Lowering help 69 C10

[Jay69fleet]

Hey guys

Looking at lowering my 69 on some springs. Just wondering how far I can go on spring's without having to do anything major and what kits you suggest? Also, how do I tell If my truck's already been lowered? I have no idea what previous owner has done. I know its got a 72 disc brake set up on the front.

Pics attached, sorry dont have any good side on ones. Thanks

[Ironangel]

That front end has been lowered. As square as the front wheels look I would guess drop spindles have been installed. Take a pic of the inside of the spindles and someone in the know will be able to tell you. Heres a pic, the spindle on the right is the drop spindle.

[Jay69fleet]

Here is pic, that's a factory one I've got isn't it?

[Ironangel]

Thats a drop spindle, you lucked out! If you want to drop it any more you'll have to do with lowering springs or cut a 1/2 coil off the bottom of the factory springs. 1/2 coil equals one inch of drop, roughly. That is my preferred method because the factory springs are a heavier coil material than the drop springs. If you have trailing arm coil spring suspension out back I'm betting the previous owner has already installed drop springs and/or lowering blocks. Have be careful especially in the rear because shock relocaters will be necessary after 4" or more of drop is made. The panhard bar will either have to be bent or replaced with an adjustable bar to keep the rear end centered under the truck. If you go beyond 4" or 5" a C-Notch in the frame will become necessary and you may need to rotate the axle with shims to maintain the correct pinion angle. Thats usually not necessary unless your running a one piece drive shaft...For every inch of spring drop in front will require one inch shorter shocks, out back depends on whether or not shock relocaters are used and where they're placed. I have a 4" drop on the rear one of my trucks and used 2" shorter shocks with no issues, rides great and I can haul my bike as well. With your tire and wheel combo it appears you can get another inch down in front and maybe two inches in the rear without having tire rub issues...Good luck! ~Ghostrider~ PS My other truck... 4-4 drop 4-4 drop w/big block

[Jay69fleet]

Are you sure? The spuds at the bottom of the spindle. Wouldn't it be towards the center if it were a drop spindle? Also the steering arm is straight. Rear hasn't been blocked either. Just want to drop it a few inches till I save up to get the entire PB setup.

[Ironangel]

Originally Posted by Jay69fleet

Are you sure? The spuds at the bottom of the spindle. Wouldn't it be towards the center if it were a drop spindle? Also the steering arm is straight. Rear hasn't been blocked either. Just want to drop it a few inches till I save up to get the entire PB setup.

Your right, I'm mistaken. The spindle would indeed be near the center and not low like the one shown. "My bad" :redface: I personally wouldn't attempt to lower the front without installing drop spindles first.

[Jay69fleet]

Originally Posted by Ironangel

Your right, I'm mistaken. The spindle would indeed be near the center and not low like the one shown. "My bad" :redface: I personally wouldn't attempt to lower the front without installing drop spindles first.

Yeah agreed, I'll put 2-2.5" drops spindles in and drop the rear 3-4" to level it out. Will I need to relocate shocks at 4" or is it only if I go beyond that? Any suggestion as to which spindles and coils I buy?

[GWWhite]

I went the whole 4 inch rear drop but used the shock extenders anyway, All works well and looks great.

[67 chevelle]

Many members with up to 4 inch front and 6 inch rear drops with no issues , lower than that and a c-notch frame , panhard bar , and front end component tweaking is usually needed , I did 3-5 on my 68 with springs and shocks , rides great

[Jay69fleet]

Originally Posted by 67 chevelle

Many members with up to 4 inch front and 6 inch rear drops with no issues , lower than that and a c-notch frame , panhard bar , and front end component tweaking is usually needed , I did 3-5 on my 68 with springs and shocks , rides great

What If I get the current springs reset to the height I want, would that be a viable option? The problem I'm going to run into with drop spindles is I will have to put my truck through certification for it to be road legal again after changing the spindles. So I'd have to get good quality drop spindles none of this made in china crap. (Yes, The modification laws in my country are over the top)

[Jay69fleet]

Originally Posted by GWWhite

I went the whole 4 inch rear drop but used the shock extenders anyway, All works well and looks great.

Do you have a pic?

[Mike C]

What size wheels and tires are on the truck? My '69 was WAY higher than that when it was stock FWIW. My opinion is that your truck has lowering springs on it already.

My next step would be spindles in front and block in the back to see where it winds up. Then look at dozens of pics of everyone else's truck to figure out what rear spring you might want to get. But 5" spring/ 2" block should let you get it down without having to c-notch.

[Jay69fleet]

Originally Posted by Mike C

What size wheels and tires are on the truck? My '69 was WAY higher than that when it was stock FWIW. My opinion is that your truck has lowering springs on it already.

My next step would be spindles in front and block in the back to see where it winds up. Then look at dozens of pics of everyone else's truck to figure out what rear spring you might want to get. But 5" spring/ 2" block should let you get it down without having to c-notch.

Wheels are 20" x 10" wide I think. Tires are 275/40/20. I want to drop the front 45mm (1.7") and the rear 65mm(2.5") from it's current height. That will make the body level and sit just over the tires.....in theory. Have attached photos of springs, do they look like lowering spring? Sorry I have no idea what the factory height of the vehicle was just trying to narrow it all down before I go buy a kit.

[wshattuck]

good looking truck Jay...

On my 69 I did a 2" drop spindle and 1" lower spring up front. in the rear I did a 4" lower spring and a 1" lowering block. no C notch needed. CPP springs front and rear.

[3drburb]

Originally Posted by Jay69fleet

Wheels are 20" x 10" wide I think. Tires are 275/40/20. I want to drop the front 45mm (1.7") and the rear 65mm(2.5") from it's current height. That will make the body level and sit just over the tires.....in theory. Have attached photos of springs, do they look like lowering spring? Sorry I have no idea what the factory height of the vehicle was just trying to narrow it all down before I go buy a kit.

Very nice looking truck.
I don't think the rears are lowering springs, they look like they were heated or just worn out.
Btw what blue is that? Thanks.

[Jay69fleet]

Originally Posted by wshattuck

good looking truck Jay...

On my 69 I did a 2" drop spindle and 1" lower spring up front. in the rear I did a 4" lower spring and a 1" lowering block. no C notch needed. CPP springs front and rear.

That look's awesome. Did you have to relocate the shocks on the rear? that's the height I want, maybe a bit lower. Maybe I just get 2" spindles and 4" Drop springs and hope it ends up like yours. Who's drop spindles are you using?

Was it the RCS603-4 springs you got for the rear and the FCS6102-1 springs for the front?

[Jay69fleet]

Originally Posted by 3drburb

Very nice looking truck.
I don't think the rears are lowering springs, they look like they were heated or just worn out.
Btw what blue is that? Thanks.

Yeah, I think you might be right. It hits the stops now and then which is another reason I want to change the springs as I think they might be worn out like you said.

The blue is House of Kolor Cobalt Kandy Blue

[Twisted71c10]

I lowered my 71 with 3" drop spindles and 2" drop coils in the front along with 4" drop coils and 1.75 block in the rear
but I did have to notch the frame in the rear.

[wshattuck]

Originally Posted by Jay69fleet

That look's awesome. Did you have to relocate the shocks on the rear? that's the height I want, maybe a bit lower. Maybe I just get 2" spindles and 4" Drop springs and hope it ends up like yours. Who's drop spindles are you using?

Was it the RCS603-4 springs you got for the rear and the FCS6102-1 springs for the front?

I didn't have to relocate any shock brackets, the CPP kit came with the correct shocks. I got the drop spindles with the brake kit I went with(master power brakes). yes the rcs603-4 and fcs6102-1 are the springs I used!

[Jay69fleet]

Originally Posted by wshattuck

I didn't have to relocate any shock brackets, the CPP kit came with the correct shocks. I got the drop spindles with the brake kit I went with(master power brakes). yes the rcs603-4 and fcs6102-1 are the springs I used!

Have you got a link to the CPP kit you used? Thanks

[wshattuck]

Originally Posted by Jay69fleet

Have you got a link to the CPP kit you used? Thanks

sure;;

rear:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/63-72-CHEVY-...UAAOSwEzxYeCfP

front:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/63-72-CHEVY-...0AAMXQzH9SDWD5

[Jay69fleet]

Originally Posted by wshattuck

sure;;

rear:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/63-72-CHEVY-...UAAOSwEzxYeCfP

front:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/63-72-CHEVY-...0AAMXQzH9SDWD5

Thanks a lot!! Last question, how does it ride? any issues?

[wshattuck]

no issues... parts fit real good.

I got about 350 miles on the new suspension... rides great. firm with just enough give. very comfortable!! I live in the mountains and it does great in curves!

will