Drop Spindle I.D. and drop springs

[Critter]

I have been working on 67-72 trucks for over 20 years but admittedly I have never owned a lowered one. Everything has either been stock height or a raised 4x4. So now I need help with a truck that is lowered "too much", please bear with me through the stupid questions. The truck in question has cut stock coil springs AND drop spindles. It is a little too low in the front for the owners taste. The goal is to raise the front of the truck back up between 1 and 2 inches by installing some new coils but because I don't know exactly what has been cut from the stock springs I have to work backwards with the math. So here is what do I know...

-The CENTER of the front wheel hub to the fender lip is 14.375" (or 14-3/8" whichever you prefer)

-Aftermarket lowering spindles but I don't know how much drop. Are they all 2.5" or is it possible to be a different drop??? I attached a pic where I think I see a logo or part number in the casting but I can't make heads or tails of it, maybe somebody will recognize it.

Basically I need help confirming that I am working with 2.5" drop spindles and I would love someone with the same spindles and drop springs to tell me what combination got them to approx 15-16" of measurement between the center of the wheel hub to the bottom of the fender. Maybe I need a new 2" drop spring to achieve this? Maybe I only need a 1" drop spring??? Sorry for the confusion and rambling, thanks for any help possible.

[midniteblues]

I dont know how i came up with this but i'm thinking your spindle says "belltech"
maybe i'm wrong.

i do believe there is a 3" drop spindle but i'm not sure who makes it.

I have ece 4/6 kit with a bbc sitting on the springs(i dont think they are the bbc springs) with 2" or 2 1/2 drop spindles. whatever they provide
i have 15 1/2 or 15.500(you choose)from the center of the spindle shaft to the fender arch.

just too help you out.

[Critter]

I think you nailed it, looks like Belltech. Even the little logo is apparent on the spindle casting.

http://www.belltech.com/products/bel...set-13884.html

Says they offer a 2 or 3 inch though, hmmm...

I guess I should add that this truck has a carbureted LS engine in it. All aluminum so slightly lighter weight than a standard small block. Thanks for the info!

[midniteblues]

Originally Posted by Critter

I think you nailed it, looks like Belltech. Even the little logo is apparent on the spindle casting.

http://www.belltech.com/products/bel...set-13884.html

Says they offer a 2 or 3 inch though, hmmm...

I guess I should add that this truck has a carbureted LS engine in it. All aluminum so slightly lighter weight than a standard small block. Thanks for the info!

yep no problem

[Critter]

I got in touch with Belltech, they are in fact 3" drop spindles. So does anybody out there in internetland have some info as to what combination of 3" drop spindles and aftermarket drop springs that will achieve my desired height of approx 15.5" from fender lip down to the center of the wheel hub? Assuming an LS or sbc engine.

Originally Posted by midniteblues

I have ece 4/6 kit with a bbc sitting on the springs(i dont think they are the bbc springs) with 2" or 2 1/2 drop spindles. whatever they provide
i have 15 1/2 or 15.500(you choose)from the center of the spindle shaft to the fender arch.

So you have a 4" drop spring PLUS the 2-2.5" spindle? Or the spring and spindle add up to a total of 4". Again, forgive me for the unfamiliarity with drop heights on these trucks.

The truck currently has quite a bit of rake to it so we can afford to go back up a little, but if I don't get it right the front will be too high, etc etc.

[vettedrvr]

Originally Posted by Critter

I got in touch with Belltech, they are in fact 3" drop spindles. So does anybody out there in internetland have some info as to what combination of 3" drop spindles and aftermarket drop springs that will achieve my desired height of approx 15.5" from fender lip down to the center of the wheel hub? Assuming an LS or sbc engine.



So you have a 4" drop spring PLUS the 2-2.5" spindle? Or the spring and spindle add up to a total of 4". Again, forgive me for the unfamiliarity with drop heights on these trucks.

The truck currently has quite a bit of rake to it so we can afford to go back up a little, but if I don't get it right the front will be too high, etc etc.

Don't know if it helps but...2,5 in drop spindles and a 1 in drop spring on a 67 gives 16.250 inches from the center of the wheel hub to the top of the arch...with a big block. Since that's .750 above your goal my guess would be a 2 inch drop spring with the 3 in drop spindles will get you very close to your goal. 4 inch drop springs with 2.5 in drop spindles gives a 6.5 inch drop which will likely put your crossmember on the street as the drops are additive!

[Critter]

Yes, it's between a 1" and 2" drop spring I think. So a total of 4" or 5" drop overall with the spindles. Anybody else have measurements to share while running a small block or an LS?

[Critter]

TTT Anyone?

[midniteblues]

Originally Posted by Critter

I got in touch with Belltech, they are in fact 3" drop spindles. So does anybody out there in internetland have some info as to what combination of 3" drop spindles and aftermarket drop springs that will achieve my desired height of approx 15.5" from fender lip down to the center of the wheel hub? Assuming an LS or sbc engine.



So you have a 4" drop spring PLUS the 2-2.5" spindle? Or the spring and spindle add up to a total of 4". Again, forgive me for the unfamiliarity with drop heights on these trucks.

The truck currently has quite a bit of rake to it so we can afford to go back up a little, but if I don't get it right the front will be too high, etc etc.

i believe they are 2 1/2 spindles and 1 1/2 springs that came with the kit. i had tryied another set of springs i have here and couldnt get the jack under the truck. thats not for me i have enough of that crap with the camaro.

if its any help heres a pic i took awhile ago with some differnt springs. they go about 3" drop springs on the left, ece 1 1/2 with the 12" rule in them and oe 6 cly springs on the right.
if i were you with 3" spindles i would find a set of good oe springs and cut 1/2 coil at a time till the truck sat right.

[Critter]

For the record, we went ahead and put a new 1" drop spring in it and it made the center hub to fender lip 16.25". I'm sure that will settle a little over time, we'll see.