How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10

[Bennett68C10]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

The end links do not end up as parallel as they appear, due to my 'extreme' drop, but I don't foresee any binding issues. It definitely has a leverage advantage by attaching at the end of the arm; my butt-o-meter is just not highly calibrated enough to tell the difference

butt-o-meter i like that

[gringoloco]

More truck parts in the living room: PB 1" forward lower control arms came in--including some upper arms I didn't order that I'll have to send back In exchange, I will receive the lower cross-shafts, hardware, and shock mounts. The uppers are super nice pieces- I almost wanna just keep them, but they're more of a want than a need and I'm sticking to my 'budget'

Also got my ECE 6" rear drop coils. Man, they are SHORT. I fear I may have to reduce the size of my lowering blocks. In that case, I will definitely have to change my rear shock mounting arrangement...

[gringoloco]

...and a shot with the billet spring retainer/adapter loosely bolted in place. Genius in its simplicity--I just hope the spring doesn't want to rotate without something holding the end of the 'pigtail'...

[68GMCCustom]

had been following this but lost it somehow. following again!

[67c10rustbuket]

Sheew! spent the last few hours reading your build. Very nice work! I see a few ideas I will have to borrow from this build. Great job, love the paint treatment and wheel smoothing. Lots of nice touches without breaking the bank.

[darkhorse970]

More nice parts, I like it!

[Bennett68C10]

Nice parts your going to love the Tubular Arms, i know i do. I also love the fact that you can run Coils on it just with the billet adapter good to know in case I ever decided to go back to coils. Not that I ever see that happening but you never know.

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by 68GMCCustom

had been following this but lost it somehow. following again!

Welcome back! Just in time for the latest round of upgrades

Originally Posted by 67c10rustbuket

Sheew! spent the last few hours reading your build. Very nice work! I see a few ideas I will have to borrow from this build. Great job, love the paint treatment and wheel smoothing. Lots of nice touches without breaking the bank.

Thanks! I would love to spend a ton of cash on it, but I really would like to retire someday

Originally Posted by darkhorse970

More nice parts, I like it!

Thanks- almost have everything gathered- then, the fun begins...

Originally Posted by Bennett--G4L

Nice parts your going to love the Tubular Arms, i know i do. I also love the fact that you can run Coils on it just with the billet adapter good to know in case I ever decided to go back to coils. Not that I ever see that happening but you never know.

I had my mind set on 'bags for this truck, especially after GoodGuys last year when my wife gave me the thumbs-up on the look, but I really want something that drives and handles well. Other than the truck and Blazer, I've only had one other classic (a '67 Mustang 5.0/t5 swap), before that, it was all sports cars and crotch rockets. Family life necessitates different modes of transportation, but I still get the urge to attack an on-ramp with fury All that said, it's nice to have the option for air if I ever wanna spend the money to do it right...
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[gringoloco]

Squirted some color on a few small parts today--really liking this VHT epoxy satin black. It has the perfect sheen and lays out really nicely. The control arms and rear disc brackets will head to the powder coater next week...

[XxCHEVYMANxX]

Nice parts ! and painted pieces are lookin good too. Vht is a good product, I use it and duplicolor as well. keep up the good work !

[mcbassin]

More nice parts. The paint looks good.
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[widewhite70]

Looking good! I like to see the Porterbuilt parts! My next build will have some for sure

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by XxCHEVYMANxX

Nice parts ! and painted pieces are lookin good too. Vht is a good product, I use it and duplicolor as well. keep up the good work !

Thanks! I've had good luck with their wrinkle finish, too.

Originally Posted by mcbassin

More nice parts. The paint looks good.
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Thanks- chipping away at it...

Originally Posted by widewhite70

Looking good! I like to see the Porterbuilt parts! My next build will have some for sure

Thanks! I don't think yours is lacking in the handling dept. They are nice looking pieces- hopefully work as good as they look
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[gringoloco]

Pulled the 'bags and installed the ECE 6" drop rear coils. Man, this thing is L-O-W...

The coils slipped right in like they belonged there and in conjunction with my 1.5" blocks give me 7.5" of rear drop, which is about 1.5 lower than where I had the airbags set before for the 'just right' rake. Not sure what the plan of attack is at this point, as I kinda like the lowered look, but would have to re-work shock mounts, bumpstops, and maybe exhaust to get it right--not to mention the work involved in getting the front down another inch to match

The ride is different--definitely feel more of the road than with 'bags, but not necessarily in a bad way, except when I hit a larger bump and it bangs the bumpstops. If it stays at this height, I'll fix that so it won't be a factor...

[gringoloco]

Here's before and after measurements of the rear wheel arch, as well a side view showing just how re-donk-u-lous it looks with the a$$ dragging the ground. I am NOT a fan of the 'cali-lean'. Also note how off-center the front wheels are--the PB arms should remedy most of this. I think I will wait until after I complete the trailing arm 'flip' before I plan any other drastic changes out back, as I'm pretty sure that mod will raise the rear an inch or so...

[Lolyin58]

Truck looks really good. Should be fun to drive!
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[Bennett68C10]

I love the way the rear looks, I would leave it like that and get the front down a little lower. What spring are you running in the front, maybe try a 3" lowering spring if your able too
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[XxCHEVYMANxX]

Originally Posted by Bennett--G4L

I love the way the rear looks, I would leave it like that and get the front down a little lower. What spring are you running in the front, maybe try a 3" lowering spring if your able too
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I agree, bring the front down and your there.

[Xeen]

You could just remove the 1.5" rear lowering blocks and see how you like it.

[Pick]

Originally Posted by Xeen

You could just remove the 1.5" rear lowering blocks and see how you like it.

Or just machine the blocks to the height you need to fine tune the rear drop and achieve the "right" rake you're looking for.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Xeen

You could just remove the 1.5" rear lowering blocks and see how you like it.

He would still have to re-work the shock mounts as the blocks help w/shock travel. It will be interesting to see where the height winds up after the relocating of the front T/A pivot.

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by Lolyin58

Truck looks really good. Should be fun to drive!
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Thanks- I sure hope so after all of this

Originally Posted by Bennett--G4L

I love the way the rear looks, I would leave it like that and get the front down a little lower. What spring are you running in the front, maybe try a 3" lowering spring if your able too
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Front is currently a 1" drop Belltech trimmed to about 2" drop. If I do anything, I'd probably section the crossmember to bring it down and keep my ground clearance. This was supposed to be a simple project, though

Originally Posted by Xeen

You could just remove the 1.5" rear lowering blocks and see how you like it.

Thought about that, but will probably wait 'til after the t-arm 'flip'

Originally Posted by Pick

Or just machine the blocks to the height you need to fine tune the rear drop and achieve the "right" rake you're looking for.

Likely will end up doing this following the flip

Originally Posted by XxCHEVYMANxX

I agree, bring the front down and your there.

Part of me agrees, but the other part doesn't wanna deal with all of the custom fab required to get there...

Originally Posted by darkhorse970

I like it! With a little fine tuning I have no doubt that you will get it where you want it.

BTW, I'm adding the sway bar to my '63 this week so I will give you some "feedback" on the handling improvements.

Cool, let me know what you think--I was amazed at the difference

Originally Posted by SCOTI

He would still have to re-work the shock mounts as the blocks help w/shock travel. It will be interesting to see where the height winds up after the relocating of the front T/A pivot.

I agree- trying to minimize the amount of fab while still being super low is an exercise in futility. There's give/take while finding the balance. TA mount flip coming soon--I'll do it as a direct 1:1 comparison with no other changes, just for scientific purposes
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[darkhorse970]

I like it! With a little fine tuning I have no doubt that you will get it where you want it.

BTW, I'm adding the sway bar to my '63 this week so I will give you some "feedback" on the handling improvements.

[Zoomin]

What's odd is that it looks like it's sitting level if you look at the top of the bed. Are your rims different diameters (too lazy to search)?

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by Zoomin

What's odd is that it looks like it's sitting level if you look at the top of the bed. Are your rims different diameters (too lazy to search)?

20" wheels all around, but with a slight tire rake; 28" front/29" rear...