coil spring specs?

[MarkoWyo]

Does anyone know a source for original coil spring specifications for Suburbans (mine's a '71, 2WD, C10). I'm looking for the engineering specs like rate, load, & dimensions, not just "heavy duty" or "sweet ride" or "3 drop". Those specs are not in my shop manual, but I bet are out there in some GM/Chevy book, .., I haven't been able to find them on the web.

Moog/Federal Mogul have a great selection of springs, with full specs, should allow me to fine tune my ride nicely. But first I need to know what I currently have installed. Yes, I could just take the springs out and spec them out on the bench, but that will not be a convenient approach for my situation.

Thanks in advance. MarkoWyo

[LockDoc]

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I would bet the info is out there somewhere too. If there are any specialty Automotive spring shops in your area they would have that info. The problem might be getting them to look it up for you for a bunch of different springs. When I lived in Davenport, IA one of the guys that worked at Davenport Spring Co. looked up the specs on the front coils for my '57 Chevy Station Wagon for me.

LockDoc

[capev86]

i got my 72 Suburban dealer brochure right here in front of me....

load rate for the 2wds. load rating would be per spring (per side). and remember that vehicle weight is part of that capacity.

FRONT~

1/2 ton: 1450 lbs and 1550 lbs
3/4 ton: 1750 lbs and 1900 lbs

REAR~

1/2 ton: 1400 lbs and 2000 lbs
3/4 ton: 2000 lbs and 2750 lbs

the standard rear springs on a 1/2 ton just aren't stiff enough for a truck used for anything more than car shows. add people/cargo and hook up a trailer and you are in sag central!

[MarkoWyo]

Many thanks capev86, that gives me a good starting point. Does the dealer brochure happen to mention anything about vehicle weight?

Do you have the vehicle that accompanies that brochure?, always nice to see another '72.

Did you change your springs, and if so, what to, and are you happy with the result?

[capev86]

Do you have the vehicle that accompanies that brochure?, always nice to see another '72.

1972 Suburban C20. bought it from the son of the original owner in my hometown (york, maine) 4 years ago this month:


i bought a pair of the 3/4 ton HD springs from a vendor for future use on my truck. the family 71 Holiday Trav'ler in the pic may only be a 21' model (23' hitch to bumper) but the hitch weight is well over the magic 10% even when the trailer is fully loaded (800lbs and 6000lbs respectively). my stock 3/4 ton should take it ok, but some day i'd like to get a 35' enclosed trailer and turn it into a toy hauler-camper. that's when i will need really strong springs. i wouldn't recommend them for a 1/2 ton truck with the weaker axle.

my dad had a 72 Suburban C10 highlander from '83 to '91. when i get all the pics scanned in i will write up a dedication thread to his truck. there is a really good side photo of the entire rig (same trailer) that will show what it looks like with the 1/2 ton HD upgrade on the back. but i haven't had a chance to transfer it from the 'rents computer since i scanned it in. here's one i do have....in 1985 waiting to get on the ferry to Prince Edward Island.



and a side view of the truck....


i saved the cab lights from his truck....found it in a junk yard in the mid 90's. they need to be re-chromed ($$$) and i have the exact same style tripod mirrors in near mint shape from a guy on here so i can ditch those tiny little mirrors. i love vintage trucks, but even more when they are mostly stock and still working hard like the factory intended. low riders and customs just don't give off that feeling of nostalgia that i crave!

[MarkoWyo]

I concur 100% capev86, I'm a fan of the GM riding experience. But I have to get mine a little less "rolly" so my wife can enjoy riding in it too (she once got carsick, that's a hard thing to undo).

Our '72 Suburban has been in the family since ~1980, my dad had it, then my brother, and now me. We are second owners and it has either 288K or 388k or maybe even 488k miles on it. It's still a sweet running reliable machine. I am steering towards a re-paint, hopefully next year. Some day hopefully my son or daughter will want it. Pic attached.

As for my originales' creds, ... my dad and I re-did the 1964 Cutlass I got in high school, and managed to hang on to. A picture is attached, accompanied by David R. North, designer of the GTO Toronado, Riviera etc. I managed a first place in the Billings All Original Car Show (a great car show every July).

[capev86]

less rolly = need big sway bars!!!

i put a CPP bar on the front of mine since it didn't have a bar. and then found out i could have used the big 1-1/4" bar from a 73-87 dually or camper special. i might swap eventually for a more factory look. turns out the CPP rear bar mounts just like the super rare rear bar for our era trucks (only thicker). my truck handles much better now but there is still a good amount of body roll out back that won't go away until i get my CPP rear bar installed (requires drilling, not a bolt-in like the front).

i wish i had my dad's old truck. he was the 3rd out of 4 owners and had it the longest. it was a 350/350 truck but he put a 305 in it with an rv cam, dual exhaust, the q-jet swapped over and hei. in contrast my truck is just a standard custom deluxe, a 3/4 ton with 307 and 3 on the tree. a q-jet swap helped wake it up but it's still kinda small (but it runs so beautifully). the chassis is better suited to hard work though with the heavy springs, full floater rear axle, beefier track bar, huge rear drums, big brake booster, etc. my truck also has less miles and a lot less rust than his did even back then. when i found his rig at the junkyard, it had already been stripped of all the good parts (highlander interior, tinted windows, tilt wheel, etc). what was left wasn't worth restoring and i was only 15 at the time. i pulled the cab lights (my favorite feature) and whatever badges where left for keepsakes. those lights are going on my burb now. so....

....my first car was a 1986 Dodge Aries wagon that my parents bought in 1988. it is currently at the body shop awaiting a full restoration and then i will be modding the chassis, brakes and drivetrain with parts from the most bad-@$$ k car derivatives out there (daytona shelby, spirit r/t, etc). getting bucket seats and a getrag 5spd but will look factory correct to anyone not in the know about these cars.

that 64 Cutlass is beautiful and i can't wait to see your burb looking equally as good!