1966 Chevy C20 lowering

[bigB98]

Hey guys I plan on lowering my '66 C20 here shortly but I can't decide how low to go. I want enough clearance that I won't scrape over bumps and whatnot but I'm not a fan of its factory height. I was thinking a 6" rear cool drop and 4" front coil drop. Anyone have some pictures they can put up and help me out? Thank You.

[jadedbird]

Check out Steinway64 on instagraM.

[chevy_mike]

I don't think anyone makes a 4" drop spring. With a 3" one, there is almost no suspension travel. If you want 4" drop up front, do a dropped spindle and 2" dropped spring.

[Mathew21]

My 66" C20 has 4" lowering springs in the back. Front has 2.5" drop spindles and 2" lowering springs.

[chevyrestoguy]

Check out my '64 thread below. I started with a '64 C20.

[Rust-O-Matic]

I put 5" 1/2 ton coils in the rear of my '66 C20, and 3" 1/2 ton coils in the front. With the original bump stops removed there's still a reasonable amount of suspension travel. Anything shorter than 3" springs on the front will not stay seated in the control arm pockets if you jack it up under the frame, and let the arms hang down.

My first attempt was to cut two coils off the original front springs (4-ish inches) and it was way too low. The springs didn't stay seated and there was about an inch between the tire tread and the inner fenders. Hence, the half ton springs.

[Cooper197]

I did 2.5" drop spindles and disk brakes up front and 3" drop springs in the back. I also did 20" wheels in the back and 18" in the front with tire sizes that do make for almost a 2" difference.
Mine is noticeably lowered and raked, but I generally don't have to worry about bumps and such on the road or uneven driveways. The only time I've ever had issues was out at my dad's farm on a very steep, rocky driveway. Bumped the lower control arms off a few rocks there.

[endlessearth]

[IMG][/IMG]

Like the beautiful green truck above my 1964 C20 has 4" lowering springs in the back. Front has 2.5" drop spindles and 2" lowering springs. I also have disc brakes up-front now which are a massive improvement. I also went with smaller tires because my previous front tires were occasionally making contact with inner fender after it was dropped.

[Rust-O-Matic]

^Those are some slick looking machines! It's probably worth mentioning that most of these appear to have been converted to 1/2 ton running gear, so axle clearance and parts availability may be a little more limited if bigB98 is still running the original 3/4 ton stuff.

[Cooper197]

Originally Posted by Rust-O-Matic

^Those are some slick looking machines! It's probably worth mentioning that most of these appear to have been converted to 1/2 ton running gear, so axle clearance and parts availability may be a little more limited if bigB98 is still running the original 3/4 ton stuff.

That's a good point. Mine had a half ton, 5 lug rear end put in quite some time ago. I had somebody do the front end (spindles and disk brakes) and I do not remember if he ended up just changing out the ball joints or if he changed out the whole front end. Either way, I know some modifications had to be made to make it happen.

[Mathew21]

Originally Posted by Rust-O-Matic

^Those are some slick looking machines! It's probably worth mentioning that most of these appear to have been converted to 1/2 ton running gear, so axle clearance and parts availability may be a little more limited if bigB98 is still running the original 3/4 ton stuff.

I should've mentioned my C20 now has a 1/2 ton suspension. I used a 5 lug rear axle out of a early 80's Chevy van. I swapped the front crossmember from a 1991 1/2 Suburban.

endlessearth I love the look of your truck. I would like to see a better picture of your door logo. I want to get my doors done this year.

[rickywideglide]

3 inch in front ,5 inch in rear still have 3/4 front crossmember switched to half ton rear

[bigB98]

I do like the look of the lowered take on that. I'll try to get a pic of mine up tomorrow morning.

[bigB98]

I got this one for now

[bigB98]

ran my block casting and engine code. It's a 350 from 1969 and not a 327 as I was told when I get her.

[Bradfather]

Originally Posted by Mathew21

My 66" C20 has 4" lowering springs in the back. Front has 2.5" drop spindles and 2" lowering springs.

Hello, May I ask, What size tires and rims you have on this C20? Are they the biggest you can go or is there room for more (Height and width?) Thank you.

[Mathew21]

Originally Posted by Bradfather

Hello, May I ask, What size tires and rims you have on this C20? Are they the biggest you can go or is there room for more (Height and width?) Thank you.

My truck is an hour away in storage for the winter. But I'm almost positive my tires are 225/65/16. I could go a little wider in the back right now. I plan on going with a different offset for the back so I can fit a wider tire in the back. Offhand I'm not sure about the front.

[Bradfather]

Originally Posted by Cooper197

I did 2.5" drop spindles and disk brakes up front and 3" drop springs in the back. I also did 20" wheels in the back and 18" in the front with tire sizes that do make for almost a 2" difference.
Mine is noticeably lowered and raked, but I generally don't have to worry about bumps and such on the road or uneven driveways. The only time I've ever had issues was out at my dad's farm on a very steep, rocky driveway. Bumped the lower control arms off a few rocks there.

Hello, May I ask, What size tires and rims you have on this C20? Are they the biggest you can go or is there room for more (Height and width?) Thank you.

[Hollow65]

4-6 drop from ECE
255/55/17 front
265/55/18 rear

[Hollow65]

4-6 drop from ECE
255/55/17 front
285/45/18 rear

[Cooper197]

Originally Posted by Bradfather

Hello, May I ask, What size tires and rims you have on this C20? Are they the biggest you can go or is there room for more (Height and width?) Thank you.

I'm running 20x8.5 -6mm in the back and 18x8 +10mm in the front.
The rear is a 255/45R20 and front is 235/50R18.

The back is close on width for the stock wheel tubs, and I wouldn't want much more height with the 3" drop springs.

For reference, the rear wells sit at about where the rim meets the tire, tucking the top of the tire in. On the front, the whole tire clears the top of the well.

As far as the front goes, I could have gone with the same size as the rear no problem, sometimes I wish I did from a looks standpoint, but I wouldn't get new wheels and tires just for that reason.

So, as far as could you go bigger/wider. Probably, but at some point it would require some work on the tubs and such. However, if just looking for a cruiser and not something to take to the strip, you should be able to get enough rubber with a similar setup.

[Bradfather]

Originally Posted by Cooper197

I'm running 20x8.5 -6mm in the back and 18x8 +10mm in the front.
The rear is a 255/45R20 and front is 235/50R18.

The back is close on width for the stock wheel tubs, and I wouldn't want much more height with the 3" drop springs.

For reference, the rear wells sit at about where the rim meets the tire, tucking the top of the tire in. On the front, the whole tire clears the top of the well.

As far as the front goes, I could have gone with the same size as the rear no problem, sometimes I wish I did from a looks standpoint, but I wouldn't get new wheels and tires just for that reason.

So, as far as could you go bigger/wider. Probably, but at some point it would require some work on the tubs and such. However, if just looking for a cruiser and not something to take to the strip, you should be able to get enough rubber with a similar setup.

Thank you. Do you have the stock axle in your truck or did you go with a Ford 9" or another axle?

[LostMy65]

I know this is an old thread, but it appears most posted here are either c10's or have been converted to c10's. I personally would like to see lowered 8-luggers.

[Rust-O-Matic]

Here's my '66. Original C20 suspension in the front (have '77 C20 front to swap eventually), '96 14 bolt and tubular trailing arms in the back. 3"/5" half ton coils and homemade shock relocators/mounts. 235/70/16 tires on stock square body rims.

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by Rust-O-Matic

Here's my '66. Original C20 suspension in the front (have '77 C20 front to swap eventually), '96 14 bolt and tubular trailing arms in the back. 3"/5" half ton coils and homemade shock relocators/mounts. 235/70/16 tires on stock square body rims.

Great! My 66 has the newer 14-Bolt and front discs off of a 79.