Cheap way to do a rake?

[TwoFiftyShifter]

I was wondering what the cheapest way to do a rake is, I've got a 64 GMC and looking to lower the front. I'm putting the truck together cheaply, and I would like to give it a little rake.... whats the best way to go about that? Cut the coils? Buy Jeep coils that I read about?

[javadoc]

I have a set of 2" Bell Tech drop springs that I'm not going to use. They have about 500 miles on them. We could work out a deal, just PM me.

[bama63]

not the best way but as a last resort you could cut or heat the coils

[monolith]

I cut 1 coil on my 66 gmc 3/4 ton - loved the rake and the ride.

[fryer1979]

Cutting coils is usually the cheapest way to lower a vehicle. If you only cut 1 coil from the spring, a change in ride is not very likely to be noticible. I cut one off of the front coil of my '79 Camaro. The aftermarket suspension I bought left it sagging in the rear, and I cannot stand that look. Cut the 1 coil, got the front just a little lower than the rear, and the ride is still as good as it was before. I recommend using a saw or cut-off wheel to cut the spring, heating coils with a torch tends to change the characteristics of the spring a bit too much.

[63 & 64 Bowties]

My 63 w/ 1.5 coils cut up front and 70 Chevelle springs in the rear. Cheap and easy.
And, I agree, don't heat coils. It weakens them and you don't have much control over how much they will sag.

[actconstruction]

Originally Posted by 63 & 64 Bowties

My 63 w/ 1.5 coils cut up front and 70 Chevelle springs in the rear. Cheap and easy.
And, I agree, don't heat coils. It weakens them and you don't have much control over how much they will sag.

So the Chevelle springs create an automatic lowering in the back? How much? There's nothing else to it? Thanks.

[Miller92]

Originally Posted by 63 & 64 Bowties

My 63 w/ 1.5 coils cut up front and 70 Chevelle springs in the rear. Cheap and easy.
And, I agree, don't heat coils. It weakens them and you don't have much control over how much they will sag.

You sir have one beautiful pickup! I love the way it sits!

[63 & 64 Bowties]

Originally Posted by actconstruction

So the Chevelle springs create an automatic lowering in the back? How much? There's nothing else to it? Thanks.

Yea, pretty much automatic just like ya see there. I don't really know how much it lowered it, I just never really measured it. You can see the tire-to-fender clearance and figure they're 16" wheels on it.

Originally Posted by Miller92

You sir have one beautiful pickup! I love the way it sits!

Thanks. Actually I sold it a little over a year ago. It's in Denmark now.

[actconstruction]

Originally Posted by actconstruction

So the Chevelle springs create an automatic lowering in the back? How much? There's nothing else to it? Thanks.

And what does this do to handling/ suspension?

[Malibob]

Drop spindles will run you into disc brakes and that aint cheap (not expensive either if you do it right)

S-10 springs worked for me until I got the bug to go lower. The rear you can use Jeep springs (not remembering which ones though) lowering blocks would also be pretty cheap.

[boucher racing]

Jack up, compress front spring, unbolt the two u-bolts on the frame side, remove & lower the lower A arm and pull out spring. Measure exactly 1 or 1 1/2 coil and cut it off. Then, re-install it all. Repeat for other side. Cost- rent spring compressor, time, tools. Results-killer rake.
Posted via Mobile Device

[actconstruction]

I'm getting ready to do my 72 C10 LWB and I'm thinking cut 1 1/2 springs in the front and block lower it in the back? Anybody see a problem with this? I have a pretty decent (about 400 hp) motor and trans for it, and I want to be sure I maintain handling during accelerating and light cornering/ course correction. I've been building motors and trans a long time, but I'm a newcomer to suspension modifications. Thanks for any help you can offer, guys. I'm trying to get about 2-3 inches out of this.

[61_FL_Apache]

Careful with the cut coils. I did that to my 65 before baggin it and it rode rough as hell. Maybe if you use lighter coils and they compress more with out cutting would be better.

[actconstruction]

Originally Posted by 61_FL_Apache

Careful with the cut coils. I did that to my 65 before baggin it and it rode rough as hell. Maybe if you use lighter coils and they compress more with out cutting would be better.

Thanks, Steve. I suspected as much. So, you think I would be better off maybe going to the parts store and matching coils that are shorter with a similar load rating and responsiveness and then just block the back for a moderate rake? No foreseeable issues with steering or handling? Or other concerns that I'm not even aware of yet? As I mentioned above, I've been building motors and trans my whole life, but never really delved into suspension. Thanks.

[jj1965]

I cut the front coils it handles ok but the ride is rough.

[Rooster's 67]

if you cut the coils, use a cut-off blade not torch or plasma. heat will kill springs.

any time you cut a coil spring you raise the spring rate (make it stiffer)

good info here: http://www.eatonsprings.com/cuttingcoilsprings.html

[old cruiser]

I used 2 inch lowering springs on front and 4 inch on rear wasn,t happy with look so cut one coil off front sits nice and rides nice.