Update with picture of my 69 GMC lowered stepper w/bed what ya think?

[GMC"ER]

Hey guys, I posted a picture of my 69 GMC stepside last week after I had lowered it with 3" springs in the front and a 5" leaf flip kit in the rear without the bed on and it was kinda hard to tell the stance. So I just wanted some opinions on how it looked stance wise as I am new to these trucks and I had never done a lowering job before. So here it is with the bed on. Now I do have to finish the bed with new wood and other things but you can see the stance. It does have a small rake to it and I am hoping that the weight of the wood and other parts do not make it set too low in the rear. It also does not have the shocks on it yet so that will stiffen it up some in the rear or may have to go with some type of overload shocks? I guess I will just have to wait and see after the bed is complete. Also with the 3" inch lowering springs in front I only got 2" I thought that the weight of the 350 engine may make it settle down a little over time on the new springs what do you all think? What do you all think.. is the stance right? Thanks for looking, the newbie Robert

[leddzepp]

Back end looks perfect IMO. Front end needs to come down another 1-2" IMO. Very nice truck!

[Longhorn Man]

I have to agree, maybe a smaller tire up front too, but personally I like slightly smaller tires in the front.

[lolife99]

You only got a 2" drop with your 3" front springs,... because your original 40+ year old springs were already sagging.
I agree,... the rear is perfect and the front needs to come down a little more.
(hint, hint,... drop spindles,... hint, hint)
Get some good quality drop shocks.
Did you add an adjustable track bar and rear shock reloctaors?

Very nice looking stepside!

[Boog]

Leaf rear Keith.

[71swb4x4]

I agree with the others, back is perfect, front needs an inch or two. If you have discs up front put drop spindles on so you don't mess with the geometry.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by Boog

Leaf rear Keith.

Oops.
Man,... I need to learn how to read better.

[70cst]

truck. I would agree a little more drop would be better

[GMC"ER]

Thanks guys for the response I just got to look back at my post today. Well I guess that everybody is in agreement that the front needs to come down a little, well that was my feelings also but I was not sure of it until I saw everybody's post's. So now back to the drawing board for some more modification. First I am on a budget build as seems everybody is in the present economy so I am looking for a simple fix if there is such a thing? I replaced with new 3" drop springs so I had thought about cutting them down. Now before everybody says don't do that go with drop spindles I would agree but that means changing over to disc brakes with a master cylinder booster and getting into things that I have no ideal what I am doing let alone a great deal more money for a truck that I will maybe drive a couple of times a month! So I guess I will research the cutting of springs and see how much to cut down I am just worried about the tires scrubbing in front and when I go to have it aligned I will have trouble. So how much do I need to cut to get an extra 1 to 2 inches? Hope this works as I have a lot of money in the new springs just to ruin them. Thanks the newbie, Robert

[lolife99]

3" front spring is the MAX.
No cutting.
No nothing.
If you cut these 3" drop springs, they will be loose in the front spring pocket.
Alignment of the front suspension will be impossible.
Some have a hard time getting an alignment with 3" springs.

I have a 3" spring with 2.5" drop spindles on my '69.
Good luck.
Don't cut the springs.
Wait until you have money to switch to disc brakes.

[tow guys]

Truck looks great either way but I tend to agree with the others. Lower is always better.
On a different note, can you tell me what color your GMC is? It looks like a spot on match for what I'm looking for. A paint code would be great too if you have it.
Thanks,
Tony

[GMC"ER]

Hey Tony on the color I have the paint code out in the shop I will try and get it for you tomorrow evening and post for you or private message you. Robert

[special-K]

I think the truck looks great as is. If you want the front lower just get a shorter front tire. The most common coil spring static drop is 4/6. So,you have that same stance,but 1 lousy inch higher. I wouldn't get under it any more for just another inch and adding drop spindles would be too low IMO.

[hemihead]

I had the exact same problem...measured and ordered what I needed but after I installed I didn't get the drop I needed. So I went with from a 2" to a 3" and ended up getting 2" more. So either my 2" was a 1" or my 3" ended up as a 4"?? Either way here is what I started and ended up with.

[dukcaln]

I would like to see the front come down a tad and wider tires in back and narrow up front....but it looks good and makes me want to get mine dropped

[GMC"ER]

Thanks guys, on all the information I am really confused now on what to do? Maybe I will just leave it be for now and see how I like it but on the other hand if I am wondering how something looks I am usually not satisfied with it. I am new to these trucks and I guess a little intimidated with them as all I have ever worked on is my 29 Model A which I came from frame up on it and was my first build. I have a good friend that helped me with the removable of the springs and he use to build these trucks around 15-20 years ago he said that I could change the upper ball joint and tie rod end sleeve(I think?) and use 73 and up drop spindles and buy discs and calipers and change some kind of valve on the master cylinder and I would be ready to go for a lot less than the kits being offered on line. Ok this is were my problem starts I don't know what to get at the auto parts store because when you tell the kid behind the counter what you are doing he does not have a clue and guess what I don't either! I have looked at kits on line and you are looking at close to 800 to 1000 for axle conversion kits and that type of price is just out of the question for my budget, my buddy said that the parts for the 73 and up would run in the 300.00 dollar range and work on my 69? Does this sound right or is he just not correct as it has been many years since he has built one. Can someone please list the things that I need to buy for the front disc brake conversion I have all stock drum brakes front and rear, 6 lug, running 15" 4x4 ralley's with of course the 3" drop springs and I did put new upper and lower ball joints in with the new springs and remember I am very limited on my knowledge of these trucks I am use to mechanical brakes as on the Model A by the way here is a picture of it (I couldn't resist to show it off!) thanks Robert And by the way this was the first car that I have ever worked on as I do not until now do any mechanics on any vehicle and also was my first paint job and please no laughing at the paint because it is not perfect I did get a couple of runs in it. Just a good time driver car!

[mikey531]

The easiest way to is to raise the rear a little and balance it out. Drive it and see what happens. If the front drops a little then you have a good stance.

[lolife99]

Your buddy is a little outdated on his info.
That's the way you use to do it.
(73-87 drop spindles)

Now all the major suspension companies make "year specific" drop spindles.
You would need 67-70 spindles.
(Some list them as 65-70,... others list them as 63-70)
These are a direct bolt on to your 1970 a-arms and tie rods.

Then get aftermarket 6-lug 1-1/4" rotors or you can buy parts house 5-lug rotors if you want to switch to 5-lug.
Use '73 calipers.
You will also need to run a different brake hose.
ECE sells them. (disc conversion brake hoses)

Actually ECE has everything you need.
Give them a call. They are very helpful.
(www.earlyclassic.com)

[68Stepbed]

If you don't want to swap to drop spindles and disc brakes right now, then maybe you could look into some dropped lower control arms.

Give the Drop Shop a call.
Charley's Drop Shop, 503-780-2155.

[chopnchaneled]

Like your stepper, makes me wish i hadn't converted mine.

One of the neat things about your truck, you can still drive it while your are deciding
on what your gonna do.

[lolife99]

I like using www.PerformanceOnline.com also.
Here's a list of what you will need to convert the front to 6-lug disc brakes.
You can buy a cast iron M/C for $40 less,... but I think the aluminum version is much nicer and will never rust.

2.5" Drop Spindles (Part # DS6370) for your truck:
http://www.performanceonline.com/196...dle-Set-16683/

6-lug rotors:
http://www.performanceonline.com/FRO...10-TRUCK-8600/

Calipers:
http://www.performanceonline.com/197...-CALIPER-EACH/

Aluminum M/C and prop. valve:
http://www.performanceonline.com/HIG...PVS-AMCPVS232/

Brake Hoses for 7/16-20 Banjo bolts:
http://www.performanceonline.com/60-...RUBBER-FBHK-R/

[CC69Rat]

CPP dropped springs? I used their 3" springs in my old 68 stepper and I got the same thing .. maybe 2" if that. Keith is right though, you were used to the old 40+yr old springs and it's not apples-to-apples comparison.

My 68 settled a LOT. Drive it man. .. give it a month and make your decision from there .. but whatever you do, don't cut the spring. You'd think one turn would give you 2 more inches or so .. but it will be about 4 more. Trust me, I learned the hard way.

If they're CPP springs do some searching around the forum. There are a lot of folks on here that have mentioned the same issue, 3" springs = 1.75" drop or so ..

But, my point being let it settle. I think it looks awesome man. The back is perfect. I have a 69/68 stepper in my build thread if you want to see a 2" drop spring (one coil out of factory small block springs) 2.5" sprindles, and iron headed big block and a tire that's way too small.

I'd leave it man..

[GMC"ER]

Hey thanks Keith for the list of things to get and the links. I went out and looked some more at the truck and I know that I am not going to like the current drop and I do want to go with the lower front if I don't I am not going to be satisfied. Yes it is a pricey add on(for me) for only 2 1/2 inchs more drop but I know that I will not be pleased until I do. I will just have to save a little to buy everything thought about driving it until I get everything rounded up but the truck does not have shocks on it and if I go buy them now I will just have to turn around and buy more when I add spindles well on the front anyway so I will just have to be patient. Another question will I have trouble with the front tires scrubbing with it being so low? That is a concern also. I am running 235 75 15's. Thanks to everybody for all your help with this, is there a good book on restoring or a manual on these trucks? I do pretty good if I can read and see a picture on what I am doing. Thanks again to everyone for the posts, the newbie, Robert

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by GMC"ER

Yes it is a pricey add on(for me) for only 2 1/2 inchs more drop but I know that I will not be pleased until I do.
You are also getting disc brakes. That's a big bonus.

I will just have to save a little to buy everything thought about driving it until I get everything rounded up but the truck does not have shocks on it and if I go buy them now I will just have to turn around and buy more when I add spindles well on the front anyway so I will just have to be patient.
Spindles won't change which shocks you need. They will be the same.


Another question will I have trouble with the front tires scrubbing with it being so low? That is a concern also. I am running 235 75 15's.
I run a 215/70-15 up front.

See above.

[CC69Rat]

I wasn't aware you could do dropped spindles with a 6 lug setup. Keith is incredible with this stuff man .. I wish I had known, my old blue stepper would have been sitting in the weeds.