Need advice...drop coils or cut stock coils???

[valero]

whats up guys...lookin to do a 1" front and 3" rear drop on my 63 c20...should i go with the cpp 1/3 drop coil set that i found on ebay for $190, or is there a way i can save some $ and (safely) cut my stock coils to fit this drop?? unfortunately, i dont have a lot of room to work with and i havent acquired many tools yet...so i gotta do it ninja style...lol

let me know what yall think...thanks!

[lolife99]

Cut a 1/2 coil from your stock springs to get a 1" drop.
Most likely the "new" 1" drop coils from CPP will be taller than your stock sagging original springs.
I use a die grinder with a cut off wheel to cut my springs.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Cut a 1/2 coil from your stock springs to get a 1" drop.
Most likely the "new" 1" drop coils from CPP will be taller than your stock sagging original springs.
I use a die grinder with a cut off wheel to cut my springs.

Cutting a little off the fronts would be the way I would also go if I like the current ride. For the rear (if it's coils), get some lowering blocks & dropped coils vs. all spring drop.

[valero]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Cutting a little off the fronts would be the way I would also go if I like the current ride. For the rear (if it's coils), get some lowering blocks & dropped coils vs. all spring drop.

ok, say i have the stock suspension for the 63 c20 (slightly higher in the back) and i want to lower by 1 in. in the front and 3 in. in the back to obtain that even, lowered (not slammed) muscle-ish stance....how far down from the very tip of the spring should i cut ?...and what would be the ratio from the front cut to the back cut to make it even?

[valero]

???

[SCOTI]

Cut the coil in even amounts. Start w/a quarter or half coil.

and what would be the ratio from the front cut to the back cut to make it even?

I'm not sure what exactly you're asking here??

[valero]

lol, sorry.....what im saying is that in order to get a lowered, even (parallel to the ground) stance, from the original (slightly "stinkbug") stock stance...there needs to be a 1" drop in the front, and a 3" drop in the back.....so, from the tops of the front coils, i know you have to cut 1 half coil length down to get a 1" drop right? so to make the back of the truck stand evenly with the front 1" drop (so that the body is parallel with the ground and not higher in the back)...would i have to cut 3 half coil lengths from the top of the rear springs or, more/less...?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by valero

lol, sorry.....what im saying is that in order to get a lowered, even (parallel to the ground) stance, from the original (slightly "stinkbug") stock stance...there needs to be a 1" drop in the front, and a 3" drop in the back.....so, from the tops of the front coils, i know you have to cut 1 half coil length down to get a 1" drop right? so to make the back of the truck stand evenly with the front 1" drop (so that the body is parallel with the ground and not higher in the back)...would i have to cut 3 half coil lengths from the top of the rear springs or, more/less...?

The rear springs are 'pig-tailed' so cutting them for drop requires more fabrication. Something needs to keep the spring seated @ each end. The pig-tails are how the coils are secured in place. Once you cut one end, you have to figure out a new way to mount the coil w/the pig-tail removed.

I suggest a drop spring for the rear.

[oldblue1968chevy]

Im making a 2 inch block for the rear of my truck (getting exteneded U bolts from NAPA) and a 2" thick wall block from metal yard). And going to cut the front coils 1 full circle for a 2inch drop.

[valero]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

The rear springs are 'pig-tailed' so cutting them for drop requires more fabrication. Something needs to keep the spring seated @ each end. The pig-tails are how the coils are secured in place. Once you cut one end, you have to figure out a new way to mount the coil w/the pig-tail removed.

I suggest a drop spring for the rear.

thanks man...yeah i see what youre sayin...i'll def. do the front myself then, and save up for some drop springs...theres some pretty decent deals on ebay that ive seen, unless theres better places that i dont know of...?

[valero]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

Im making a 2 inch block for the rear of my truck (getting exteneded U bolts from NAPA) and a 2" thick wall block from metal yard). And going to cut the front coils 1 full circle for a 2inch drop.

cool oldblue...any chance you'll be makin a thread on that?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by valero

cool oldblue...any chance you'll be makin a thread on that?

You should browse the FAQ's section. This is listed under the suspension/steering heading....
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=196457

[valero]

cool scoti...i'll check it out...thanks!

[oldblue1968chevy]

LOL, trickiest part is finding a 3\4 inch drill bit for the blocks, and finding a u bolt reasonablely priced.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

LOL, trickiest part is finding a 3\4 inch drill bit for the blocks, and finding a u bolt reasonablely priced.

Yep,... for the price of the drill bit you could buy some lowering blocks.
I use a 7/8" bit, when I make my blocks.
Most machine shops should be able to drill them for a small fee.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

Im making a 2 inch block for the rear of my truck (getting exteneded U bolts from NAPA) and a 2" thick wall block from metal yard). And going to cut the front coils 1 full circle for a 2inch drop.

Just remember,... with 15" wheels you can run into "scrub line" issues with a 2" block.
(the bottom of the u-bolts will contact the ground, before anything else, incase you have a rear flat tire).
This may cause vehicle control issues while braking.

[oldblue1968chevy]

Yikes! Good excuse to shop for 20's Machine shop..like the one that builds motors? Im still trying to get my hands on a U bolt, I ordered one that came in today from NAPA but I got 5\8 thread (thought thats what I saw in the FAQ, turns out its 3\4"...where yall get you U bolts from??

Thanks lowlife your a ton of help

[chevykid65]

after years of waiting i finally got my 65 lwb into the shop and so far iv ripped off the front sheet metal, yanked the 283 and 4 spd out and im ready to get to work, i got the lower a arms dropped and pulled the springs but passenger side was broke near the bottom end, looks like it rode that way for a while, took both springs down to the shop today and cut a lil past the break and cut the drivers side to match, its equivilant to about 1 1/4 rounds that got cut off, from what iv seen 1/2 round = 1" of drop, keeping this project low buck garage built but do you guys think i screwed up by cutting that much off instead of finding replacement springs? on the back end i see some of you guys do a lowering block, looks like everybody has used a 2" block, id like to run a 3 or even 4" block on mine to get me closer to the ground, has anyone done this or would i be biting off more than i can chew? im seeing some pretty bad @ss trucks here, you guys do awesome work

[oldblue1968chevy]

I wouldnt go with more than a 2 inch block, get a drop spring. lolife, can I fit a 7\8 thick u bolt in the holes pre existing? thanks!