New to me '77 Silverado - Light blue original paint - 2 leaf springs!??

[Gribbs]

Greetings from Ontario, Canada...I've been on the site a while and I have just finished a 5 year long Apache build, only to find myself picking up a '77 a couple weeks ago. All original with great color and patina - I coudn't pass it up and now the '59 is for sale.
It has: 305/TH350 with a 3:07 or 8 gear. A/C not working, tilt column, drives fine and all gauges work

Question for those much wiser than I: It looks to me like the P.O. wanted to lower the truck and did so by removing leaves. I assume he just cut the front coils, judging by his method on the rear here.
I'd like to get 2 more inches of drop front and back. With only 2 leaf springs right now, what would be your suggestion to safely get two more drop? I did a short ride in the truck and the suspension felt fine enough. However, I also have a '74 shovelhead that I may want in the bed from time to time. Maybe I need some air helper shocks to pump up when that happens.....

Thanks for your help!

Gribbs

[jspec25]

I would buy new leafs and do a flip kit. Correct the mistake instead of making it worse. That was a "I dont want to spend any money" lowering kit. lol

[BabyBlue]

One of my favorite colors, congrats!Had a 2wd '79 blazer the same color.

My suggestion, get new leafs and get a 5/7 McGaughy or Belltech drop and install that so you have new spindles, springs (front and rear), and shocks. Regardless of which you choose, you can get the air-over-leaf air helper spring kit (instead of air shocks) to help.

[Gribbs]

Thanks guys. You’ve confirmed what I had in mind, pretty much. ��

[LT7A]

First off that is a very cool truck -- in any condition. I wouldn't be able to pass it up either. That blue looks good whether it's chalky and neglected or bright and shiny. Envy. And you may know this but the ochre color in the trim is a 1977 only occurrence. And it goes particularly well with that blue. Envy again.

2nd, you've received good input. Cut coils perform fine for many and some swear by them, but to go lower in front you'll need the dropped spindles -- several mfrs available and a search for spindles or dropped spindles should net a lot of background. The 2 leaves out back sounds hokey but it appears they did a clean job of it. A flip kit should put you in neighborhood you're looking for height-wise and get your load capacity back up but again, air-bags/shocks may be required to keep the necessary clearance to carry your motorcycle. Again, various mfrs, search helps. lRCC Western Chassis has some fans. My stuff is Bell-tech, well known name but also known for some clearance problems.

Welcome to square land and please consider making a build thread about whatever you decide to suspension-wise, etc. I'm sure I'm just one of many who'd enjoy seeing you make that little blue truck be the way you want it.

[Gribbs]

Originally Posted by LT7A

First off that is a very cool truck -- in any condition. I wouldn't be able to pass it up either. That blue looks good whether it's chalky and neglected or bright and shiny. Envy. And you may know this but the ochre color in the trim is a 1977 only occurrence. And it goes particularly well with that blue. Envy again.

2nd, you've received good input. Cut coils perform fine for many and some swear by them, but to go lower in front you'll need the dropped spindles -- several mfrs available and a search for spindles or dropped spindles should net a lot of background. The 2 leaves out back sounds hokey but it appears they did a clean job of it. A flip kit should put you in neighborhood you're looking for height-wise and get your load capacity back up but again, air-bags/shocks may be required to keep the necessary clearance to carry your motorcycle. Again, various mfrs, search helps. lRCC Western Chassis has some fans. My stuff is Bell-tech, well known name but also known for some clearance problems.

Welcome to square land and please consider making a build thread about whatever you decide to suspension-wise, etc. I'm sure I'm just one of many who'd enjoy seeing you make that little blue truck be the way you want it.

Thanks a lot! Ya one year only yellow in the trim. Definitely one of the reasons I bought the truck when I shouldn't have I never made a build thread for my '59 and I should have, since it was totally gone through. A friend of mine is giving me his circa 2000 LS1 motor too, so maybe that will find a home in this thing. Only if the '59 sells first, though. Gotta draw the line somewhere and pay the bills at home... I'm so excited that this squarebody doesn't have leaves on all 4 corners!! Will be much easier to build the suspension nicely than the options there are with 55-59 trucks.