Trailing arms or leaf springs? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Mike68stepside · 04-19-2009, 10:32 PM

I recently bought a 68 Shortbed Stepside. Most that I have looked at had trailing arms, however this one has leaf springs. What can I look at to confirm this is how the truck came or was it changed. How many of you have seen or heard of this?

67ChevyRedneck · 04-19-2009, 10:48 PM

Chevy or GMC?

"Typically" 1/2 ton Chevy's came stock with coil springs while 1/2 ton GMC's came with leafs, but either could be optioned with the other rear suspension.

If it was an option, I think it would be listed on the SPID on the glovebox door.

Longhorn Man · 04-19-2009, 10:57 PM

they made millions of C/10 trucks with leafs... not as uncommon as everyone seems to think.
As indicated above, the SPID would tell you if it is original.

mycool72 · 04-19-2009, 11:17 PM

Do the hangers have original rivets or are they bolted on?

sweet70beast · 04-20-2009, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

they made millions of C/10 trucks with leafs... not as uncommon as everyone seems to think.

Not nearly as rare as the 3 door Suburbans.,.,. eh, Longhorn Man?

**truckster** · 04-20-2009, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweet70beast

Not nearly as rare as the 3 door Suburbans.,.,. eh, Longhorn Man?

Or the rare Corvette option... I haven't seen that one for a while.

Mike68stepside · 04-20-2009, 01:57 PM

The SPID on the back of the glove box door is missing. Anywhere else I can verify if ordered with leaf springs?

Mike68stepside · 04-20-2009, 01:59 PM

Looking at it, they have rivets and not bolted on. Why would you put leaf springs under a 1/2 ton stepside with such a narrow bed?

67ChevyRedneck · 04-20-2009, 02:13 PM

You still haven't answered if your truck is a Chevy or GMC. If it's a GMC that's just how they came "stock."

While the coils ride much better than the leafs (IMO), the leafs are much better suited for towing and hauling. The original owner may have wanted to haul heavy loads or tow a lot with his truck.

mycool72 · 04-20-2009, 02:30 PM

Rivets are prob original and factory. Not many people will rivet a conversion, they usually use bolts instead.

Longhorn Man · 04-20-2009, 03:45 PM

Back in the day, a lot of people felt that coils didn't belong under a truck, front or rear. Even now, leafs have a huge following in the pick up industry, that's one of the reasons leafs have been used almost exclusivly in the rear of a pick up.
Probably some old timer bought your truck originally and scoffed at the idea of "car springs" under his truck.

Mike68stepside · 04-20-2009, 09:03 PM

Sorry, this is a Chevy. The SPID is missing from the back of the glove box door. Do you any where else I might could look to find out if this was the way it was ordered?

Mike68stepside · 04-20-2009, 09:05 PM

Thanks for your reply. Hopefully it was ordered this way. Any where else I might find out it was ordered this way?

Longhorn Man · 04-20-2009, 09:27 PM

You can rip everything out of the cab looking for a build sheet, but don't hold your breath. In trucks, they are usually stuffed into the springs of the seat, but they've been found under the carpet/mat or stuck to the fuel tank. But again, don't expect to find it.
If it was rivited, then it's probably stock being no one has the equipment to install those rivits, plus, no one would go through the hassle and expense when a nut and bolt would do just fine.

Mike68stepside · 04-20-2009, 09:49 PM

You are probably right. The guy before me had started restoring and put in new carpet and seat. The build sheet I'm sure is gone. Just going to assume it was ordered this way.

**leddzepp** · 04-20-2009, 11:44 PM

I would guess it was ordered that way. I don't know of anyone that would go to the trouble of switching out coils for leafs. I would think it would be the other way around.

04-19-2009, 10:32 PM	#1
Mike68stepside Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Oxford, NC Posts: 13	Trailing arms or leaf springs? I recently bought a 68 Shortbed Stepside. Most that I have looked at had trailing arms, however this one has leaf springs. What can I look at to confirm this is how the truck came or was it changed. How many of you have seen or heard of this?

04-19-2009, 10:48 PM	#2
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	Re: Trailing arms or leaf springs? Chevy or GMC? "Typically" 1/2 ton Chevy's came stock with coil springs while 1/2 ton GMC's came with leafs, but either could be optioned with the other rear suspension. If it was an option, I think it would be listed on the SPID on the glovebox door. __________________ Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride American Born, Country by the Grace of God 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications! Last edited by 67ChevyRedneck; 04-19-2009 at 10:49 PM.

04-19-2009, 10:57 PM	#3
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Trailing arms or leaf springs? they made millions of C/10 trucks with leafs... not as uncommon as everyone seems to think. As indicated above, the SPID would tell you if it is original.

04-19-2009, 11:17 PM	#4
mycool72 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mansfield, TX Posts: 309	Re: Trailing arms or leaf springs? Do the hangers have original rivets or are they bolted on?

04-20-2009, 01:57 PM	#7
Mike68stepside Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Oxford, NC Posts: 13	Re: Trailing arms or leaf springs? The SPID on the back of the glove box door is missing. Anywhere else I can verify if ordered with leaf springs?

04-20-2009, 01:59 PM	#8
Mike68stepside Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Oxford, NC Posts: 13	Re: Trailing arms or leaf springs? Looking at it, they have rivets and not bolted on. Why would you put leaf springs under a 1/2 ton stepside with such a narrow bed?

04-20-2009, 02:13 PM	#9
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	Re: Trailing arms or leaf springs? You still haven't answered if your truck is a Chevy or GMC. If it's a GMC that's just how they came "stock." While the coils ride much better than the leafs (IMO), the leafs are much better suited for towing and hauling. The original owner may have wanted to haul heavy loads or tow a lot with his truck. __________________ Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride American Born, Country by the Grace of God 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications! Last edited by 67ChevyRedneck; 04-20-2009 at 02:15 PM.

04-20-2009, 02:30 PM	#10
mycool72 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mansfield, TX Posts: 309	Re: Trailing arms or leaf springs? Rivets are prob original and factory. Not many people will rivet a conversion, they usually use bolts instead.

04-20-2009, 03:45 PM	#11
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Trailing arms or leaf springs? Back in the day, a lot of people felt that coils didn't belong under a truck, front or rear. Even now, leafs have a huge following in the pick up industry, that's one of the reasons leafs have been used almost exclusivly in the rear of a pick up. Probably some old timer bought your truck originally and scoffed at the idea of "car springs" under his truck.

04-20-2009, 09:03 PM	#12
Mike68stepside Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Oxford, NC Posts: 13	Re: Trailing arms or leaf springs? Sorry, this is a Chevy. The SPID is missing from the back of the glove box door. Do you any where else I might could look to find out if this was the way it was ordered?

04-20-2009, 09:05 PM	#13
Mike68stepside Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Oxford, NC Posts: 13	Re: Trailing arms or leaf springs? Thanks for your reply. Hopefully it was ordered this way. Any where else I might find out it was ordered this way?

04-20-2009, 09:27 PM	#14
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Trailing arms or leaf springs? You can rip everything out of the cab looking for a build sheet, but don't hold your breath. In trucks, they are usually stuffed into the springs of the seat, but they've been found under the carpet/mat or stuck to the fuel tank. But again, don't expect to find it. If it was rivited, then it's probably stock being no one has the equipment to install those rivits, plus, no one would go through the hassle and expense when a nut and bolt would do just fine.

04-20-2009, 09:49 PM	#15
Mike68stepside Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Oxford, NC Posts: 13	Re: Trailing arms or leaf springs? You are probably right. The guy before me had started restoring and put in new carpet and seat. The build sheet I'm sure is gone. Just going to assume it was ordered this way.

04-20-2009, 11:44 PM	#16
leddzepp Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern Cal Posts: 20,013	Re: Trailing arms or leaf springs? I would guess it was ordered that way. I don't know of anyone that would go to the trouble of switching out coils for leafs. I would think it would be the other way around. __________________ 1972 C/10 Cheyenne Super SWB. Restored, loaded, slammed. 1968 C/10 50th Anniversary LWB. Unrestored, stock, daily driver/work truck. RIP ElJay RIP 67ChevyRedneck RIP Grumpy Old Man RIP FleetsidePaul



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