New Member - 73 C20 Project - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Gotham84 · 07-10-2017, 10:03 AM

Good morning all. I just recently joined the page and have been looking at threads and builds, this is an awesome page! I have a '73 C20 with a dually rear end. This truck was bought brand new by my Grandpa's brother and then my Grandpa bought it from him in '81 and i acquired it from him in '01. Its been used as a work truck its whole life and is in pretty rough shape, a lot of people may say its not worth saving, but there's too much sentimental value.

As far as how i want to build it, thats still up in the air a bit. I believe i'm going to do some sort of light "resto-mod." One of my first questions is about lowering it. I've read a bunch of threads and see that a lot of people are doing drop spindles and cutting the coil up front and the read is usually a flip kit and a notch of the frame. That part is pretty simple, but i'm wondering what the ride quality is like? I'm not afraid to throw more money at it to make the ride better. Would getting rid of the leaf springs in the back be a better option? I plan on doing a build thread once I start, but I want to do all my research first.

Thanks in advance for the help!

tinydb84 · 07-10-2017, 08:38 PM

I have a C20. Pull three of four leafs and get new shocks all around. You will be much happier with the ride. They don't make flip kits for the 14 bolt. You will have to weld new perches on.

daddyjeep · 07-10-2017, 11:33 PM

I pulled 2 leaves out of the rear spring pack on my K30. I never drove the truck before, but am pretty happy with how the rear rides. The front is a different story, but I will address that when I rebuild the front half of the truck.

Gotham84 · 07-13-2017, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinydb84

I have a C20. Pull three of four leafs and get new shocks all around. You will be much happier with the ride. They don't make flip kits for the 14 bolt. You will have to weld new perches on.

That's no problem. I had to do that with an old Dodge D150 I lowered a while back. As far as notching the frame, is it better to just make the notch myself or use one of those "preformed" notch kits? What shocks are you running?

Dead Parrot · 07-13-2017, 11:35 AM

Looks like you have a straight hood, bumper and grill. Already money ahead on a restoration. If its life as a work truck is over, might consider an rear axle swap to a single wheel setup and simplify the lowering project. Plus two less tires to buy.

Nice you have one that you know the history on.

07-10-2017, 10:03 AM	#1
Gotham84 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Washington, IL Posts: 5	New Member - 73 C20 Project Good morning all. I just recently joined the page and have been looking at threads and builds, this is an awesome page! I have a '73 C20 with a dually rear end. This truck was bought brand new by my Grandpa's brother and then my Grandpa bought it from him in '81 and i acquired it from him in '01. Its been used as a work truck its whole life and is in pretty rough shape, a lot of people may say its not worth saving, but there's too much sentimental value. As far as how i want to build it, thats still up in the air a bit. I believe i'm going to do some sort of light "resto-mod." One of my first questions is about lowering it. I've read a bunch of threads and see that a lot of people are doing drop spindles and cutting the coil up front and the read is usually a flip kit and a notch of the frame. That part is pretty simple, but i'm wondering what the ride quality is like? I'm not afraid to throw more money at it to make the ride better. Would getting rid of the leaf springs in the back be a better option? I plan on doing a build thread once I start, but I want to do all my research first. Thanks in advance for the help! Attached Images

07-10-2017, 08:38 PM	#2
tinydb84 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Jose Ca Posts: 2,871	Re: New Member - 73 C20 Project I have a C20. Pull three of four leafs and get new shocks all around. You will be much happier with the ride. They don't make flip kits for the 14 bolt. You will have to weld new perches on. __________________ David Used parts build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=638991 My brother's Nova: http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=727985 Rear suspension rework: http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=750557 Instagram: myfabguy

07-10-2017, 11:33 PM	#3
daddyjeep Registered User Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Smethport, PA Posts: 1,213	Re: New Member - 73 C20 Project I pulled 2 leaves out of the rear spring pack on my K30. I never drove the truck before, but am pretty happy with how the rear rides. The front is a different story, but I will address that when I rebuild the front half of the truck. __________________ 85 K30 crew cab dually - Project http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=694939 87 Wrangler Rock Crawler - Reason for the project http://www.wranglerforum.com/f330/da...ld-122601.html 04 1500 crew cab http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=786514

07-13-2017, 11:35 AM	#5
Dead Parrot Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 2,516	Re: New Member - 73 C20 Project Looks like you have a straight hood, bumper and grill. Already money ahead on a restoration. If its life as a work truck is over, might consider an rear axle swap to a single wheel setup and simplify the lowering project. Plus two less tires to buy. Nice you have one that you know the history on.



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