Proud new owner of this 70 suburban - and I have a few questions - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

TheNasty0ne · 08-17-2010, 03:59 AM

Well about a week ago I picked up a 70 suburban..... And I have a few questions....

First off the truck was lowered... And well I think they did a crap job... So im redoing it all....

The truck has blocks in the rear and springs in front and back but my question is can anyone tell me how many inches are the drop springs in the back judging from this photo

I bought new 3 inch drop springs formthe rear and i want to achieve that exact height... Do you think i bought the right size? I also bought all new shock relocation brackets and nitro slammer shocks... I cant wait to install this stuff

The truck rides like crap right now itsmpretty bouncy...

Also it has a 350 with 3spd tranny I assume its a 350th tranny... Is this enought to tow my other project car around??

rsavage · 08-17-2010, 06:44 AM

Congrats on your new Burb! Can't help you on your lowering questions as my trucks are stock heights. As for towing, if your engine and transmission are in good shape, your Burb can tow your other project car. You should have an auxiliary trans cooler and the appropriate hitch (class IV or V). Depending on the tongue weight of your setup, you may have to have some sort of overload spring or shock set up such as bags. Welcome to the Board.

vectorit · 08-17-2010, 12:30 PM

Welcome to the board from the IE, and congrats on getting into a burb!

I can't help much on the suspension, since I am into the 4x4 side of things.
But there a ton of people on here that can help you, so you are in the right place for sure!

*Sublvr72* · 08-17-2010, 09:48 PM

Welcome and congrats on your purchase. It looks like you're lowered about 3 inches in the front and maybe 2-3 inches in the back.

71swb4x4 · 08-17-2010, 10:02 PM

I don't think you have a lot of drop in the back, maybe 2 or 3 inches. How big are the blocks? Nothing long with running blocks, but if the springs were heated it probably doesn't ride very nice.
Why do you say they did a crap job? Is the ride bad? The springs look bad? Handling?

TheNasty0ne · 08-17-2010, 10:59 PM

The front shocks are stock and worn the rear springs were heated....

The blocks in the back seem to be 1 1/2inches - 2inch....

The 3" drop springs i bought look huge the guy said they drop alot with the weight...'i know it will but it will need to be like 3+ inches for the to be the same height it is now so im not sure the springs would compress that much but he said bring them back if there wrong so... I got nothing to lose...

dougo · 08-18-2010, 12:46 AM

Congrats on the burb!

rocknss · 08-18-2010, 07:36 PM

Very nice Burb! Welcome to the board.

Mulk · 08-29-2010, 08:14 PM

Nice score on the Burb...

What is up with prior owners shooting a quick coat of flat black? Mine is the same way, and from everything I can see, the original paint was solid.

If you still have those lowering blocks and u-bolts around, I'll take them off your hands. PM sent

TheNasty0ne · 08-30-2010, 02:44 AM

I reused the blocks...And ubolts sorry...

But once we got under the truck.... It was way worse then what we thought... The crossmember was completely cracked in half! They welded a piece of bar to put it back!! So my friend fabricated a crossmemer and everything is super solid now...

The only problem is the shop guy ordered the wrong shocks... They didnt even fit in the shock mounts... So we reused the shocks for now... Nothing ever goes smooth

Monte Carlo Man · 08-31-2010, 02:02 PM

The rear springs were made to look like as if they were shot - even when they were only 10 or 15 years old. They were a progressive spring rate - that the further they went down, the more weight they would take.

The front springs on a 1/2 ton were crappy, even when new.

What the previous owner of my panel truck did was take a set of front - 3/4 ton truck springs and cut a couple of loops off for the front spring and my truck drove, rode and handled like a dream.

The ride doesn't come from the springs, it comes from the shocks.

The handling comes from the springs.

You might be a good candidate for new bushings in the front control arms.

The thing is 40 years old you know!

08-17-2010, 03:59 AM	#1
TheNasty0ne Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Fullerton Posts: 3	Proud new owner of this 70 suburban - and I have a few questions Well about a week ago I picked up a 70 suburban..... And I have a few questions.... First off the truck was lowered... And well I think they did a crap job... So im redoing it all.... The truck has blocks in the rear and springs in front and back but my question is can anyone tell me how many inches are the drop springs in the back judging from this photo I bought new 3 inch drop springs formthe rear and i want to achieve that exact height... Do you think i bought the right size? I also bought all new shock relocation brackets and nitro slammer shocks... I cant wait to install this stuff The truck rides like crap right now itsmpretty bouncy... Also it has a 350 with 3spd tranny I assume its a 350th tranny... Is this enought to tow my other project car around??

08-17-2010, 06:44 AM	#2
rsavage Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Alden NY Posts: 2,705	Re: Proud new owner of this 70 suburban - and I have a few questions Congrats on your new Burb! Can't help you on your lowering questions as my trucks are stock heights. As for towing, if your engine and transmission are in good shape, your Burb can tow your other project car. You should have an auxiliary trans cooler and the appropriate hitch (class IV or V). Depending on the tongue weight of your setup, you may have to have some sort of overload spring or shock set up such as bags. Welcome to the Board. __________________ 1961 C1 Corvette 1959 El Camino 350 TPI, 9" 4 w disc 69 Blazer K5 - sold July '20 2021 Durango RT 5.7

08-17-2010, 12:30 PM	#3
vectorit What? Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,617	Re: Proud new owner of this 70 suburban - and I have a few questions Welcome to the board from the IE, and congrats on getting into a burb! I can't help much on the suspension, since I am into the 4x4 side of things. But there a ton of people on here that can help you, so you are in the right place for sure! __________________ Chris 1968 K20 Suburban 1972 K10 LWB PU

08-17-2010, 09:48 PM	#4
Sublvr72 Account Suspended Join Date: May 2004 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 1,387	Re: Proud new owner of this 70 suburban - and I have a few questions Welcome and congrats on your purchase. It looks like you're lowered about 3 inches in the front and maybe 2-3 inches in the back.

08-17-2010, 10:02 PM	#5
71swb4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 10,497	Re: Proud new owner of this 70 suburban - and I have a few questions I don't think you have a lot of drop in the back, maybe 2 or 3 inches. How big are the blocks? Nothing long with running blocks, but if the springs were heated it probably doesn't ride very nice. Why do you say they did a crap job? Is the ride bad? The springs look bad? Handling? __________________ Some people are like slinkies, they aren't good for anything, but you can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.

08-17-2010, 10:59 PM	#6
TheNasty0ne Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Fullerton Posts: 3	Re: Proud new owner of this 70 suburban - and I have a few questions The front shocks are stock and worn the rear springs were heated.... The blocks in the back seem to be 1 1/2inches - 2inch.... The 3" drop springs i bought look huge the guy said they drop alot with the weight...'i know it will but it will need to be like 3+ inches for the to be the same height it is now so im not sure the springs would compress that much but he said bring them back if there wrong so... I got nothing to lose...

08-18-2010, 12:46 AM	#7
dougo Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 543	Re: Proud new owner of this 70 suburban - and I have a few questions Congrats on the burb! __________________ Doug '72 GMC K2500 Suburban 4x4

08-18-2010, 07:36 PM	#8
rocknss Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 403	Re: Proud new owner of this 70 suburban - and I have a few questions Very nice Burb! Welcome to the board.

08-29-2010, 08:14 PM	#9
Mulk Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sin City, Nevada Posts: 152	Re: Proud new owner of this 70 suburban - and I have a few questions Nice score on the Burb... What is up with prior owners shooting a quick coat of flat black? Mine is the same way, and from everything I can see, the original paint was solid. If you still have those lowering blocks and u-bolts around, I'll take them off your hands. PM sent

08-30-2010, 02:44 AM	#10
TheNasty0ne Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Fullerton Posts: 3	Re: Proud new owner of this 70 suburban - and I have a few questions I reused the blocks...And ubolts sorry... But once we got under the truck.... It was way worse then what we thought... The crossmember was completely cracked in half! They welded a piece of bar to put it back!! So my friend fabricated a crossmemer and everything is super solid now... The only problem is the shop guy ordered the wrong shocks... They didnt even fit in the shock mounts... So we reused the shocks for now... Nothing ever goes smooth

08-31-2010, 02:02 PM	#11
Monte Carlo Man Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 85	Re: Proud new owner of this 70 suburban - and I have a few questions The rear springs were made to look like as if they were shot - even when they were only 10 or 15 years old. They were a progressive spring rate - that the further they went down, the more weight they would take. The front springs on a 1/2 ton were crappy, even when new. What the previous owner of my panel truck did was take a set of front - 3/4 ton truck springs and cut a couple of loops off for the front spring and my truck drove, rode and handled like a dream. The ride doesn't come from the springs, it comes from the shocks. The handling comes from the springs. You might be a good candidate for new bushings in the front control arms. The thing is 40 years old you know! Last edited by Monte Carlo Man; 08-31-2010 at 02:03 PM.



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