Tires and rear coil springs

[sbruzek]

Hi all
I have a 65 C10. 6 cylinder 3 speed
Someone lowered the rear by heating up the rear coil springs. I’d like to get it back to original height. Also want to put some wider/taller tires on to fill the wheel well gap plus reduce rpm’s a bit while on the highway. Any suggestions on tire size.
Thanks. Steve
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[Chevy Fleetside]

your better off just getting new springs. Most dealers have them, they can also be bought at Summitracing.com or rockauto.com , Most parts houses have them and they are usually in the $100 area. I just looked and if you hurry you can get a set of AC Delco stock springs for $65 at www.rockauto.com Only 1 pair remaining for now. Here is the link but you might have to search for it. It will be under suspension. https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...il+spring,7512 As for tire size. Maybe a 255/70r15. I would check a tire calculator online. Might be to big if you have a stepside. You could run a stock size also of 235/75/15. This is a narrower tire. I have these on my truck all around. These might be the best two pics I have of the tires right now. You could also do a 31 10.50 15 tire if you have the room and a wide enough rim.
I would go and talk with a good tire shop and see what they have and they should work with you on this. Your speedo will be not reading right when you go out of stock size tires. I'm not gong to proof read this so I hope it makes sense.

[sbruzek]

Originally Posted by Chevy Fleetside

your better off just getting new springs. Most dealers have them, they can also be bought at Summitracing.com or rockauto.com , Most parts houses have them and they are usually in the $100 area. I just looked and if you hurry you can get a set of AC Delco stock springs for $65 at www.rockauto.com Only 1 pair remaining for now. Here is the link but you might have to search for it. It will be under suspension. https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...il+spring,7512 As for tire size. Maybe a 255/70r15. I would check a tire calculator online. Might be to big if you have a stepside. You could run a stock size also of 235/75/15. This is a narrower tire. I have these on my truck all around. These might be the best two pics I have of the tires right now. You could also do a 31 10.50 15 tire if you have the room and a wide enough rim.
I would go and talk with a good tire shop and see what they have and they should work with you on this. Your speedo will be not reading right when you go out of stock size tires. I'm not gong to proof read this so I hope it makes sense.

Great advice. Thank you
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[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by sbruzek

Hi all
I have a 65 C10. 6 cylinder 3 speed
Someone lowered the rear by heating up the rear coil springs. I’d like to get it back to original height. Also want to put some wider/taller tires on to fill the wheel well gap plus reduce rpm’s a bit while on the highway. Any suggestions on tire size.
Thanks. Steve
Posted via Mobile Device

It's hard to give tire size recommendations when you don't list what's currently on there as a starting reference point.

[cwcarpenter98]

I had 255/70s on my truck with the first set of 15x8 truck rallies.
I wanted original hubcaps, so switched to a 15x8 nub style hubcap wheel wrapped in 30x9.5s

On the springs, I'd probably just go with new unless you can confirm the used set hasn't sagged over the past 50 years. I had a 1/4" think steel plate in my bed for many years, so I think my springs might have some sag in them from that. I haven't removed them yet to check for the free height measurement though

You can get any rear spring from 60-72


Edit to add: My truck had 235/75s on the stock 15s when I first bought it. The drum brake wheels wouldn't work with my disc swap, so that's why I changed. You can see in the last pic how much lower the bed sat from that steel plate

[sbruzek]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

It's hard to give tire size recommendations when you don't list what's currently on there as a starting reference point.

I have 205/75/15 tires on stock steel wheels currently. I just bought the springs on Rock Auto
PS - my truck is a fleet side long bed.
Thanks
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[jayoldschool]

Throw a set of 235 75 15s on there. You should be able to find an inexpensive new or used set. I use them (whitewalls!) on my 65.

[sbruzek]

Originally Posted by sbruzek

I have 205/75/15 tires on stock steel wheels currently. I just bought the springs on Rock Auto
PS - my truck is a fleet side long bed.
Thanks
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That’s what I have now. Here’s a pic.
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[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by sbruzek

I have 205/75/15 tires on stock steel wheels currently. I just bought the springs on Rock Auto
PS - my truck is a fleet side long bed.
Thanks
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205/75-15 = ~27" tall.

235/75-15's @ ~28.8" or 255/70-15's @ ~29" tall.

[sbruzek]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

205/75-15 = ~27" tall.

235/75-15's @ ~28.8" or 255/70-15's @ ~29" tall.

Great info. Looks like either
the 235 or 255 will work for me. I’ll look for the best deal on those sizes. Thanks again.
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[geezer#99]

Do your new coils come with the bolts and retainers like in this link. If not you’ll need them.
You’ll likely break the bolts off.



https://www.brotherstrucks.com/1960-...tinfo/RSRC004/

[sbruzek]

Originally Posted by geezer#99

Do your new coils come with the bolts and retainers like in this link. If not you’ll need them.
You’ll likely break the bolts off.

Glad u told me. I’ll order these. Thanks

https://www.brotherstrucks.com/1960-...tinfo/RSRC004/

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[hairball]

On my 65 C10 fleet side stock height, I am using a 275 60 15 on an 8 inch wide steel rim on all 4 corners with no clearance issues. I think the rims have a 4 inch back spacing. The tires are wider and slightly taller than stock. 15 inch tires are getting harder to come by FYI. I will also be adding power steering because of the wider tires.

[SCOTI]

275/60-15 = ~28" tall.

[paulspickupparts]

I have a pair of stock used springs .

[sbruzek]

Originally Posted by paulspickupparts

I have a pair of stock used springs .

Thanks but I already bought a set of new ones and the brackets. Thanx
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[WhippinSaw]

i put cheap springs on and one was higher than the other,,
got moog springs to fix it.

[sbruzek]

Originally Posted by WhippinSaw

i put cheap springs on and one was higher than the other,,
got moog springs to fix it.

Ok I’ll watch for that issue. Thanks for the tip.
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[Rubbertiredtramp]

Originally Posted by cwcarpenter98

I had 255/70s on my truck with the first set of 15x8 truck rallies.
I wanted original hubcaps, so switched to a 15x8 nub style hubcap wheel wrapped in 30x9.5s

On the springs, I'd probably just go with new unless you can confirm the used set hasn't sagged over the past 50 years. I had a 1/4" think steel plate in my bed for many years, so I think my springs might have some sag in them from that. I haven't removed them yet to check for the free height measurement though

You can get any rear spring from 60-72


Edit to add: My truck had 235/75s on the stock 15s when I first bought it. The drum brake wheels wouldn't work with my disc swap, so that's why I changed. You can see in the last pic how much lower the bed sat from that steel plate

I like the look of your 30x9.5 tires, I cant tell from the photo, but were you able to find a highway tread for the front?

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by Rubbertiredtramp

I like the look of your 30x9.5 tires, I cant tell from the photo, but were you able to find a highway tread for the front?

Falken discontinued the highway version of the wildpeaks, so I went with A/Ts on all 4. Although the mud tires on the back and highway on the front would be a more proper farm truck look, I drive a good bit on 2 lane highways and some interstates, so I prefer to rotate my tires regularly.