RPM @ 70 MPH,

If you go with a 26.88" tire on the same truck, you raise the RPM's to 2,269 RPM

That is a 158 RPM increase.

This has a lot to do with why big wheels have become so popular because they allow you to run a short side wall tire, achieve a look and keep your engine rpm's down and thus keep your fuel mileage up.
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Old 11-28-2009, 01:44 AM   #5
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Re: is cutting 2 drop coils a bad idea?

well the tires that are on not a really badly dry rotted. so i need tires

would 225/60-r15 be to small you think? 25.60 inch diameter. thats only like 3 inch difference than the 235/75-r15s i have on now.

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Old 11-28-2009, 01:48 AM   #6
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Re: is cutting 2 drop coils a bad idea?

you have a 700R4? and what rear end ratio?
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Old 11-28-2009, 01:52 AM   #7
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Re: is cutting 2 drop coils a bad idea?

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you have a 700R4? and what rear end ratio?
350 turbo as of right now, rebuilding a 400 turbo. right now i have 3.73 but prolly putting 4.11s
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Old 11-28-2009, 02:03 AM   #8
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Re: is cutting 2 drop coils a bad idea?

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350 turbo as of right now, rebuilding a 400 turbo. right now i have 3.73 but prolly putting 4.11s
With either the TH350 or TH400 you will have the same RPM's because they both have a 1:1 final drive ratiio.

With the 235/75R15's and 3.73's you will pull 3,093 RPM @ 70 MPH
With the 225/60R15's and 3.73's you will pull 3,429 RPM @ 70 MPH

if you go to 4.11's with the 225/60R15's you will pull 3,778 RPM @ 70 mph.

If you were to put a DOT slick on the back that is 30" tall you will pull 2,925 RPM @ 70 MPH with 3.73's or 3,224 RPM with 4.11's
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Old 11-28-2009, 01:49 AM   #9
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Re: is cutting 2 drop coils a bad idea?

I am dropped a little over 5/7 running Cooper Cobra 245/60/15 And I don't think I would go any smaller tire wise.
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Old 11-28-2009, 01:54 AM   #10
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Re: is cutting 2 drop coils a bad idea?

i saw this truck on here. what size you think they are?


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Old 11-28-2009, 02:03 AM   #11
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Re: is cutting 2 drop coils a bad idea?

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i saw this truck on here. what size you think they are?
I think they are too small, that's what size I think they are.

Like MrBeast said, you are getting way ahead of things. Get your truck back together and see where you are before you starting cutting springs and buying tires.
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Old 11-28-2009, 02:04 AM   #12
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Re: is cutting 2 drop coils a bad idea?

i plan on running much bigger tires on the rear. maybe 30 or 31 by like 12.50s maybe.
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Old 11-28-2009, 02:05 AM   #13
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Re: is cutting 2 drop coils a bad idea?

thanks n2trux, i think thats what im gonna do. just take my time and do everything right the first time. thanks for all the help, i really appreciate it.
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Old 11-28-2009, 02:17 AM   #14
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Re: is cutting 2 drop coils a bad idea?

We know it's exciting researching while your putting it together. Just learn from our experience by doing things in the right order.

Trust me when I tell you it's a lot less work to cut your springs twice than it is to replace them because you cut too much.
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Old 11-28-2009, 02:21 AM   #15
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Re: is cutting 2 drop coils a bad idea?

yea i understand.
thanks again.
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Old 11-28-2009, 02:21 AM   #16
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Re: is cutting 2 drop coils a bad idea?

Out of curiosity, what motor are you going to be running.

And something you might want to think about is running a 4L60E it will give you overdrive, and it will seriously get you an improvement in fuel mileage.
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Old 11-28-2009, 02:29 AM   #17
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Re: is cutting 2 drop coils a bad idea?

its an all roller, 11.3:1 compression, 355 stroker.
ported heads and intake, 750 carb, scat lightweight crank
eagle rods, speed pro pistons, comp extreme energy .550 hydraulic roller cam.
full msd ignition, electric water pump and march performance belts and pulleys soon to come.


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Old 11-28-2009, 04:36 PM   #18
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Re: is cutting 2 drop coils a bad idea?

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its an all roller, 11.3:1 compression, 355 stroker.
ported heads and intake, 750 carb, scat lightweight crank
eagle rods, speed pro pistons, comp extreme energy .550 hydraulic roller cam.
full msd ignition, electric water pump and march performance belts and pulleys soon to come.

Id guess mileage isnt the main concern. Looks like a fun engine
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Old 11-28-2009, 11:57 AM   #19
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Re: is cutting 2 drop coils a bad idea?

Daaang! Whats your estimated HP/TQ
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Old 11-28-2009, 12:12 PM   #20
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Re: is cutting 2 drop coils a bad idea?

Here is one of my trucks when i had some 15" rims and tires on it. The fronts were 225/60/15 the rears were 295/50/15. Rims were 8" wide front and 10" rear. The drop was about 5" front, 5" rear. I was happy with this combo.
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Old 11-28-2009, 12:25 PM   #21
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Re: is cutting 2 drop coils a bad idea?

On my other truck i ran a 225/50/15 front and a 265/50/15 rear. I had a 7/12" static drop and my front a-arms were about half an inch off the ground. It wasn't the best setup, but i was low, until i bagged it. I don't miss those days.
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Old 11-28-2009, 07:44 PM   #22
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Re: is cutting 2 drop coils a bad idea?

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Daaang! Whats your estimated HP/TQ
i dont know for sure on that but its an almost exact copy of the motor in this thing, its my dads friends race car, he helped me build my motor, lets just say alot because this car runs 8.20s on the 1/4....

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Old 11-28-2009, 06:02 PM   #23
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Re: is cutting 2 drop coils a bad idea?

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i have 2 inch drop coils and 2.5 inch spindles, i want to go lower. would cutting the springs be bad?

thanks, david
Before I bagged my 76 Blazer, I ran a static drop for about three years with drop spindles and I cut one loop off my coils. Cutting one loop gave me about 2 1/2 inches more drop. I was running factory 15x8 chev rallies at the time with 245/60/15 tire on the front and I had about 2 3/4" inches of road clearance to my stock control arm. It was a little scary for city rut driving, but I left my factory bump stops in which prevented too much travel which would have caused the control arm to bottom out. It actually rode fine considering minimal susp travel, and I didn't have a major tire wear issue from being a little off camber.
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Old 11-28-2009, 07:47 PM   #24
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Re: is cutting 2 drop coils a bad idea?

hey slammed'87 both those trucks look nice. i think im gonna go with the same size tires u had in the first picture.
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