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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Augusta, GA
Posts: 10
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Coilover Kit/Suspension Upgrades
Looking for advice on suspension upgrade for my '65 C10.
Purpose: Seeking a smoother ride just cruising around town. Not doing any racing or intense driving. Don't want to significantly lower the truck from stock height. Current Set-up: Power (drum)brakes/power steering, front sway bar, 230 6 with 3 on the tree. It was recommended that I should do a rear coilover upgrade so wondering if anyone had experience and thought it was worth it. CCP rear coil over kit is $699. The kit with lower trailing arms is $1,299. 1) Would coilovers make a dramatically different ride driving around town? 2) Are rear coilovers enough or would I need to buy the $799 front coil-over kit? 3) Do I need the lower trailing arms to feel significant improvement? 4) Is there a more cost effective solution to what I'm trying to do? Appreciate any advice and input. -Alex |
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#2 |
Moderator
![]() ![]() Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: China Spring, TX
Posts: 7,280
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Re: Coilover Kit/Suspension Upgrades
Personally I dont think coil overs is what you want reading your post. Better shocks maybe yes.
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Master Chief, US Navy, Retired 1964 C10 Step-side Short Bed - In Progress 2009 2500HD Duramax LTZ 1948 GMC Panel 1956 Big Window Stepside 1953 5 Window Chevy Stepside 1932 Coupe New Seat Foam for Bench Seats? |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Beautiful BC, Canada, eh?!
Posts: 2,228
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Re: Coilover Kit/Suspension Upgrades
^^^ +1.
Coilovers allow you to fine-tune the exact ride-height or corner-weight you need. Absolutely 100% unnecessary on a street vehicle. Good shocks, however, are worth their weight in gold.
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1961 Apache: "Grabber Orange" Shortboxed, pancake, step-notch, air-ride, boosted-LS 1977 Silverado: Shortboxed & dropped, potato-potato V8 Pontiac Firefly (Chevy Sprint): The ultimate engine swap: 5.7L in a 1.0L bag Lotus Super 7 Replica: Scratch-built street-legal rollerskate |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Augusta, GA
Posts: 10
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Re: Coilover Kit/Suspension Upgrades
Thank you for both your responses.
I guess it makes sense to first replace bushings and shocks. As far as I know, they're 55 years old. |
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#5 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Hayes Va
Posts: 4,569
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Re: Coilover Kit/Suspension Upgrades
Rebuild the suspension to get rid of any worn parts. I run Beltech street performance shocks and they really have a good ride. Your tires can make a difference in the ride Lower the tire pressure a couple of pounds in the back and see what it does. These trucks really dont have a lot of rear weight and running the tires at max pressure really is not needed. When I redid my seat I went from the lumpy cotton to some good quality foam and that improved it. It all works together.
Jimmy
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60 to 66 Chevy and GMC window decals http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=661131 Good friends, good food and a hotrod what else do you need? 1966 BBW long fleet Daily driver 1965 BBW short fleet Sold and going to a good home 1965 Suburban 2003 3500 Duramax 2005 Ultra Classic |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: central California
Posts: 2,736
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Re: Coilover Kit/Suspension Upgrades
Besides shocks and trailing arm bushings, if your cab bushings are all shot out, a new set of rubber ones will help a little too. Do you have a spare tire back there hanging in the cradle? It's not much weight but it is placed right where it provides the most benefit.
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
Posts: 21,967
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Re: Coilover Kit/Suspension Upgrades
I agree w/the recommendations above about C/O's not being an upgrade 'ride quality' wise vs the factory coil spring set up on these trucks. Better shocks are a great investment.
Nobody mentioned this but relocating them is a good idea as well so they function better doing their job. No Limit Engineering has a nice relocation bracket set-up.... http://www.nolimit.net/products#!/Dr...tegory=6157547
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67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol. |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Augusta, GA
Posts: 10
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Re: Coilover Kit/Suspension Upgrades
Thanks again for all the input. I'm going to go ahead and invest in some good shocks, bushings, and I should have a spare tire underneath anyway so I'll have that added weight.
I don't have a good idea of what these trucks are supposed to ride like normally (I'm 30 yrs old) but it sounds like for my purposes just getting back to good factory parts will do. It doesn't ride terribly as is but I bet everything mentioned here will make a big enough difference that I won't want to make any non-factory upgrade. |
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#9 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
Posts: 21,967
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Re: Coilover Kit/Suspension Upgrades
Quote:
Having a front sway bar is definitely a good thing. Disc brakes up front would be an upgrade I would consider sooner vs later if making changes. Drop spindles + disc brakes yields better braking & a lower center of gravity w/o compromising suspension travel. Standard disc brake spindles would offer the better braking & no drop.
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67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol. |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: central California
Posts: 2,736
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Re: Coilover Kit/Suspension Upgrades
Couldn't tell from the pic, but I've seen many a stepside without a rear bumper,. If you're lacking one, there's a few more pounds to add right where you need 'em.
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: tyler texas
Posts: 94
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Re: Coilover Kit/Suspension Upgrades
im a cheap bastard so if you want stance and ride quality go with belltech or other vendors for spindles and springs. for the rear go springs and blocks for desired height,, have fun
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65c10 43,000 original miles ,230 stovebolt,powerglide,3" drop spidles 3" drop springs w/ half coil cut and 5 drop springs in back with 1 1/2 blocks... c notch soon to add hei offy 4 v intake and holley 390 ![]() |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Augusta, GA
Posts: 10
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Re: Coilover Kit/Suspension Upgrades
Again, thank you for all the input. I do have a rear bumper but I don't have a spare tire underneath the bed so I plan on doing that too. I bought all new bushings but haven't put them on yet.
I wanted to update because when I was replacing all 4 shocks I realized the main cause of the rear end shifting left/right when driving over manholes/potholes. The arm or bracket that the bottom of the rear shocks bolts into shifted dramatically. I tightened the bolts up after getting the new shocks installed and between stabilizing those and the new shocks, the drive is much smoother. I couldn't find what the part is called in my LMC or ClassicParts mags so someone can jump in if they know the nomenclature. |
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#13 |
Senior Member
![]() ![]() ![]() Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Hickory Flat, GA
Posts: 4,468
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Re: Coilover Kit/Suspension Upgrades
Sounds like your entire axle was loose. The lower shock mount is attached to the bottom of the trailing arm using the same U bolt. GM says to torque those U bolts to 230 ft lbs
My axle was loose and made a clunking noise every time the truck shifted weight. It was so loose that I could see a decent gap between the axle and trailing arm ![]()
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Christian Carpenter 1963 C10 - Frankentruck 283, Muncie 3 speed with overdrive Overdrive wiring here1963-ish truck bed trailer - Half-Wit 1981 C10 - Penny 305, th350 --> Soon to be 350, Saginaw 4 speed 1995 Dodge Dakota Sport "I'll put it simple: if you're going hard enough left, you'll find yourself turning right." - Doc Hudson |
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