Need help identifying year of my suspension - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

TexasSixtyFourSW · 05-10-2011, 07:10 PM

Hi Everyone,
I have been lurking for quite a while trying to get my project off the ground. Long story short--I first bought a 64 BBW Short Fleet that is a huge project and decided to find something running and driving. I found a 63 BBW Short Fleet and I am going to use all my parts on the 63. The 64 I bought has been converted to 5 lug and I would like to use that suspension on the 63. I don't plan on doing the suspension swap for a while and would like to lower the 63 as much as I can ( Six Lug right now) using coils. I realize the spindles are not intrchangeable between the stock 63 and newer suspension but if I buy coils to drop the 63 can I use the same coils on the new suspension? I will buy dropped spindles for the 5 lug suspension after the swap more than likely. If anyone wants to share their ideas or thoughts it would be greatly appreciated. I also wonder if anyone can tell by the pics what year my suspension parts on the 64 are?

**slepysal** · 05-10-2011, 07:29 PM

HMMMMMMMM the grill is off of a 62, and if it looks like you have no coil springs do you have torssion bars?. If that is the case it is a 62 not a 63. You can always swap the whole cross member ftom the 64

awbrown · 05-10-2011, 09:31 PM

Welcome to the forum, I know what it is like to have one truck as a long term project and wanting one as a driver .. I have a 63 in process and am just getting my 63 I bought in Feb. on the road .. What I thought would take a few weeks has taken 3 months and wad of cash .. But I am happy with it ..

The picture of the suspension looks like a typical mid 70s up suspension ...The master cylinder looks like late 80's up .. If I were you I would just get it safe to drive and torch a coil or 2 out of the springs and enjoy it , you dont want it to become long term project # 2...

TexasSixtyFourSW · 05-10-2011, 10:39 PM

Thank you for all the greetings and input. The blue truck is definately a 63 as indicated by the vin and has coil spring suspension. The pics of the suspension are from the white truck shown in my avatar. I was really trying to decide if the suspension was from a 70's or 80's era suburban (as informed by po) and if the coils springs were different from those two era trucks? Thanks again for all you input.

SCOTI · 05-11-2011, 12:04 AM

The suspension in the pics is from a 73 or later truck becaquse of the bushings in the a-arms.

The alum master cyl is from a later year model truck (81 or later). If everything came off the same burb, I would say it was from one built after 81 (or the master was replaced w/a later unit). The coils are not exactly the same but can be interchanged.

**Captainfab** · 05-11-2011, 01:26 AM

I agree with ScotI

If those aluminum wheels are possibly from the donor vehicle, then it would definitely be an 80's vintage.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCOTI

The suspension in the pics is from a 73 or later truck becaquse of the bushings in the a-arms.

The alum master cyl is from a later year model truck (81 or later). If everything came off the same burb, I would say it was from one built after 81 (or the master was replaced w/a later unit). The coils are not exactly the same but can be interchanged.

TexasSixtyFourSW · 05-11-2011, 07:35 AM

I was thinking it was 80's era but needed some confirmation from someone who has been around these trucks longer than me. The way the PO was talking all the suspension came from the same burb.....so that makes sense. Thanks everyone for the help....this forum is great. I hope to start my build thread soon so you all can see what I am up to.

chad64chevy · 05-10-2011, 10:03 PM

i would have agree with awbrown with the suspension, the master looks like its off a 80's car, i might be wrong about that but it looks like the same as the one thats on my g-mas caprice!!

kieth · 05-11-2011, 09:06 AM

I used the front end from a 91 burb and have the same wheels on it as yours......the 91 had abs brakes so the master cylinder looks different than yours, Kieth

68chvy · 07-10-2013, 09:00 PM

Posted via Mobile Device

I bought a 68... The ride is pretty rough.. I just wanna change out all bushings.. And I'm not sure what to order.. It is 5lugs up front... Please and thanks for any advice/comments
Posted via Mobile Device

**Captainfab** · 07-11-2013, 12:44 AM

The steel control arm bushings were used on the C10's from '63-'72. The C20's continued up thru '87. It is difficult to see in that pic but it looks like you may have '73-'87 spindles and such judging by the dust shields.

19666Trucker · 07-11-2013, 01:26 AM

Use a cut off wheel to cut springs, there is less heat produced this way. That's if cutting springs
Posted via Mobile Device

05-10-2011, 07:10 PM	#1
TexasSixtyFourSW Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Woodland, California Posts: 37	Need help identifying year of my suspension Hi Everyone, I have been lurking for quite a while trying to get my project off the ground. Long story short--I first bought a 64 BBW Short Fleet that is a huge project and decided to find something running and driving. I found a 63 BBW Short Fleet and I am going to use all my parts on the 63. The 64 I bought has been converted to 5 lug and I would like to use that suspension on the 63. I don't plan on doing the suspension swap for a while and would like to lower the 63 as much as I can ( Six Lug right now) using coils. I realize the spindles are not intrchangeable between the stock 63 and newer suspension but if I buy coils to drop the 63 can I use the same coils on the new suspension? I will buy dropped spindles for the 5 lug suspension after the swap more than likely. If anyone wants to share their ideas or thoughts it would be greatly appreciated. I also wonder if anyone can tell by the pics what year my suspension parts on the 64 are? Attached Images

05-10-2011, 07:29 PM	#2
slepysal Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Jose NOR*CAL Posts: 3,080	Re: Need help identifying year of my suspension HMMMMMMMM the grill is off of a 62, and if it looks like you have no coil springs do you have torssion bars?. If that is the case it is a 62 not a 63. You can always swap the whole cross member ftom the 64 __________________ 1960 Apache long bed fleet L6 250 Clifford intake 2 bbl carb. Langdon cast headers with dual exhaust and bellflower tips. T-5 5 speed, power steering and power disc brakes. "Over, Around or through it... " Last edited by slepysal; 05-10-2011 at 10:34 PM.

05-10-2011, 09:31 PM	#3
awbrown Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Detroit MI Posts: 1,209	Re: Need help identifying year of my suspension Welcome to the forum, I know what it is like to have one truck as a long term project and wanting one as a driver .. I have a 63 in process and am just getting my 63 I bought in Feb. on the road .. What I thought would take a few weeks has taken 3 months and wad of cash .. But I am happy with it .. The picture of the suspension looks like a typical mid 70s up suspension ...The master cylinder looks like late 80's up .. If I were you I would just get it safe to drive and torch a coil or 2 out of the springs and enjoy it , you dont want it to become long term project # 2... Last edited by awbrown; 05-10-2011 at 09:35 PM.

05-10-2011, 10:39 PM	#4
TexasSixtyFourSW Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Woodland, California Posts: 37	Re: Need help identifying year of my suspension Thank you for all the greetings and input. The blue truck is definately a 63 as indicated by the vin and has coil spring suspension. The pics of the suspension are from the white truck shown in my avatar. I was really trying to decide if the suspension was from a 70's or 80's era suburban (as informed by po) and if the coils springs were different from those two era trucks? Thanks again for all you input.

05-11-2011, 12:04 AM	#5
SCOTI Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: DALLAS,TX Posts: 22,068	Re: Need help identifying year of my suspension The suspension in the pics is from a 73 or later truck becaquse of the bushings in the a-arms. The alum master cyl is from a later year model truck (81 or later). If everything came off the same burb, I would say it was from one built after 81 (or the master was replaced w/a later unit). The coils are not exactly the same but can be interchanged. __________________ 67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... *Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.* Last edited by SCOTI; 05-11-2011 at 12:04 AM.

05-11-2011, 07:35 AM	#7
TexasSixtyFourSW Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Woodland, California Posts: 37	Re: Need help identifying year of my suspension I was thinking it was 80's era but needed some confirmation from someone who has been around these trucks longer than me. The way the PO was talking all the suspension came from the same burb.....so that makes sense. Thanks everyone for the help....this forum is great. I hope to start my build thread soon so you all can see what I am up to.

05-10-2011, 10:03 PM	#8
chad64chevy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: tulsa,ok. Posts: 1,803	Re: Need help identifying year of my suspension i would have agree with awbrown with the suspension, the master looks like its off a 80's car, i might be wrong about that but it looks like the same as the one thats on my g-mas caprice!!

05-11-2011, 09:06 AM	#9
kieth Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 1,925	Re: Need help identifying year of my suspension I used the front end from a 91 burb and have the same wheels on it as yours......the 91 had abs brakes so the master cylinder looks different than yours, Kieth

07-10-2013, 09:00 PM	#10
68chvy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Dallas Posts: 115	Re: Need help identifying year of my suspension Posted via Mobile Device I bought a 68... The ride is pretty rough.. I just wanna change out all bushings.. And I'm not sure what to order.. It is 5lugs up front... Please and thanks for any advice/comments Posted via Mobile Device Attached Images

07-11-2013, 12:44 AM	#11
Captainfab 60-66 Nut Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Posts: 23,252	Re: Need help identifying year of my suspension The steel control arm bushings were used on the C10's from '63-'72. The C20's continued up thru '87. It is difficult to see in that pic but it looks like you may have '73-'87 spindles and such judging by the dust shields. __________________ Power Steering Box Adapter Plates For Sale HERE Power Brake Booster Adapter Brackets For Sale '63-'66 HERE and '67-'72 HERE and '60-'62 HERE and "60-'62 with clutch HERE Rear Disc Brake Brackets For Sale. Impala SS calipers HERE Camaro Calipers HERE D52 Calipers HERE 6 Lug HERE Hydroboost Mounting Plates HERE

07-11-2013, 01:26 AM	#12
19666Trucker Registered User Join Date: May 2013 Location: Scottsdale, Az Posts: 245	Re: Need help identifying year of my suspension Use a cut off wheel to cut springs, there is less heat produced this way. That's if cutting springs Posted via Mobile Device



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