GMC with coils/Chevrolet with leaf springs?

[66Submarine]

I think we've all heard this before, but has anyone actually seen/owned a factory '63-'66 GMC 1000-1500 with trailing arms and coil springs, or a '60-'66 Chevrolet C10/C20 with leaf springs?

It doesn't really make that much sense (at all) to me, I don't think I've ever heard of someone actually having one (or seeing one), and I see nothing about it in the GM literature I've seen (although I certainly am not an expert in that department).

Anyone here that can prove or disprove this myth?

[short&wide65]

Originally Posted by 66Submarine

I think we've all heard this before, but has anyone actually seen/owned a factory '63-'66 GMC 1000-1500 with trailing arms and coil springs, or a '60-'66 Chevrolet C10/C20 with leaf springs?

It doesn't really make that much sense (at all) to me, I don't think I've ever heard of someone actually having one (or seeing one), and I see nothing about it in the GM literature I've seen (although I certainly am not an expert in that department).

Anyone here that can prove or disprove this myth?

I think I posted this before but my 65 GMC 910 has coil springs and trailing arms. The caveat is that my truck is Canadian so it probably doesn't help.

It has a 250 Chevrolet engine in it as well, I don't believe the GMC V6 was sold up here.

[66Submarine]

Actually, that does help. I forgot all about reading on the '60-'66 GMC website that the Canadian trucks were supposedly based on the Chevrolet stuff; that would be a possible explanation behind the talk about being able to order a GMC with coil springs. Out of curiosity, does your truck have a 12 bolt GM rear or a Dana 44?

[short&wide65]

Originally Posted by 66Submarine

Actually, that does help. I forgot all about reading on the '60-'66 GMC website that the Canadian trucks were supposedly based on the Chevrolet stuff; that would be a possible explanation behind the talk about being able to order a GMC with coil springs. Out of curiosity, does your truck have a 12 bolt GM rear or a Dana 44?

Its a 12-bolt GM.

[padresag]

here is a 63 GmC on coils with the helper spring

the only major difference between Canadian and US production was the US use of the V6 and the Canadian use of the sbc. they both used the same I6 and in those everything else was the same. US production may have used a heavier set of frt coils due to the more weight of the V6 my C910 had leaf springs as did the C910 ambulance and my C930 has leafs
ron

[66Submarine]

Originally Posted by short&wide65

Its a 12-bolt GM.

Interesting; thanks for the info. Does your truck have the VIN number stamped on the frame like the Chevrolet trucks had? The rear suspension is also all riveted in, right?

Originally Posted by padresag

here is a 63 GmC on coils with the helper spring

the only major difference between Canadian and US production was the US use of the V6 and the Canadian use of the sbc. they both used the same I6 and in those everything else was the same. US production may have used a heavier set of frt coils due to the more weight of the V6 my C910 had leaf springs as did the C910 ambulance and my C930 has leafs
ron

Also interesting; short&wide65's truck was certainly different in that it has the GM 12 bolt instead of the Dana 44 rear that GMC's were supposed to have; pretty much a Chevrolet besides the dash, grill, hood, and tailgate AFAIK.

What rear end does the '63 crewcab have under it? And what's the wheelbase on it? It looks like a 157" (or something like that), which obviously would have been a C30/2500 frame without any provisions for mounting trailing arms. I would have to say that the whole thing is probably custom-made to go along with the crewcab conversion (IMO), but it's certainly very neat nonetheless. Any more pictures?

Interesting that all your trucks besides the crewcab have leaf springs; have you seen any other '63-'66 GMC's around where you're at with factory rear coil springs?

Anyone else have anything to add?

[66Submarine]

Anyone have any factory literature on the subject?

[padresag]

Originally Posted by 66Submarine

Interesting; thanks for the info. Does your truck have the VIN number stamped on the frame like the Chevrolet trucks had? The rear suspension is also all riveted in, right?


Also interesting; short&wide65's truck was certainly different in that it has the GM 12 bolt instead of the Dana 44 rear that GMC's were supposed to have; pretty much a Chevrolet besides the dash, grill, hood, and tailgate AFAIK.

What rear end does the '63 crewcab have under it? And what's the wheelbase on it? It looks like a 157" (or something like that), which obviously would have been a C30/2500 frame without any provisions for mounting trailing arms. I would have to say that the whole thing is probably custom-made to go along with the crewcab conversion (IMO), but it's certainly very neat nonetheless. Any more pictures?

Interesting that all your trucks besides the crewcab have leaf springs; have you seen any other '63-'66 GMC's around where you're at with factory rear coil springs?

Anyone else have anything to add?

sorry I don't remember all the rear ends. it may be a 3/4t but is not a one ton. the coach builders make the crewcabs. they don't change the suspension but do stretch the frames. my C910 GMC ambulance was stretched to 145" w/b
it may be interesting to note that the coil suspension in the crewcab was optional so that not all have it. sort of stands to reason doesn't it
you did ask to see one and there it is.
ron

[66Submarine]

Originally Posted by padresag

sorry I don't remember all the rear ends. it may be a 3/4t but is not a one ton. the coach builders make the crewcabs. they don't change the suspension but do stretch the frames. my C910 GMC ambulance was stretched to 145" w/b
it may be interesting to note that the coil suspension in the crewcab was optional so that not all have it. sort of stands to reason doesn't it
you did ask to see one and there it is.
ron

It's got the full-floating hubs, so it's at least a 3/4 ton.

My question was about '63-'66 trucks that came factory-built from GMC with coils; were the coil springs an option from the coach company? I don't really doubt that they would put some under there to go along with the rest of the homemade stuff they just made, but it just strikes me as kind of odd that GM themselves would do that.

I would really like to see an unmodified/unmolested truck with them, or factory literature mentioning it in some way.

[padresag]

Originally Posted by 66Submarine

It's got the full-floating hubs, so it's at least a 3/4 ton.

My question was about '63-'66 trucks that came factory-built from GMC with coils; were the coil springs an option from the coach company? I don't really doubt that they would put some under there to go along with the rest of the homemade stuff they just made, but it just strikes me as kind of odd that GM themselves would do that.

I would really like to see an unmodified/unmolested truck with them, or factory literature mentioning it in some way.

go back and read d/s what I wrote. you may be the homemade guy but the coach builders were under the umbrella of GM. the coils were an option from GM not the coach makers
ron

[66Submarine]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=621328

Another thread. Keith claimed to have a '66 GMC with coil springs, but it's a Chevrolet frame. It has a VIN number stamped in it like a Chevrolet frame should (that he said didn't match the truck), and a 12 bolt instead of the Dana 44 (VIN number appears to be 6Z153636, which puts it as a '66 Fremont truck AFAIK).

The other trucks were '62's, so they should have coil springs.

So...still not convinced at this point.

[66Submarine]

Originally Posted by padresag

go back and read d/s what I wrote. you may be the homemade guy but the coach builders were under the umbrella of GM. the coils were an option from GM not the coach makers
ron

I did read it.

I'm not "the homemade guy" (), I'm just pointing out that it makes much more sense for the coach builders to do that, since they are making very limited numbers of trucks they are already heavily modifying (including the frame); seems that would be pretty obvious. How do I even know that's the correct '63 GMC frame? You weren't even sure if it had eight lugs and full-floating hubs sticking out of it a minute ago.

Even according to you, all your other trucks have the correct leaf springs. You have provided no other examples or evidence; I'd have to think more than one would be known to exist if it was a factory GM option.

Not trying to come off as mean or anything, but I still remain a skeptic at this point. Does anyone have any actual GM documentation or supporting evidence?

[padresag]

Originally Posted by 66Submarine

I did read it.

I'm not "the homemade guy" (), I'm just pointing out that it makes much more sense for the coach builders to do that, since they are making very limited numbers of trucks they are already heavily modifying (including the frame); seems that would be pretty obvious. How do I even know that's the correct '63 GMC frame? You weren't even sure if it had eight lugs and full-floating hubs sticking out of it a minute ago.

Even according to you, all your other trucks have the correct leaf springs. You have provided no other examples or evidence; I'd have to think more than one would be known to exist if it was a factory GM option.

Not trying to come off as mean or anything, but I still remain a skeptic at this point. Does anyone have any actual GM documentation or supporting evidence?

do you have a mental problem. I never questioned how many studs it had. I stated that it may be a 3/4t but it is not a 1 ton.
the coach builders are supplied a truck with the specs ordered, they just modify it for the body changes required. you should check into how things are done before you go spouting things you don't that much about
ron

[ETsC10]

PLAY NICE! Or thread WILL BE CLOSED!!!!


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