Cheap way to do a rake? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

TwoFiftyShifter · 07-27-2010, 10:22 PM

I was wondering what the cheapest way to do a rake is, I've got a 64 GMC and looking to lower the front. I'm putting the truck together cheaply, and I would like to give it a little rake.... whats the best way to go about that? Cut the coils? Buy Jeep coils that I read about?

javadoc · 07-27-2010, 11:40 PM

I have a set of 2" Bell Tech drop springs that I'm not going to use. They have about 500 miles on them. We could work out a deal, just PM me.

bama63 · 07-27-2010, 11:42 PM

not the best way but as a last resort you could cut or heat the coils

monolith · 07-28-2010, 02:46 AM

I cut 1 coil on my 66 gmc 3/4 ton - loved the rake and the ride.

fryer1979 · 07-28-2010, 04:56 AM

Cutting coils is usually the cheapest way to lower a vehicle. If you only cut 1 coil from the spring, a change in ride is not very likely to be noticible. I cut one off of the front coil of my '79 Camaro. The aftermarket suspension I bought left it sagging in the rear, and I cannot stand that look. Cut the 1 coil, got the front just a little lower than the rear, and the ride is still as good as it was before. I recommend using a saw or cut-off wheel to cut the spring, heating coils with a torch tends to change the characteristics of the spring a bit too much.

63 & 64 Bowties · 07-28-2010, 07:17 AM

My 63 w/ 1.5 coils cut up front and 70 Chevelle springs in the rear. Cheap and easy.
And, I agree, don't heat coils. It weakens them and you don't have much control over how much they will sag.

actconstruction · 02-13-2011, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 63 & 64 Bowties

My 63 w/ 1.5 coils cut up front and 70 Chevelle springs in the rear. Cheap and easy.
And, I agree, don't heat coils. It weakens them and you don't have much control over how much they will sag.

So the Chevelle springs create an automatic lowering in the back? How much? There's nothing else to it? Thanks.

Miller92 · 02-13-2011, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 63 & 64 Bowties

My 63 w/ 1.5 coils cut up front and 70 Chevelle springs in the rear. Cheap and easy.
And, I agree, don't heat coils. It weakens them and you don't have much control over how much they will sag.

You sir have one beautiful pickup! I love the way it sits!

Malibob · 02-13-2011, 10:03 PM

Drop spindles will run you into disc brakes and that aint cheap (not expensive either if you do it right)

S-10 springs worked for me until I got the bug to go lower. The rear you can use Jeep springs (not remembering which ones though) lowering blocks would also be pretty cheap.

boucher racing · 02-14-2011, 01:54 AM

Jack up, compress front spring, unbolt the two u-bolts on the frame side, remove & lower the lower A arm and pull out spring. Measure exactly 1 or 1 1/2 coil and cut it off. Then, re-install it all. Repeat for other side. Cost- rent spring compressor, time, tools. Results-killer rake.
Posted via Mobile Device

actconstruction · 02-14-2011, 03:28 PM

I'm getting ready to do my 72 C10 LWB and I'm thinking cut 1 1/2 springs in the front and block lower it in the back? Anybody see a problem with this? I have a pretty decent (about 400 hp) motor and trans for it, and I want to be sure I maintain handling during accelerating and light cornering/ course correction. I've been building motors and trans a long time, but I'm a newcomer to suspension modifications. Thanks for any help you can offer, guys. I'm trying to get about 2-3 inches out of this.

61_FL_Apache · 02-14-2011, 03:45 PM

Careful with the cut coils. I did that to my 65 before baggin it and it rode rough as hell. Maybe if you use lighter coils and they compress more with out cutting would be better.

actconstruction · 02-15-2011, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 61_FL_Apache

Careful with the cut coils. I did that to my 65 before baggin it and it rode rough as hell. Maybe if you use lighter coils and they compress more with out cutting would be better.

Thanks, Steve. I suspected as much. So, you think I would be better off maybe going to the parts store and matching coils that are shorter with a similar load rating and responsiveness and then just block the back for a moderate rake? No foreseeable issues with steering or handling? Or other concerns that I'm not even aware of yet? As I mentioned above, I've been building motors and trans my whole life, but never really delved into suspension. Thanks.

jj1965 · 02-15-2011, 02:16 AM

I cut the front coils it handles ok but the ride is rough.

Rooster's 67 · 02-15-2011, 03:30 AM

if you cut the coils, use a cut-off blade not torch or plasma. heat will kill springs.

any time you cut a coil spring you raise the spring rate (make it stiffer)

good info here: http://www.eatonsprings.com/cuttingcoilsprings.html

old cruiser · 02-15-2011, 08:45 PM

I used 2 inch lowering springs on front and 4 inch on rear wasn,t happy with look so cut one coil off front sits nice and rides nice.

07-27-2010, 10:22 PM	#1
TwoFiftyShifter Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Gwinnett GA Posts: 1,803	Cheap way to do a rake? I was wondering what the cheapest way to do a rake is, I've got a 64 GMC and looking to lower the front. I'm putting the truck together cheaply, and I would like to give it a little rake.... whats the best way to go about that? Cut the coils? Buy Jeep coils that I read about? __________________ 1982 K10 SWB 1987 V20 - Sold - Doh! Last edited by TwoFiftyShifter; 07-27-2010 at 11:16 PM.

07-27-2010, 11:40 PM	#2
javadoc Hey Watch this... Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 414	Re: Cheap way to do a rake? I have a set of 2" Bell Tech drop springs that I'm not going to use. They have about 500 miles on them. We could work out a deal, just PM me. __________________ What have I gotten myself into now? 1964 Chevy Stepside - 383 hydraulic roller Vortec ... a work in progress 2000 Volvo V70R - 340awhp, 22psi, meth-injected of Porsche-eating fun. The grocery-getter on steroids

07-27-2010, 11:42 PM	#3
bama63 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: gadsden, alabama Posts: 468	Re: Cheap way to do a rake? not the best way but as a last resort you could cut or heat the coils

07-28-2010, 02:46 AM	#4
monolith Zero Albedo Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: San Gabriel, California Posts: 478	Re: Cheap way to do a rake? I cut 1 coil on my 66 gmc 3/4 ton - loved the rake and the ride. __________________ Baz "Deserve's got nothin' to do with it." 66 GMC 1500 wideside longbed 250 4spd "Project Rekker"http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=467467 65 GMC 1Ton Panelhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...32#post4794432 65 Chevy Panel (former U.S.Navy truck) 64 Chevy Suburban Carryall 4x4http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=358348 64 GMC 1000 wideside longbed 305 4spdhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=3600890(Rip- parts truck now) 68 Dodge Charger

07-28-2010, 04:56 AM	#5
fryer1979 Redneck Hillbilly Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Backwoods Posts: 1,307	Re: Cheap way to do a rake? Cutting coils is usually the cheapest way to lower a vehicle. If you only cut 1 coil from the spring, a change in ride is not very likely to be noticible. I cut one off of the front coil of my '79 Camaro. The aftermarket suspension I bought left it sagging in the rear, and I cannot stand that look. Cut the 1 coil, got the front just a little lower than the rear, and the ride is still as good as it was before. I recommend using a saw or cut-off wheel to cut the spring, heating coils with a torch tends to change the characteristics of the spring a bit too much.

07-28-2010, 07:17 AM	#6
63 & 64 Bowties and a few others Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Blue Ridge Mountains of VA Posts: 5,638	Re: Cheap way to do a rake? My 63 w/ 1.5 coils cut up front and 70 Chevelle springs in the rear. Cheap and easy. And, I agree, don't heat coils. It weakens them and you don't have much control over how much they will sag. __________________ Bill US Army Vet -193rd Infantry BlueRidgeMuscleCars.com “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” Gandhi

02-13-2011, 10:03 PM	#9
Malibob Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 392	Re: Cheap way to do a rake? Drop spindles will run you into disc brakes and that aint cheap (not expensive either if you do it right) S-10 springs worked for me until I got the bug to go lower. The rear you can use Jeep springs (not remembering which ones though) lowering blocks would also be pretty cheap. __________________ This statement was made possible by a grant from this station and continued support from viewers like you. Flickr

02-14-2011, 01:54 AM	#10
boucher racing Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Nashville TN Posts: 294	Re: Cheap way to do a rake? Jack up, compress front spring, unbolt the two u-bolts on the frame side, remove & lower the lower A arm and pull out spring. Measure exactly 1 or 1 1/2 coil and cut it off. Then, re-install it all. Repeat for other side. Cost- rent spring compressor, time, tools. Results-killer rake. Posted via Mobile Device __________________ Build Threads: "JED" 66 GMC C1000 http://inliners.org/ubbthreads/ubbth...1857#Post61857 "Cropwell" 66 C10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=587639

02-14-2011, 03:28 PM	#11
actconstruction Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Concord NC Posts: 58	Re: Cheap way to do a rake? I'm getting ready to do my 72 C10 LWB and I'm thinking cut 1 1/2 springs in the front and block lower it in the back? Anybody see a problem with this? I have a pretty decent (about 400 hp) motor and trans for it, and I want to be sure I maintain handling during accelerating and light cornering/ course correction. I've been building motors and trans a long time, but I'm a newcomer to suspension modifications. Thanks for any help you can offer, guys. I'm trying to get about 2-3 inches out of this. __________________ "Did you seriously just ask me what I need more power for?" "You're stupid, cause I've smoked plastic."

02-14-2011, 03:45 PM	#12
61_FL_Apache Who Me? Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Royal Palm Beach, FL Posts: 4,067	Re: Cheap way to do a rake? Careful with the cut coils. I did that to my 65 before baggin it and it rode rough as hell. Maybe if you use lighter coils and they compress more with out cutting would be better. __________________ Steve 1997 Tahoe LT 4D 2WD (DD) 2001 Blazer 4D 2WD 1961 Apache 10 (sold) 1965 C10 Stepper (sold)

02-15-2011, 02:16 AM	#14
jj1965 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Stillwater Oklahoma Posts: 56	Re: Cheap way to do a rake? I cut the front coils it handles ok but the ride is rough.

02-15-2011, 03:30 AM	#15
Rooster's 67 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: DFW Posts: 765	Re: Cheap way to do a rake? if you cut the coils, use a cut-off blade not torch or plasma. heat will kill springs. any time you cut a coil spring you raise the spring rate (make it stiffer) good info here: http://www.eatonsprings.com/cuttingcoilsprings.html

02-15-2011, 08:45 PM	#16
old cruiser Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Camperdown Vic Australia Posts: 230	Re: Cheap way to do a rake? I used 2 inch lowering springs on front and 4 inch on rear wasn,t happy with look so cut one coil off front sits nice and rides nice. Last edited by old cruiser; 02-15-2011 at 08:45 PM.



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