Anyone thought of this? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Stano · 04-08-2002, 12:33 AM

When I did the suspension on my 67 before I reinstalled the cab a year ago I used 2.5" drop spindles and 4 " drop springs in the rear I just got around to thinking about shocks recently and figured I could use stock height in front which I did but in the rear I was wondering about front shocks for a 4x4 1/2 ton. I went and got 4 new shocks today and got the 4x shocks. They fit perfect in the rear with a 4"drop plenty of travel either way and even had the right inserts in the rubber for the bolts. Just wondering if anyone else thought of this.

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Current Project(s)
67 Chevy LWB (almost a truck again)
68 Suburban (Basket case ,got basket and its gettin fuller)
DAILY DRIVERS
71 C-20 Built 327,4spd,4.11 Posi
84 K5 Blazer(Sorry this ride is closed for repairs)
HiPerf cat., Flowmaster
94 GMC Conversion van
(Wifes ride)
Kickin back in Rolla,Mo. USA

"Do the thing you fear most and the death of fear is certain" unknown

KD · 04-08-2002, 08:33 PM

Never thought of that but now that you have I will have to file that one away for my book.

71GMCstreet · 04-08-2002, 08:37 PM

Your discovery is gonna save alot of people alot of money, those "special order" shocks are not cheap, I know, I'll pass this along, cool to share this info....thanks

Stano · 04-08-2002, 09:21 PM

Here's the scoop. I was needing shocks for the 67 and since I am like everyone else I have to work for a livin and support a family and pay bills I look for cost effective ways to do the same thing without botching I hate botching. Anyhow I have a 84 K5 blazer and I remembered the front shocks being longer than standard 2 wheel drive shocks. I measured my shock mounts and measured the shocks on the blazer and then went to the parts store and bought a pair. They went on perfect have plenty travel in either direction, nearly equal as a matter of fact. And if they didn't work I could use them on the 4x blazer. These were the front shocks for the 84 k5 blazer without quad suspension and I used them on the rear of my 67 1/2 ton lowered 4in in rear with Western Chassis springs. Hope this can help someone else out that is tight on funds and can't afford specialty lowered shocks.

------------------
Current Project(s)
67 Chevy LWB (almost a truck again)
68 Suburban (Basket case ,got basket and its gettin fuller)
DAILY DRIVERS
71 C-20 Built 327,4spd,4.11 Posi
84 K5 Blazer(Sorry this ride is closed for repairs)
HiPerf cat., Flowmaster
94 GMC Conversion van
(Wifes ride)
Kickin back in Rolla,Mo. USA

"Do the thing you fear most and the death of fear is certain" unknown

Jesse 67 c-10 · 04-08-2002, 09:37 PM

Don't know if this applys to our trucks or not, but don't coil spings need a lot more damping than leaf springs beacause of the friction between leafs? The shocks may be tuned differently, just a suggested caution, otherwise sounds like a great idea, I improvise stuff all the time to save money.
Jesse

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Near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. 67 c-10, Long fleet, Newly swapped front disks, 5 lug rear end, 327 v-8 with Vortech heads, edlbrock performer rpm air gap manifold, 1406 carb and comp XE 256 cam. Backed by a getrag 5 speed and 1 piece driveshaft. Finnally running, almost driving! www.geocities.com/chevy67jesse

Stano · 04-08-2002, 10:40 PM

Jesse from what I could tell(I was jumping up and down on the back)they should be fine. I used the stock shock mounts and there was virtually no bounce at all. I was rather impressed how stable it was. Now I want to drive it! I miss driving this truck terribly lots of fun.

*Fast68Chevy* · 04-09-2002, 02:09 AM

the only reason why coils need dampening alot more than leaves need it is because of how springy the coils are, if you have driven a coil rear truck with no shocks installed ( i have) then you iwl know exactly what i mean, if you try this then hope that you are not sea sick type of person and that you dont mind ppl staring at you as your truck goes bouncing by

leaves dont need as much dampening so much so that GM did not install shocks on the rear of the 1 ton trucks as standard equipment, you had to order them or order camper equipment to get them

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Randy- Lincoln, IL
r68c30@hotmail.com

71 C-10, trying to assemble....sigh..
parting out 5.0LTPI '81 cutlass supreme brougham
*Paint is overrated
© RSS Enterprises 2000

Project1970 · 04-09-2002, 07:01 PM

I wonder how this would work on a leafspring truck, then...I'd much rather get a set of KYBs than the Belltech Nitrodrops (which I haven't been terribly satisified with) whenever I need new shocks.

Then again, I'll also just fire off an email to Dave at Early Classic...I've got his suspsension stuff and they're using KYBs now, instead of the Belltechs...just find out what shock he uses for the rears...

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Project 1970 - soon to be seen at http://milhouse.treylis.org:81/

04-08-2002, 12:33 AM	#1
Stano Registered User Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Mo Posts: 963	Anyone thought of this? When I did the suspension on my 67 before I reinstalled the cab a year ago I used 2.5" drop spindles and 4 " drop springs in the rear I just got around to thinking about shocks recently and figured I could use stock height in front which I did but in the rear I was wondering about front shocks for a 4x4 1/2 ton. I went and got 4 new shocks today and got the 4x shocks. They fit perfect in the rear with a 4"drop plenty of travel either way and even had the right inserts in the rubber for the bolts. Just wondering if anyone else thought of this. ------------------ Current Project(s) 67 Chevy LWB (almost a truck again) 68 Suburban (Basket case ,got basket and its gettin fuller) DAILY DRIVERS 71 C-20 Built 327,4spd,4.11 Posi 84 K5 Blazer(Sorry this ride is closed for repairs) HiPerf cat., Flowmaster 94 GMC Conversion van (Wifes ride) Kickin back in Rolla,Mo. USA "Do the thing you fear most and the death of fear is certain" unknown __________________ New daily driver 96 Chevy K3500 crew cab dually 53,000 miles 350 Vortec 4L80 Nice ride 67 Chevy C-10 LWB Built 350 TH-400 Wifes ride and family rig: 2001 Furd Expedition 5.4 Liter Kickin back in Rolla,Mo. USA "Do the thing you fear most and the death of fear is certain" Mark Twain

04-08-2002, 08:33 PM	#2
KD Truck Nut Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Big Lake,MN,US Posts: 134	Never thought of that but now that you have I will have to file that one away for my book. __________________ '70 3/4 manual w/350 4.56's .Doing a ground up on a '67 4x4 4"lift.

04-08-2002, 09:21 PM	#4
Stano Registered User Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Mo Posts: 963	Here's the scoop. I was needing shocks for the 67 and since I am like everyone else I have to work for a livin and support a family and pay bills I look for cost effective ways to do the same thing without botching I hate botching. Anyhow I have a 84 K5 blazer and I remembered the front shocks being longer than standard 2 wheel drive shocks. I measured my shock mounts and measured the shocks on the blazer and then went to the parts store and bought a pair. They went on perfect have plenty travel in either direction, nearly equal as a matter of fact. And if they didn't work I could use them on the 4x blazer. These were the front shocks for the 84 k5 blazer without quad suspension and I used them on the rear of my 67 1/2 ton lowered 4in in rear with Western Chassis springs. Hope this can help someone else out that is tight on funds and can't afford specialty lowered shocks. ------------------ Current Project(s) 67 Chevy LWB (almost a truck again) 68 Suburban (Basket case ,got basket and its gettin fuller) DAILY DRIVERS 71 C-20 Built 327,4spd,4.11 Posi 84 K5 Blazer(Sorry this ride is closed for repairs) HiPerf cat., Flowmaster 94 GMC Conversion van (Wifes ride) Kickin back in Rolla,Mo. USA "Do the thing you fear most and the death of fear is certain" unknown __________________ New daily driver 96 Chevy K3500 crew cab dually 53,000 miles 350 Vortec 4L80 Nice ride 67 Chevy C-10 LWB Built 350 TH-400 Wifes ride and family rig: 2001 Furd Expedition 5.4 Liter Kickin back in Rolla,Mo. USA "Do the thing you fear most and the death of fear is certain" Mark Twain

04-08-2002, 09:37 PM	#5
Jesse 67 c-10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 599	Don't know if this applys to our trucks or not, but don't coil spings need a lot more damping than leaf springs beacause of the friction between leafs? The shocks may be tuned differently, just a suggested caution, otherwise sounds like a great idea, I improvise stuff all the time to save money. Jesse ------------------ Near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. 67 c-10, Long fleet, Newly swapped front disks, 5 lug rear end, 327 v-8 with Vortech heads, edlbrock performer rpm air gap manifold, 1406 carb and comp XE 256 cam. Backed by a getrag 5 speed and 1 piece driveshaft. Finnally running, almost driving! www.geocities.com/chevy67jesse __________________ Edmonton, Alberta, 67 c-10, Long fleet, front disks, 5 lug rear end, 327 with Vortechs, edlbrock manifold, comp cams XE 256, 600cfm carb. Backed by a getrag 5 speed and 1 piece driveshaft. 1993 Dihatsu Hijet Jumbo cab 4x4, currently converting to battery electric power.

04-08-2002, 10:40 PM	#6
Stano Registered User Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Mo Posts: 963	Jesse from what I could tell(I was jumping up and down on the back)they should be fine. I used the stock shock mounts and there was virtually no bounce at all. I was rather impressed how stable it was. Now I want to drive it! I miss driving this truck terribly lots of fun. __________________ New daily driver 96 Chevy K3500 crew cab dually 53,000 miles 350 Vortec 4L80 Nice ride 67 Chevy C-10 LWB Built 350 TH-400 Wifes ride and family rig: 2001 Furd Expedition 5.4 Liter Kickin back in Rolla,Mo. USA "Do the thing you fear most and the death of fear is certain" Mark Twain

04-08-2002, 08:37 PM	#3
71GMCstreet Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 97	Your discovery is gonna save alot of people alot of money, those "special order" shocks are not cheap, I know, I'll pass this along, cool to share this info....thanks

04-09-2002, 02:09 AM	#7
Fast68Chevy Account Suspended Join Date: May 2000 Location: IL Posts: 0	the only reason why coils need dampening alot more than leaves need it is because of how springy the coils are, if you have driven a coil rear truck with no shocks installed ( i have) then you iwl know exactly what i mean, if you try this then hope that you are not sea sick type of person and that you dont mind ppl staring at you as your truck goes bouncing by leaves dont need as much dampening so much so that GM did not install shocks on the rear of the 1 ton trucks as standard equipment, you had to order them or order camper equipment to get them ------------------ Randy- Lincoln, IL r68c30@hotmail.com 71 C-10, trying to assemble....sigh.. parting out 5.0LTPI '81 cutlass supreme brougham *Paint is overrated © RSS Enterprises 2000

04-09-2002, 07:01 PM	#8
Project1970 14.1 @ 96MPH Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 2,811	I wonder how this would work on a leafspring truck, then...I'd much rather get a set of KYBs than the Belltech Nitrodrops (which I haven't been terribly satisified with) whenever I need new shocks. Then again, I'll also just fire off an email to Dave at Early Classic...I've got his suspsension stuff and they're using KYBs now, instead of the Belltechs...just find out what shock he uses for the rears... ------------------ Project 1970 - soon to be seen at http://milhouse.treylis.org:81/ __________________ Project1970 - LS1 Swap Complete!



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