The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > General Truck Forums > Suspension

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-04-2003, 05:33 AM   #1
5150
C10 Club Tennessee
 
5150's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: White House, TN 37188
Posts: 8,281
Cutting Springs?

I would like to lower my '69. Is cutting a inexpensive alternative to buying drop springs? What all is involved in cutting the springs?

Bryan
__________________
Bryan

www.gmtruckshow.com

Project "Andes"-Halen's First Truck

Project: Patina Burb

for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Romans 13:4
5150 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2003, 08:05 AM   #2
Tx Firefighter
Watch out for your cornhole !
 
Tx Firefighter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Azle, Texas
Posts: 14,162
You can cut a coil from front springs for about a 3 inch drop. I've done it many times. Rides pretty well too. Just use a cut-off wheel on a die grinder.

You can't cut the rear springs. They are tapered, so you have no choice but to buy lowered springs.
__________________
I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin
Tx Firefighter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2003, 09:29 AM   #3
Seon
Registered User
 
Seon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Northern CA.
Posts: 503
When cutting the spring, do one coil at one end. If you want it lowere yet, cut the other end...do not cut more than one coil from each end.
Seon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2003, 06:52 PM   #4
SCOTI
Registered User
 
SCOTI's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
Posts: 22,026
I wouldn't want to cut a coil off the top of a spring as it uses the 'last coil' to locate the spring in the upper crossmember pocket. Also, more than 1.5 coils off & ride quality is affected as well as alignments are much more difficult to do.

Rear coils can be cut . . . .... but, you have to fabricate a small 'can' (that bolts in the original bolt hole for the spring) that 'catches' the spring. Basically you make a pocket for the spring to rest in, similar to the front lower a-arm pocket. If you have the materials/talent, it's fairly simple.
__________________
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.
SCOTI is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2003, 08:16 PM   #5
crazy longhorn
Fabricate till you "puke"
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Ill
Posts: 9,402
If you cut the fronts, i agree......cut only off the bottom. You had just as well take 1 full ring, so the spring will seat properly on both ends & you will have about a 3" drop as already posted. When I cut mine, they went upsidedown in a 5 gal bucket of water, & were torched off.....no problem, the only part that was hot was the 1st 1/2 " of the remaining spring. good luck,crazyL
__________________
69 longhorn,4" chop,3/5 drop, 1/2 ton suspension/disc brakes,1 1/2" body drop,steel tilt clip, 5.3/Edelbrock rpm intake/600 carb, Hooker streetrod shorties,2 1/2" exhaust/ H pipe/50's Flows , 6 spd Richmond trans,12 bolt/ 3.40 gears....
crazy longhorn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2003, 02:31 AM   #6
Injected68LS1
Registered User
 
Injected68LS1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: So. Cal.
Posts: 389
I cut my front coils over 8 years ago. Still have them in there today and it still rides very well. I'm just going to add 2.5" dropped spindles and keep the springs.

I cut one full coil off of the big end. Then I heated the coil 180 degrees from the cut end and hit the coil on the ground to bend the coil so it was more square. This was to make it seat better in the control arm. Hope that makes sense.
__________________
1968 Chev SWB with 1998 Corvette LS1
305hp and 320 ftlb to the wheels (stock engine!)
AEM EMS and wideband O2 sensors
Bowtie Overdrive's 700R4, stage 3
Baer 4 wheel discs and 20s
http://iciclelanding.com/aperture?album=2049&view=album
Injected68LS1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2003, 09:14 PM   #7
Brad
Out of the carpool lane.
 
Brad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Clark Co, WA
Posts: 5,673
Wow, this is a nice departure from what I usually have to argue about. Most responses in past posts on the subject strongly recommend against cutting springs. While it's certainly not the best way to lower your vehicle it can be done with very positive results the way folks have recommended above.
__________________

1968 C-10 SWB, 5.7 Vortec/700R4/3.73 posi, Torch Red
1968 Camaro, 250/Powerglide, all original (No, I'm not gonna drop a 350 in it!...Jeez!)
2000 Honda VFR in the faster yellow!
2008 Husqvarna TE-610

1967 C-10 SWB 'Six Appeal'-Gone but not forgotten...

Brad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2003, 09:40 PM   #8
Injected68LS1
Registered User
 
Injected68LS1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: So. Cal.
Posts: 389
I would say that the front is no problem but no more than one coil. Otherwise you get to low and you would have no travel left over.

I would not on the other hand try to cut the rear springs because of the tapered ends. I would slurge and get good rear drop coils.

Just my .02
__________________
1968 Chev SWB with 1998 Corvette LS1
305hp and 320 ftlb to the wheels (stock engine!)
AEM EMS and wideband O2 sensors
Bowtie Overdrive's 700R4, stage 3
Baer 4 wheel discs and 20s
http://iciclelanding.com/aperture?album=2049&view=album
Injected68LS1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:00 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com