Some small milestones within the week

[wwotr]

Well about 3 weeks ago I bought a 3"/4" Spring-Shock Kit from CPP and had it installed on my 72 GMC Fleetside Shortbed.
The Front looks great but I still need another 2" Lower in the Rear.
So last week I ordered a set of 2" Rear Lowering Blocks from CPP and new Pancake Bump Stops.
Then my local Americas Tire was having a Sale on BF Goodrich TA Radials so I bought a set of 4.
215/70/15 For the Front & 275/60/15 for the Rear.
It was $471.37 Balance/Mounting Out The Door and then a $70.00 Rebate on top of that!
Bottom Line was $401.37 for the set.
Then I ordered a set of 2 1/2" Chrome Steel Rings........
w/Chrome Center Caps (no lettering).
Then the week after next comes the 3 1/2 Chrome Slash Cut Exhaust tips in Front of the Rear Tires.
In September, my Son who installs Stereos for a living, will hopefully be coming out from Arizona (To Kaliforny) to install my Sirius Satellite and Alpine Head Unit, Kick Panel Speakers and some Tweeters.
Then In October will be the Door Weather Stripping, Window Felts.
Then it'll be Bundled up for the Winter.
I'll post pictures on my Website of the Progress and update this Thread.

Just thought I'd share my excitement!

Roger

[OARNGESI]

Wow sounds like your getting alot done any pics of the trucks new stance

[68Stepbed]

Sorry somebody has to do it.

[wwotr]

This is one after the 3/4 Spring-Shock Install but BEFORE the 2" Lowering Blocks in the Rear.

Roger

[big_al_71]

coming along....nicely

[TonyJohnson]

I actually like the slightly agressive rake in the pic. It's a little hard to tell with it on the slanted driveway.

[OARNGESI]

That looks really low for 3inch springs

[wwotr]

Originally Posted by OARNGESI

That looks really low for 3inch springs

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ironic you should say that. When I 1st got the Truck, the previous owner had Torch/Cut the Front Springs. I posted pictures here and the consensus was, it looked to be about a 5" Drop. Then when I bought the CPP 3"/4" Spring/Shock kit and had it installed, it looked to be the SAME HEIGHT ........
(if not a little lower) in Front. I was expecting it to come up at LEAST 1" in Front, but HELL I'm not complaining!

Roger

[oldblue1968chevy]

lookin good

[wwotr]

Originally Posted by wwotr

Well about 3 weeks ago I bought a 3"/4" Spring-Shock Kit from CPP and had it installed on my 72 GMC Fleetside Shortbed.
The Front looks great but I still need another 2" Lower in the Rear.
So last week I ordered a set of 2" Rear Lowering Blocks from CPP and new Pancake Bump Stops.
Then my local Americas Tire was having a Sale on BF Goodrich TA Radials so I bought a set of 4.
215/70/15 For the Front & 275/60/15 for the Rear.
It was $471.37 Balance/Mounting Out The Door and then a $70.00 Rebate on top of that!
Bottom Line was $401.37 for the set.
Then I ordered a set of 2 1/2" Chrome Steel Rings........
w/Chrome Center Caps (no lettering).
Then the week after next comes the 3 1/2 Chrome Slash Cut Exhaust tips in Front of the Rear Tires.
In September, my Son who installs Stereos for a living, will hopefully be coming out from Arizona (To Kaliforny) to install my Sirius Satellite and Alpine Head Unit, Kick Panel Speakers and some Tweeters.
Then In October will be the Door Weather Stripping, Window Felts.
Then it'll be Bundled up for the Winter.
I'll post pictures on my Website of the Progress and update this Thread.

Just thought I'd share my excitement!

Roger

UPDATE:
Delay in getting my Truck Back with the Lowering Block Issue, so Tires are going on tomorrow (Friday) and the Trim Rings too!
Then While I'm in Town I'll be getting the Exhaust Estimate.
I ordered a 2" Cowl Hood and thats coming Next Week,(having it shipped to my Mechanic) so I'm leaving the Truck with him to install it while I'm at Hot August Nights!
The NEXT WEEK will be the Exhaust install.
I ordered an Alpine Head Unit and Sirius Sportster 5 and Kick Panel Speakers that my Son will be installing for me come September.
After that will be Weather Stripping for the Doors and Felt Liners for the Windows.
Then a Car Cover for Winter.
;+)
Roger
"RATIKLE"

[lolife99]

Can you post a picture of your lower a-arms and spindles?
You either have a dropped lower a-arm or a set of drop spindles on your truck. A 3" spring by itself won't get the front that low. I'm just interested in what you have up front.

[wwotr]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Can you post a picture of your lower a-arms and spindles?
You either have a dropped lower a-arm or a set of drop spindles on your truck. A 3" spring by itself won't get the front that low. I'm just interested in what you have up front.

You know that MAY be true.I've had the Truck 4 Months and all I know about it, was what I learned from the Previous owner (and my Mechanic).
The Previous owner Torched/Cut the springs.
That was tough though as the previous owner was Deaf/Mute. (Not kidding..REALLY)!

So I had my Mechanic install a set of CPP 3" Front/4" Rear Lowering Springs & Shocks. As long as I've had it, it's always been this low in Front.
Then last week I added the 2" Rear Lowering Blocks.

I'll check it out and ask my Mechanic to take a look since it's with him this week, waiting for the Cowl Hood.

rogwer
"RATIKLE"

[wwotr]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Can you post a picture of your lower a-arms and spindles?
You either have a dropped lower a-arm or a set of drop spindles on your truck. A 3" spring by itself won't get the front that low. I'm just interested in what you have up front.

LOWLIFE99,

I went to visit my Truck today, and managed to crawl under the Front Bumber (all 4" of it above ground) and take 2 pictures of the Spindles.
I always said I'm no mechanic so maybe YOU (or someone else in this Thread), can tell me.

DO I HAVE DROP SPINDLES ON THE FRONT OF MY TRUCK!!??

(pictures attached)

Roger
"RATIKLE"

[lolife99]

Want to make the front ride better?

Remove the front rubber bumpstop and trim off the metal "stand" to gain some additional travel. Looks like you only have about 3/4" before you hit the bumpstop.

The second picture is the way we trimmed 72BlckButy's lower control arms on his "Blank Slate Project" build.

Your truck is at a 5.5" front drop,... unless those are 3" spindles,... then it would be a 6" drop.
That's why you are playing "catch up" with the rear springs.

[wwotr]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Want to make the front ride better?

Remove the front rubber bumpstop and trim off the metal "stand" to gain some additional travel. Looks like you only have about 3/4" before you hit the bumpstop.

The second picture is the way we trimmed 72BlckButy's lower control arms on his "Blank Slate Project" build.

Your truck is at a 5.5" front drop,... unless those are 3" spindles,... then it would be a 6" drop.
That's why you are playing "catch up" with the rear springs.

Let me ask you this..................

If I cut that Rubber Bump stop out, and I hit a BIG BUMP/POTHOLE, wont it "Jar" me Teeth because theres NO RUBBER CUSION?
Or is it your theory that it wont happen that often because by cutting that Bumpstop, I've given the Truck more "Travel"?

Not arguing, but just trying to understand because this is all pretty new to me since I've only had the Truck since April.

Also, CPP gave me (2) Pancake Bumpstops by mistake so could I use THOSE or would I have to do modifying to them?

Sounds a lot easier to cut the Stock Bumpstops, but I wouldn't be responsible if I didn't ask.

Roger
"RATIKLE"

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Want to make the front ride better?

Remove the front rubber bumpstop and trim off the metal "stand" to gain some additional travel. Looks like you only have about 3/4" before you hit the bumpstop.

First..... How tall is that front tire again (what size)?

If the tire is tall enough, trimming the bumpstop only relocates the point of contact w/something when you come across one of those pesky "big-bumps/potholes" (too tall of a tire vs. the amount of drop - given travel & it buzzes the top of the inner wheel well). You have to find the happy medium.

Ahhh... I just went back because I thought the tire sizes were listed here or in another thread. That 215-70-15 is about 27" tall (26.85 calculated height). Before removing the bumpstop, measure the amount of available space above the edge of the tire to whatever area that looks like the most obvious point of contact. Use that measurement to help w/the decision to remove the stop or shorten it's height.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

First..... How tall is that front tire again (what size)?

If the tire is tall enough, trimming the bumpstop only relocates the point of contact w/something when you come across one of those pesky "big-bumps/potholes" (too tall of a tire vs. the amount of drop - given travel & it buzzes the top of the inner wheel well). You have to find the happy medium.

Good point!

[SCOTI]

Oops.... It double posted.

[lolife99]

Yes.

[wwotr]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Yes.

Damn this keeps getting Better and Better.
The previous owner was a Deaf Mute so getting info was almost impossible, but the harder I look, the more I find out that there were MORE mods that were done, than were listed by that previous owner.

Now I know why AFTER I did the Lowering Springs in Front, there was only about 1/2" - 3/4" drop MORE in front.

Roger
"RATIKLE"

[lolife99]

Removing them gives more travel.

I have no front bumpstops on my '69 lowered 5.5" in the front,... but it's trimmed like in the second pic.
You could use the "pancake" bumpstops,... but they don't proviide much cushion.

[68Stepbed]

If you look closer at the pics, those are Early Classic spindles, which are 2.5" drop.

Also, is it just me, or have the spindle backing plates been cut?

Do you have any pics of it with the rear blocks installed?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by 68Stepbed

If you look closer at the pics, those are Early Classic spindles, which are 2.5" drop.

Also, is it just me, or have the spindle backing plates been cut?

Do you have any pics of it with the rear blocks installed?

They do look like the bottom edge was trimmed off. This is a common interference area when installed the spindles on the a-arm.