Help for an Old Guy with a New Toy

[alan c. brawn]

I am a “newbie” to the forum but have been an avid viewer for a while. The good news is that at long last at 69 years of age I have a toy. By that I mean a really cool 1970 Chevy C10 pickup. I will try to post pictures as soon as possible. The paint is incredible and it sits on 22” wheels in the back and 20” in the front and is lowered. The previous owner did a C notch for the back above the leaf springs and took a leaf or two out but in the front he seems to have just cut the springs and left the old shocks. The suspension is totally out of character with the rest of the truck and I get little suspension travel at all. So I want to leave the lowered look but improve the suspension. I do not have $5k and above to do a full Ridetech suspension or a Heidt’s or TCI front conversion so I think it leaves me with bags. So…nearing social security I must be frugal but as I always say, I do not want to spend a dollar more than I have to but also not a dollar less than I need to. I see prices from $600 kits on eBay to over $2k for front and back. I see a lot of great comments about Porterbuilt and they have a front and back “kit” for around $1k. Is that they way to go and then add air compressors, tank, and gauges or do you have other thoughts. Thanks so much for any advice!
ProfessorB

[leddzepp]

If you are on a budget I would do a static drop and buy everything at the counter at CPP since you are here in SoCal.

[FirstOwner69]

I don't have any advise for you. I just want to welcome another old 69 year old to the forum!

[alan c. brawn]

Thanks for the quick reply and I enjoyed your project shots. As soon as I figure out how to post shots of the "new" toy I will do so. When you recommend a static drop are you simply referring to lowered springs, new shocks, and drop spindles? Wouldn't bags give me height adjustability and also a better ride?
ProfessorB

[alan c. brawn]

Thanks for the welcome. I think I have an intersting tale to tell on the way to this spot in my life. I have never been rich so I had to work my way through school. I was the stock car classification manager of a drag strip in the Midwest from 1960 through 1969 and this took me through college. I could never afford a cool car but worked on a LOT of friends cars/trucks and yearned for my own. In the mid 1980's I finally got a 1977 Corvette but had to sell it in 1991 when I moved to So Cal. No more toys for me until this Christmas when my son bought me my toy. Raising 7 kids has been worth it but boy am I happy to have my own hot rod. I cannot wait to share shots so stay tuned...sons and daughters are good!!!

[leddzepp]

Sure, but you said "budget". If you want bags that's more $$$.

[alan c. brawn]

For a speech teacher I am not very clear sometimes. Sorry. I do not have $5k or more to spend but as noted in the original post I see things from $600 to $1500 and that is in my "budget". My questions are about the differences and what to avoid. There seems to be differences in bags, compressors, valves, and brackets. Should I go with something safe like Porterbuilt entry level kit with shocks, brackets, and Airlift 2600 bags and then add compressors and the rest when I can or are there better things to consider?
Professor B

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by alan c. brawn

...sons and daughters are good!!!

They are a lot more important that these trucks.! Great story. Now, enjoy that truck.

[alan c. brawn]

Right on and the 5 grand kids as well. The best part about the truck is doing all the things the original owners did not do which then makes it mine.
Professor B

[michael bustamante]

with airbags theres modifications like adding plates and cup, cutting bump and steer stops, cutting the front sway bar, possably replacing the lower control arms and gauges and switches.
i had both and for starting off id go with drop spring, sway bars and shock relocators. but you truck has a c notch you said right? also redo the upper and lower control arms with new bushings. world of difference. and look seriously into drop spindles

[Mike C]

Welcome to the board!

Air bags will cost you more in the long run as noted above. If you are really on a budget, do a static drop also advised above.

More info and pics needed on the front suspension. Does it have disc brakes? If not, it needs them IMO. 2 1/2" disc spindles and whatever spring you need to get you down. I did 2" on mine.

My truck is leaf springs as well and it had the 4 leaf heavy duty option. I pulled the overload and put Cal-Trac bars on it when i did a DJM flip. That lowers the back just over 7". I did not C-notch.

I know people are getting tired of seeing this shot of my truck, but this is the 4.5"/7" drop converted to 5 lug and discs.

[flashed]

Welcome ,Im looking forward to pics ,Im of no help to you on lowering as I like mine stock height but I like looking at them all .

[hdff]

Welcome from Texas. I don't have any answer for your question but can say

[leddzepp]

You can't go wrong with Porterbuilt, but it is not practical for a budget build. If you are set on bags, contact Travis at azproperformance. They can tailor a system for you based on your budget.

[1968aj]

well now I feel like a youngster . im only 62. my truck is lowered with drop springs and spindles. I think its the easiest and more economical.

[kitsbeach]

Originally Posted by Mike C

I know people are getting tired of seeing this shot of my truck, but this is the 4.5"/7" drop converted to 5 lug and discs.

Great pic. Truck sits perfect..!!

[Lou Boffa]

Welcome Alan. These trucks are about the best things I know for knocking a few years off that accumulation of time...well maybe not the best....make that the 2nd best...

[alan c. brawn]

Thank you all for your willingness to help and I am well aware that this is worthless without pictures. My daughter is coming up to see if we can figure out how to post them so stay tuned.
Professor B

[Mike C]

Get an account setup at one of the photo places. I use Shutterfly. Once you get pictures uploaded there, you link to them in your post. Go into your Shutterfly account, look in the album, open the picture you want to use and view the picture details (right click and view image info) and then copy the location and paste.

Like this, type

[img] then paste your location in here then at the end [ img] (in the second set of brackets it should be with a forward slash /img just can't type it that way or it tries to display a picture!

[alan c. brawn]

Thanks and I finally figured out how to do it and posted some pictures on another thread after this one so anyone interested can see it.
Professor B

[hotrodder]

I would go for the drop spindle/ springs& shocks. I did my 67 with CPP, products. you can easily do it yourself and save money on labor,GOOD LUCK.

[alan c. brawn]

Thanks and I will reconsider that.
Professor B

[CST10]

Originally Posted by Mike C

Welcome to the board!

I know people are getting tired of seeing this shot of my truck, but this is the 4.5"/7" drop converted to 5 lug and discs.

Welcome to the Team.

I never get tired of this photo shot. I love that stance and look of the brush gaurs. Bad ass.