Drop springs is 3-5 ok without c notch?

[AH619]

Thinking about lowering my first truck. It a 68 swb that we are building for my 15 year old. Had seen the drop springs and noticed they come 1/3 or 3/5. We are using 15 inch aluminum wheels with 60s front and 50s rear. I cant go to the expense of drop spindles and c notches. Whats my best bet?

[Tx Firefighter]

You can run 6 inch rear springs without a notch. I've done it many times.

[67_C-30]

I lot of people on the board are running 2 1/2" spindles and 1" lowering springs and 6" drop springs in the rear without a C notch. I have my beater truck dropped 3/5" with just springs and it does fine, but they are little harder to align than the drop springs. I have heard of a few people saying that some of the 3" drop springs pop out of the spring pocket when you jack them up.

[AH619]

Originally Posted by 67_c-30

i lot of people on the board are running 2 1/2" spindles and 1" lowering springs and 6" drop springs in the rear without a c notch. I have my beater truck dropped 3/5" with just springs and it does fine, but they are little harder to align than the drop springs. I have heard of a few people saying that some of the 3" drop springs pop out of the spring pocket when you jack them up.

did you mean harder to alighn than with drop spindles?

[LuckyHenriksen]

Yep my 3 inch front drops would almost fall out if there wasnt any pressure holding them down

[Shane]

You won't need a notch, but an adjustable trac bar (panhard bar) is a good idea. It helps to re-center the axle.

[AH619]

So 3/5 springs would be ok by themselfs? And not be too much of a pain? Would it set about level?

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by AH619

So 3/5 springs would be ok by themselfs? And not be too much of a pain? Would it set about level?

Yes, it is a little more involved when aligning it due to changing front a geometry, but it is doable. The 3/5 drop sits pretty level and looks good.

Here's my beater dropped 3/5".

[AH619]

Originally Posted by 67_c-30

yes, it is a little more involved when aligning it due to changing front a geometry, but it is doable. The 3/5 drop sits pretty level and looks good.

Here's my beater dropped 3/5".

thanx

[Puropedo]

Dont need a notch for a 5-6" rear drop (like everybody is telling u) Here's my
72 cheyenne with a 5" rear (there's still about 3.5 inches of travel between the differential and frame.

[68 C-10 KID]

Originally Posted by Puropedo

Dont need a notch for a 5-6" rear drop (like everybody is telling u) Here's my
72 cheyenne with a 5" rear (there's still about 3.5 inches of travel between the differential and frame.

What brand of rear springs are those? I bought a set of mcgaughy 5" rear spring and it lowered it like 6" to much for me. My 4" springs are just not enough. Looking for a true 5" spring. Also what are you doing for drive line angle?

[primered_junk]

Heres my old 71 GMC, 3/5, 235/70/15 and the rears were the equivalent to a 31/10.50. The 66 parked behind it had the same drop with custom made torque thrusts, 17x6 front, and 17x12 rears.

[MellowYellow70]

My 70 is dropped 5" in the front with springs and modified a-arms. The rear is dropped 6.5" with springs and blocks on the trailing arms. Rode great and never had a problem with 275/60/15 all around. Going with 17's and a 5.3 swap currently.

[nicolas72gmc]

Originally Posted by primered_junk

Heres my old 71 GMC, 3/5, 235/70/15 and the rears were the equivalent to a 31/10.50. The 66 parked behind it had the same drop with custom made torque thrusts, 17x6 front, and 17x12 rears.

Do you have any more pics of the 71 with that drop? Thanks man.

[69halfton]

you guys are saying 3/5 drop with only coils? im looking at the early classic website, they only offer up to a 2 inch drop with coils in the front.

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by 69halfton

you guys are saying 3/5 drop with only coils? im looking at the early classic website, they only offer up to a 2 inch drop with coils in the front.

That's because I think ECE doesn't recommend 3" drop coils in the front. It's hit and miss if you can get the alignment set correctly and since ECE is wanting to give the very best, they recommend dropped spindles and coils for 3"+ drops.

As they say, just because you can... doesn't mean you should. YMMV.

[72BlckButy]

Originally Posted by chevy_mike

That's because I think ECE doesn't recommend 3" drop coils in the front. It's hit and miss if you can get the alignment set correctly and since ECE is wanting to give the very best, they recommend dropped spindles and coils for 3"+ drops.

As they say, just because you can... doesn't mean you should. YMMV.

[kcjones]

I can't agree on the 6" drop with no cnotch. I agree that you can run a 6" drop spring and still drive the truck, but you'll have like 1/2" clearance between the frame and axle tube.

I have 5" drop springs and 1" blocks, and if I didn't have the notch, I'd have the frame on the axle every single bump I hit. I know it's doable, but you can't really ever expect to haul anything (not even your old springs) anywhere without hearing and feeling that obnoxious bump in the back.

This is only my experience, I have heard of lots of people running 6" drops without issue, it just hasn't been my experience.

5" drop in the back shouldn't be a problem even with a light load in the bed. ECE is great, PerfOnline is good (in my experience again), and CPP is not-so-good, mostly because of communication and customer service.

Oh, yeah, one more comment: definitely run drop spindles, don't do the 3" drop spring in front. Crappy ride, weird alignment, and weird characteristics around corners - you know the thing where even right after a good alignment, so still get squel around corners, only to the right? Yeah, weird stuff man, get the drop spindles.

[AH619]

O k thanx guys. I knew yall would steer me straight. Thanx again

[LuckyHenriksen]

Can you run a 6 inch spring AND a set of 2 inch blocks?

[kcjones]

Originally Posted by LuckyHenriksen

Can you run a 6 inch spring AND a set of 2 inch blocks?

You sure can, but you'll definitely need the notch, then. Here's a quick cell pic of why a 6" drop spring probably should have a notch:




Also, in the pic below, with this stuff in the bed, I was drooping below the frame/axle clearance height, so with a 6" drop spring and any load, you'd be hitting frame:

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by kcjones

You sure can, but you'll definitely need the notch, then. Here's a quick cell pic of why a 6" drop spring probably should have a notch:

Attachment 414619


Also, in the pic below, with this stuff in the bed, I was drooping below the frame/axle clearance height, so with a 6" drop spring and any load, you'd be hitting frame:

Attachment 414620

I cannot dispute your pictures, but I do have some thoughts.

Your truck was originally a 3/4 ton longbed. Longbed, reinforced frame, tool box in bed,...

My experience has been with 1/2 ton shortbeds and Early Classic Springs and never a c notch.

As a matter of fact, I currently have a Honda Goldwing in the bed of my 1/2 ton shortbed truck and I have driven it no sweat.

[see ten]

I have Early Classic 6" drop springs and it does bottom out from time to time. TX I know you say you have never had a problem with them and your statements had a lot to do with my use of ECE 6" drop springs. That being said I don't doubt you or your statements...but my truck does bottom out from time to time out back. I drive my truck a lot and I drive it hard and it doesn't have issues all the time but it does have issues. So, from my experience, and my opinion, 5" of drop is optimal if you want to ride without bottoming out....Do I want to change my springs out now that I've gotten used to the look and the ride? Hell no!

[see ten]

My 3.5"/6" drop all ECE.



Brian's 2.5"/5" drop all ECE same tire wheel sizes.



2.5" drop spindles will make you much happier than 3" drop springs in the long run. If you can't afford em...save your money til you can. If I can't change your mind at least buy a set of 3" drop springs from me so I can save you some money. I've got a set we took out of one of my buds trucks when he went to drop spindles. You can get an alignment with 3" drop front springs but your ball joints will be at less than their optimal angle. Not to mention your lower control arms will more than likely bottom out on the crossmember.

[au03z71]

Originally Posted by see ten

I have Early Classic 6" drop springs and it does bottom out from time to time. TX I know you say you have never had a problem with them and your statements had a lot to do with my use of ECE 6" drop springs. That being said I don't doubt you or your statements...but my truck does bottom out from time to time out back. I drive my truck a lot and I drive it hard and it doesn't have issues all the time but it does have issues. So, from my experience, and my opinion, 5" of drop is optimal if you want to ride without bottoming out....Do I want to change my springs out now that I've gotten used to the look and the ride? Hell no!

Did you notch the frame?