ride height problem

[tallic68]

Hello everyone,

My name is mike and I have been lurking and a member here for a while. I've already solved a few problems with the vast info here. Thanks for all your help so far.

But, I have a new problem.

A little history.
I have a 68 c10 longbed with a 70 monte carlo 350 and a th400. The truck was stock when I got it last january. Other than the 350. A previous owner replaced ball joints but I don't think they did the A arm bushings.

I blew the truck apart and sand blasted the frame body and some parts I had sitting around. I rebuilt the rear suspention in febuary with a full suspention rebuild kit w/ front and rear STD springs from LMC truck.
The rear rebuild went great. Big difference.
W/ no change in ride hight.

A couple weeks ago I started on the front. I tore the front apart, had the a arms blasted and started rebuilding it.

I have what I think is a CPP stock hight disk break kit that I got off a donner car for free. After repurchaseing 73 ball joints outter tie rod ends, conversion tie rod adjuster sleeves, and a CPP 1 1/4 sway bar. I assembled the truck and set it back on it's wheels.

The front is slammed. It was so low, really low. I called LMC truck and they had me remove the front springs and measure them. Right after I pulled them they were 12 1/2 inches. They said they should be 13 1/4". They were going to have their tech dept call me and we could figure something out. After sitting out of the truck for a day they are now 13 1/4" I did not measure ride hight before pulling the new springs.


While waiting for LMC to call me back I revisited the option sticker on the glove box. And after doing what I could to freshen it up and be able to read it. It says it came with HD front and rear springs.

After three days of waiting, I called them. They said that I have the proper springs and there was no way of exchanging the springs for HD springs unless I return the entire rebuild kit.


Here is my questions and concerns.

Are HD springs the problem im seeing in ride hight. HD springs are still 13 1/4 tall uninstalled so the difference in ride hight has to be the spring rate right?

If I leave the STD springs in the front, The suspention will still be fine right? I guess it would be stock ride hight for STD spring equiped trucks.

Is there a problem with HD spring in the front and STD springs in the rear?

Also, the front wheels seem to extend out past the fenders more that hey did before. They use to be flush with the fenders now they seem to be out more.
Is this because I haven't got an alignment yet or did the new spindels push out and widen the hub width.

I have compared my new spindels to lowering spindles through pics online and catalogs and they deffinetly dont match. The actual spidle is as close to the lower ball joint mount as it can be i am confident that they are stock hight spindles. New spindels are 9" from ball joint mount serface to surface, with the spidle approx 2' up from lower ball joint mount surface.

I would prefer to leave the truck at stock hight for now. It is my primary transpertation and i do go places that might need the suspention.

I'm guessing my options are this
1. live with the truck low. I just dont like the stink bug look.

2. purchase new HD springs and return to previous ride hight.

3. live with the new ride hight and later come back and put different springs in the rear to match new front ride hight.

I think I've given all the info I have and layed out all my questions.

Any and all help will be greatly appriciated

Thanks in advance,
Mike