How best to short drop - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

8door · 08-09-2008, 06:54 PM

My 68 C10 has coils all around. I want to drop it just a little, couple of inches only, mostly to fill in the gap between tires and wheel opening. I want to use same size tires front and rear....maybe:drama
Sorter coils ? or What.

8door · 08-09-2008, 06:55 PM

Damn wish I could spell sorta coils? Oh ya maybe bags? nope .
SHORTER coils

SCOTI · 08-09-2008, 08:14 PM

Your front drop options are drop springs, drop spindles (req's disc brakes), stepped a-arms, or cut the stock springs (free & easy). Trimming 1-coil off the stock coils yields a 2-3" drop up front.

For a rear coil suspension, your options are shorter drop (or swap) springs, lowering blocks (up to 2" on the blocks w/15" wheels); or bags. Bags are a good option if you know you're going to work the truck hard & they can be done for about $200 (rear only) if they're manually filled.

Pick the options that suit your plans the best & we can help you w/the specifics.

8door · 08-09-2008, 08:35 PM

Any disadvantage to cutting a coil out of springs? Dose that affect the compression rate. As in stiffened them up a bit?

SCOTI · 08-09-2008, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 8door

Any disadvantage to cutting a coil out of springs? Dose that affect the compression rate. As in stiffened them up a bit?

Yes it increases the spring rate (10-20% is what I've read in magazines but I've never personally verified accurracy).

One coil trimmed has worked on all my vehicles for moderate lowering since the mid 80's so you should be ok. If you don't care for the ride, you're out nothing & can still get drop springs.

8door · 08-10-2008, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Yes it increases the spring rate (10-20% is what I've read in magazines but I've never personally verified accurracy).

One coil trimmed has worked on all my vehicles for moderate lowering since the mid 80's so you should be ok. If you don't care for the ride, you're out nothing & can still get drop springs.

That makes good sense.But looking at the springs particularly on rear, the coil gets smaller at both top and bottom. How do you cut that ???

SCOTI · 08-10-2008, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 8door

That makes good sense.But looking at the springs particularly on rear, the coil gets smaller at both top and bottom. How do you cut that ???

That's why the rears require the different approach. You can't just cut the springs like you can in front.

8door · 08-10-2008, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCOTI

That's why the rears require the different approach. You can't just cut the springs like you can in front.

OK SCOTI I went back and reread your initial comment, just didn't get it together sorry.
Anyway I think I'll research the new coils that are dropped. Any sources to consider?

*Shane* · 08-10-2008, 07:08 PM

Guys have used Chevelle / Malibu springs in the rear with mixed results ... some claim 3-4 inches of drop ... some claim no drop ... I have a set of Chevelle springs that I bought to experiment with but got rid of the "test" truck before installing them. I'll let you have them cheap if you're interested.

SCOTI · 08-10-2008, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shane

Guys have used Chevelle / Malibu springs in the rear with mixed results ... some claim 3-4 inches of drop ... some claim no drop ... I have a set of Chevelle springs that I bought to experiment with but got rid of the "test" truck before installing them. I'll let you have them cheap if you're interested.

This is the reason I mentioned 'swap' springs. I've heard of more than one guy using Jeep or g-body coils.

**scotts62** · 08-10-2008, 08:09 PM

Joe231 has a set of jeep springs under his 66, he said it dropped it a bit.

joe231 · 08-10-2008, 08:17 PM

yeah, i got right around 4 inches using the jeep coils and removing the coil over shocks that were on the rear.
here is my thread LINKY
do a search for jeep coils, there are several threads about it

hensonjd · 08-14-2008, 04:56 AM

Man it would probably be best to just go to cpp, ece, or somewhere like that and order drop springs. You have to remember all of these others are old springs and it wouldnt hurt to replace them and its not too expencive to do.

08-09-2008, 06:54 PM	#1
8door Not too old to learn Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 617	How best to short drop My 68 C10 has coils all around. I want to drop it just a little, couple of inches only, mostly to fill in the gap between tires and wheel opening. I want to use same size tires front and rear....maybe:drama Sorter coils ? or What. __________________ 1968 C10 a way to long restoration.

08-09-2008, 06:55 PM	#2
8door Not too old to learn Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 617	Re: How best to short drop Damn wish I could spell sorta coils? Oh ya maybe bags? nope . SHORTER coils __________________ 1968 C10 a way to long restoration.

08-09-2008, 08:14 PM	#3
SCOTI Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: DALLAS,TX Posts: 22,066	Re: How best to short drop Your front drop options are drop springs, drop spindles (req's disc brakes), stepped a-arms, or cut the stock springs (free & easy). Trimming 1-coil off the stock coils yields a 2-3" drop up front. For a rear coil suspension, your options are shorter drop (or swap) springs, lowering blocks (up to 2" on the blocks w/15" wheels); or bags. Bags are a good option if you know you're going to work the truck hard & they can be done for about $200 (rear only) if they're manually filled. Pick the options that suit your plans the best & we can help you w/the specifics. __________________ 67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... *Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.* Last edited by SCOTI; 08-09-2008 at 08:14 PM.

08-09-2008, 08:35 PM	#4
8door Not too old to learn Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 617	Re: How best to short drop Any disadvantage to cutting a coil out of springs? Dose that affect the compression rate. As in stiffened them up a bit? __________________ 1968 C10 a way to long restoration.

08-10-2008, 07:08 PM	#9
Shane Account Suspended Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: over yonder Posts: 14,270	Re: How best to short drop Guys have used Chevelle / Malibu springs in the rear with mixed results ... some claim 3-4 inches of drop ... some claim no drop ... I have a set of Chevelle springs that I bought to experiment with but got rid of the "test" truck before installing them. I'll let you have them cheap if you're interested.

08-10-2008, 08:09 PM	#11
scotts62 One day... Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tuttle, Ok Posts: 9,243	Re: How best to short drop Joe231 has a set of jeep springs under his 66, he said it dropped it a bit. __________________ Scott 93 crew cab build Project 62

08-10-2008, 08:17 PM	#12
joe231 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Palmer, Alaska Posts: 13,821	Re: How best to short drop yeah, i got right around 4 inches using the jeep coils and removing the coil over shocks that were on the rear. here is my thread LINKY do a search for jeep coils, there are several threads about it __________________ *CHEVY ONLY* Last edited by joe231; 08-10-2008 at 08:18 PM.

08-14-2008, 04:56 AM	#13
hensonjd Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Buffalo, Tx Posts: 422	Re: How best to short drop Man it would probably be best to just go to cpp, ece, or somewhere like that and order drop springs. You have to remember all of these others are old springs and it wouldnt hurt to replace them and its not too expencive to do.



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