Help me drop that 71 in the rear! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**BIG ORANGE** · 11-29-2006, 05:23 PM

I've had 70 ,67 to 72 chevy's trucks,blazer's and burb's in a 12 yr period but I have never tried to drop a leafspring truck. What is the easiest and cheapest way to drop this truck say 3 inches in the rear? The springs are on top of the rearend, I got the front under control just have never drop a leafspring truck, could some one give me alittle
HELP! thanks in advance..........

C10-Driver · 11-30-2006, 01:07 AM

If you only want a 3 inch drop, I'd say you have a few options:

1. Cheapest. Take a spring or 2 out and put in a drop shackle (drop shackle from Early Classic - $59).

2. Same as above but have your springs de-arched. Could be almost as cheap as option 1 depending on how well you get along with your friendly neighborhood spring shop owner.

3. 4" Drop rear leaf kit from Early Classic - $369. Could be combined with a shackle at some point to get as much as a 5-1/2" drop.

craig@ridetech.com · 11-30-2006, 10:00 AM

If you are still running the original leafs, dropping the short thick one might be all you need to do. I've seen trucks that have hit the bumpstops after removing the overload leaf.
One other thing to keep in mind, if you do end up taking leafs out, don't plan on towing or hauling much, there just won't be enough spring rate left to handle the extra weight.

C10-Driver · 11-30-2006, 11:42 AM

I agree with LSC71's comment about removing leafs. The previous owner of my truck had removed a couple of leaves. After I flipped the axle to bring it down some more I was hitting bottom all the time. The rear end was so spongy I couldn't even haul my luggage on long trips without bottoming out all the time. I ended up adding a few leaves back in and having the spring re-arched to get the drop I was after.

If you can afford the expense, re-arching the springs or purchasing a drop spring is probably the way to go.

**BIG ORANGE** · 11-30-2006, 05:04 PM

What if I flipped the spring where the rearend sets ontop of the spring instead spring setting ontop of the rearend?
have yall done this and does it work OK?
I'm gonna sale the truck so i dont want to tie any more cash up into the truck but I think lowering it would help the sale of it because it set up high!
thanks Big O.

crazy longhorn · 11-30-2006, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIG ORANGE

What if I flipped the spring where the rearend sets ontop of the spring instead spring setting ontop of the rearend?
have yall done this and does it work OK?
I'm gonna sale the truck so i dont want to tie any more cash up into the truck but I think lowering it would help the sale of it because it set up high!
thanks Big O.

That should give you a 5 1/2- 6" drop.....if thats not too much drop , its a cheap way to go. I used Direct Connection spring perches , & welded them on the tubes for the flip. You will probably want some shock extenders also. best of luck,

L

pharcyde05 · 11-30-2006, 06:09 PM

well if your just going to sell it i would start asking around and find some used shackels they will only give you 2 in but you shold be able to get some cheap and let whoever buys it worry about what they want to do when they get it

11-29-2006, 05:23 PM	#1
BIG ORANGE Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Lancaster S.C. Posts: 4,764	Help me drop that 71 in the rear! I've had 70 ,67 to 72 chevy's trucks,blazer's and burb's in a 12 yr period but I have never tried to drop a leafspring truck. What is the easiest and cheapest way to drop this truck say 3 inches in the rear? The springs are on top of the rearend, I got the front under control just have never drop a leafspring truck, could some one give me alittle HELP! thanks in advance.......... __________________ Things happen for a reason!

11-30-2006, 01:07 AM	#2
C10-Driver Chevy Truck Addict Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Kelowna, BC Posts: 1,176	Re: Help me drop that 71 in the rear! If you only want a 3 inch drop, I'd say you have a few options: 1. Cheapest. Take a spring or 2 out and put in a drop shackle (drop shackle from Early Classic - $59). 2. Same as above but have your springs de-arched. Could be almost as cheap as option 1 depending on how well you get along with your friendly neighborhood spring shop owner. 3. 4" Drop rear leaf kit from Early Classic - $369. Could be combined with a shackle at some point to get as much as a 5-1/2" drop. __________________ . 1970 Chev C/10 SWB, 355 SBC, 700R4, 3.73 Posi, Air Ride (Click to view Build Thread) (SOLD) 1978 Chevy C/10 SWB 1970 Pontiac Lemans .

11-30-2006, 10:00 AM	#3
craig@ridetech.com Formerly LSC71 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 186	Re: Help me drop that 71 in the rear! If you are still running the original leafs, dropping the short thick one might be all you need to do. I've seen trucks that have hit the bumpstops after removing the overload leaf. One other thing to keep in mind, if you do end up taking leafs out, don't plan on towing or hauling much, there just won't be enough spring rate left to handle the extra weight. Last edited by craig@ridetech.com; 11-30-2006 at 10:02 AM.

11-30-2006, 11:42 AM	#4
C10-Driver Chevy Truck Addict Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Kelowna, BC Posts: 1,176	Re: Help me drop that 71 in the rear! I agree with LSC71's comment about removing leafs. The previous owner of my truck had removed a couple of leaves. After I flipped the axle to bring it down some more I was hitting bottom all the time. The rear end was so spongy I couldn't even haul my luggage on long trips without bottoming out all the time. I ended up adding a few leaves back in and having the spring re-arched to get the drop I was after. If you can afford the expense, re-arching the springs or purchasing a drop spring is probably the way to go. __________________ . 1970 Chev C/10 SWB, 355 SBC, 700R4, 3.73 Posi, Air Ride (Click to view Build Thread) (SOLD) 1978 Chevy C/10 SWB 1970 Pontiac Lemans .

11-30-2006, 05:04 PM	#5
BIG ORANGE Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Lancaster S.C. Posts: 4,764	Re: Help me drop that 71 in the rear! What if I flipped the spring where the rearend sets ontop of the spring instead spring setting ontop of the rearend? have yall done this and does it work OK? I'm gonna sale the truck so i dont want to tie any more cash up into the truck but I think lowering it would help the sale of it because it set up high! thanks Big O. __________________ Things happen for a reason!

11-30-2006, 06:09 PM	#7
pharcyde05 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: modesto CA Posts: 239	Re: Help me drop that 71 in the rear! well if your just going to sell it i would start asking around and find some used shackels they will only give you 2 in but you shold be able to get some cheap and let whoever buys it worry about what they want to do when they get it __________________ http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2461088



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