'79 GMC frontend drop help

[ymerej71]

Hey everyone, I could use a little help / info dropping the front end of my '79 GMC. The truck had been dropped some before I purchased it, but the guy I bought it from had no info on what methods had been used... I'm guessing maybe different springs. I'm thinking that the spindles on the truck are the originals. I'm not wanting to go much lower for now, just wanting the tops of the tires slightly tucked. I've attached pics of the frontend, springs/spindles and a pic of the way the truck sits now. If you can tell... do you think that these are the stock spindles? If so, new dropped spindles are probably going to be the route I'm going for the extra drop. Let me know your thoughts... Thanks!

[hotrod_991]

you have stock spindles and aftermarket drop springs. The spings look like the drop spings I have in my truck now. Deff go with spindels that is the route im going too.

[frenchsquared]

Yep, what he said. ^^^^^

[Jonboy]

Most aftermarket spindles will have a name cast into them. Judging from the fender height, I would say they are stock spindles. While you have the tire off, measure the rotor width. You will need to know if they are HD (1.25) or light duty (1") rotors.

[J Knight]

Looks to me you got 2.5 spindles and stock springs. At that ride height you would be riding the bumpstop pads if those were stock spindles.
Note
The bent brake line to clear the spindle.
How low the control arm is relative to the dust cover.
Stock spindle shaft is closer to bottom ball joint mount hole.
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[hotrod_991]

Originally Posted by J Knight

Looks to me you got 2.5 spindles and stock springs. At that ride height you would be riding the bumpstop pads if those were stock spindles.
Note
The bent brake line to clear the spindle.
How low the control arm is relative to the dust cover.
Stock spindle shaft is closer to bottom ball joint mount hole.
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you know you might be right. Looking at the pictures again is it more or does it look like the upper contol arm has been ground down at the point to allow the spindle to reach full lock woth out hitting?

[ymerej71]

Originally Posted by J Knight

Looks to me you got 2.5 spindles and stock springs. At that ride height you would be riding the bumpstop pads if those were stock spindles.
Note
The bent brake line to clear the spindle.
How low the control arm is relative to the dust cover.
Stock spindle shaft is closer to bottom ball joint mount hole.
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Hmmm... I can see what you're saying, and I also got to thinking about the clearance I still have on those bumpstops. Maybe the spindles have been replaced and I still have the stock springs?!? That's the questions of the day... It's a sure bet that I don't have both dropped spindles & springs because it doesn't sit that low. I just didn't want to re-buy some parts only to disassemble the truck and find out that's what I already had.

Thanks for all the input so far everyone!

[J Knight]

Originally Posted by ymerej71

Hmmm... I can see what you're saying, and I also got to thinking about the clearance I still have on those bumpstops. Maybe the spindles have been replaced and I still have the stock springs?!? That's the questions of the day... It's a sure bet that I don't have both dropped spindles & springs because it doesn't sit that low. I just didn't want to re-buy some parts only to disassemble the truck and find out that's what I already had.

Thanks for all the input so far everyone!

OK, with the truck on the ground, how much clearance do you have from the top of the bumpstop rubber (the tip) to the point it makes contact with the spring tower?

[J Knight]

Originally Posted by hotrod_991

you know you might be right. Looking at the pictures again is it more or does it look like the upper contol arm has been ground down at the point to allow the spindle to reach full lock woth out hitting?

I couldnt see it earlier on my phone but yes it looks ground down to clear 15in wheels.

[ymerej71]

Originally Posted by J Knight

OK, with the truck on the ground, how much clearance do you have from the top of the bumpstop rubber (the tip) to the point it makes contact with the spring tower?

I hope to get the wheels/tires back on the truck later this afternoon... Then I'll re-check the clearance to see how much it changes. I'm also gonna snap several different pics (different angles) on the spindles first before i mount everything back up. I'll get back with everyone later... Thanks again for the help!

[hotrod_991]

if you get a chance try and clean them up as best you can. see if there is a stamped name on them from a company

[J Knight]

Originally Posted by ymerej71

I hope to get the wheels/tires back on the truck later this afternoon... Then I'll re-check the clearance to see how much it changes. I'm also gonna snap several different pics (different angles) on the spindles first before i mount everything back up. I'll get back with everyone later... Thanks again for the help!

Ive got some stock and drop spidles in my garage, Ill take pics of them side by side shortly.

[J Knight]

The spindle on the left is stock.
The spindle on the right is a McGaughys 2.5 drop.
BTW the casting for McGaughys is behind the rotor, nothing on the backside.

[1LowToy]

Looks like they lowered it correctly Leave it alone.

Let's see how the back was done. And do I see 15x10 rally wheels in back?

[ymerej71]

Originally Posted by J Knight

The spindle on the left is stock.
The spindle on the right is a McGaughys 2.5 drop.
BTW the casting for McGaughys is behind the rotor, nothing on the backside.

Thanks for the spindle pics!
Well I didn't have much time this afternoon to work on the truck but I did get some better pics of the spindles. Based on the pics you posted of your stock & dropped spindles I'm feeling pretty confident that I've got dropped spindles on my truck. Check out the pics below and see what you think.

[ymerej71]

Originally Posted by 1LowToy

Looks like they lowered it correctly Leave it alone.

Let's see how the back was done. And do I see 15x10 rally wheels in back?

Thanks, but I'm not looking to drop the front much more... I just need the nose down a bit more to get the rod / rake look. The rear was dropped by way of a flipped axle, and yes.. those are my new 15x10 rallys with BFG 295/50's on the rear.

[J Knight]

Originally Posted by ymerej71

Thanks for the spindle pics!
Well I didn't have much time this afternoon to work on the truck but I did get some better pics of the spindles. Based on the pics you posted of your stock & dropped spindles I'm feeling pretty confident that I've got dropped spindles on my truck. Check out the pics below and see what you

Defiantly looks like drop spindles, but can't realy pin down if you got drop springs or not til you get some pics on the ground with the weight on it.
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[ymerej71]

Alrighty... finally got a chance to get the wheels back on and the truck on the ground. Under the trucks weight there's about 1.75"-2" of clearance between the top of the rubber bumpstop and the spingtower. I've included a couple pics below. It's hard to see the spring tower because its hiding behind the tie rod but hopefully you can see enough.

[J Knight]

Looks to me you have stock springs and drop spindles only. A 2in drop spring would put the tip of the pad within a 1/4 in from the spring tower. Thats about the normal clearance. If It was lowered any with a drop spring with the pad in place it would hit more often and start to flatten out and crack. At the very most you could have a 1in drop sping.

[ymerej71]

Originally Posted by J Knight

Looks to me you have stock springs and drop spindles only. A 2in drop spring would put the tip of the pad within a 1/4 in from the spring tower. Thats about the normal clearance. If It was lowered any with a drop spring with the pad in place it would hit more often and start to flatten out and crack. At the very most you could have a 1in drop sping.

Thanks so much for all the help! This is all a new direction for me. I'm used to lifting straight axle Jeeps! Guess I'll start shopping around for some dropped springs to try out... and springs are cheaper than spindles! it might be a little while before I get to it, but I'm ready to get back outside and start working on this truck since the temps are starting to finally go down here in Texas!

Thanks again to everyone for their input!
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[flamingbig10]

you could also cut the coil one revolution off the coil cut equals 2" off drop, If you already have some kind of cutting tool all it will take is R&R time for the coils

[J Knight]

Originally Posted by flamingbig10

you could also cut the coil one revolution off the coil cut equals 2" off drop, If you already have some kind of cutting tool all it will take is R&R time for the coils

X2, if you go this route don't forget to cut out the bumpstop brackets.
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[N2TRUX]

Its hard to tell from the pics if thats an aftermarket spring. Stock springs arent painted, but the PO could have done that when he installed the spindles.

If you need it lower, I would cut half a coil and see what you get.

[ymerej71]

I'm thinking I'm probably going to cut the springs I have and see what I come up with... if I'm not happy with it, then I can buy new springs. Now all I've got to do is find time to pull the springs and get to cutting! Thanks for the info!

[hotrod_991]

if you cut the springs do it in a bucket of water. That will help displace the heat a the coil should retain its structural integrety.