Just pick it up! Let the fun begin!

[mikeavasdad]

I just bought this 1975 c 10 2wd stepside. It has a 350 w/ headers and flow master exhust, auto, barebones truck but all the trim pieces are there and a little rust (cab corners, rear fenders have 2 small rot holes) Need some help on a few things!

Plans -

After going thru it mechanically - engine, brakes, lights, etc I want to lower it.
I want a aggresive stance but not a road scraper (getting alittle old for that)
I was thinking a 5 in. flipkit and 3 in springs up front.
I want to run 15 x 10 on the back and 15 x 8 on front.
Also it has 8 leaf leafsprings in rear.

Any suggestions? Keeping in mind I suffer from myfundsarelow on this project.

After lowering it I plan to fix a few of the rust spots and flat black it (haven't noticed any in the area I live). Its a solid truck and for right now I want a driver then plan on really getting into major restoration in a couple of years.

[ghettoluxury]

If you are only going 3" up front use drop spindles. I bought mine on ebay from crown suspension and they are Belltech spindles for about $200. Then if you decide it doesn't sit low enough just cut 1 round off of the bottom of your factory spring for an even 5/5.

[mikeavasdad]

Before I started to ask questions and talk about my truck I should have said thank you in advance and told all those on this site what a great site it is! I have belonged to other sites in the past and this one seems to have great members who are always looking to help other owners out there with their projects. I have already found some great ideas and learned from the site in the few days that I have been a member. Thank you!

[N2TRUX]

Welcome to the forum mikeavasdad. Thanks for sharing your project with us.

[bigwheel15]

Kinda looks like a police truck with the black body and white door.
Posted via Mobile Device

[mopar346]

Looks pretty good, I'm diggin the cop truck look, could be different.

Welcome to the forum.

[Square_78]

I wouldnt buy spindles if you are lowering it only 3". Why spend the money for such a small drop. Cut 1.5 rings off your factory coils and go in for an alignment. Use the $200 for another upgrade or new shocks or something. I had 8 leafs in my truck plus the overload. I removed 4 leafs and installed a flip kit and the back came down 8".

[78 Big10 454]

Nice solid truck and welcome to the best Board on the 'net. Great people here.

[cory d]

my truck was sitting about where yours is, way up in the air with a huge rake. this is with a flip and 1.5 coils cut off. so just over $100 bucks into lowering it

['79squared]

If you want to really keep cost low, cut 1-1/2 off the front coil, remove 4 leafs for about 1" to 1-1/4" and for 40 to 50 bucks you could use shackles for any where from 1 to 4 more inchs?

[mikeavasdad]

Thanks for all of your responses! Now Im thinking a McGaughy's 6" Drop Flip Kit and cutting the coils 1.5 and new shocks all the way around. I have noticed DJM hasn't recieved many positive reviews so thats why Im going with McGaughys at $117 delivered. Now I just have to find 15x10 ralley wheels for the back. I want to keep a stock look feel to the truck. I have been spraying down all the bolts w/ liquid wrench and hope to do the drop next weekend. This weekend will be a good bath and go over the brakes and power steering. Thanks again for all your responses.

[mikeavasdad]

Wow my original post was in July! I could have swore I bought it in October, anyway the truck spent all winter at a friends shop (wife enjoyed the extra driveway space) and we re did the brakes, changed the wires and went over the whole truck so that it is a safe driver. Last week I dropped it - 5 in. flip kit in the back and cut a coil and half up front. I have been told that the front will drop about another half inch after it is driven about 100 miles. All new drop shocks too. Next is repair cab corners and a couple other spots and spray it the original green with flatner to give it that original look. Also plan on putting on 15x10 ralleys on the back w/ 295 - 60s and keep the 15x8 ralleys on front w/ 245 - 60s. 5 in. back spacing on the back rims is what I understand will give it just the right look without the tires sitting outside the lip of the fender. Any help I can get would be appreciated.

[Low87]

Cool truck! Love the round headlight steppers. Stance looks good now too.

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

It's looking good.

When your doors were swapped did you get pw, and pdl?

[KQQL IT]

Looks good.

[mikeavasdad]

Nope! Still crank windows and locks. I'm a low tech guy anyway so its ok. Has anyone else experienced not being able to turn off the heater blower motor? Back in the day I would just disconnect it but I might need the blower for the windshield if it fogs up during rain. Hope to have it "done" for Memorial Day weekend.

[Mr S.]

I'm curious about the blower question myself.

[76stepsidechevy]

I think its a non-a/c truck thing but they always run at low speed. There were complaints when these trucks first came out about poor ventilaion or fumes coming in the cab, the fix was to let the blower run on low all the time.

[motornut]

i cut the low speed wire in my Jimmys(brown above switch contacts)
78 was three speed 79 four speed

[mikeavasdad]

Thanks for the info on the blower motor.
Any suggestions on where to buy 15x10 original look rally wheels? Will 5 in. back spacing work w/ my drop? 295/50 too big? Thanks in advance!

[bigwheel15]

Originally Posted by mikeavasdad

Thanks for the info on the blower motor.
Any suggestions on where to buy 15x10 original look rally wheels? Will 5 in. back spacing work w/ my drop? 295/50 too big? Thanks in advance!

Summit has our rallies in 15x10 with a 5 inch backspace.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/wv...0505/overview/

They also have it available in a 4.5 inch backspacing. And 295/50 would look perfect on a set of 10 inch rallies and a 5 inch drop.

[mikeavasdad]

Thanks for the quick response Bigwheel.
So 5 in. backspacing will work w/ 295/50 tires w/ my 5-6 in drop? or go with 4.5 in ?
Also, looking to go with old school raised white letter tires like the Cooper Cobras. Sears carries them but I wouldn't mind giving a local guy the business.

[bigwheel15]

Originally Posted by mikeavasdad

Thanks for the quick response Bigwheel.
So 5 in. backspacing will work w/ 295/50 tires w/ my 5-6 in drop? or go with 4.5 in ?
Also, looking to go with old school raised white letter tires like the Cooper Cobras. Sears carries them but I wouldn't mind giving a local guy the business.

5" backspace with a 295/50 will be fine, heres a post by a fellow members with that same setup just a different wheel style and he says he has no rubbing or tubbing issues whatsoever. Hes even lower than you plan to go and still no issues.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...5&postcount=62

[mikeavasdad]

Just got the 15x 10 rims last night! Thanks bigwheel for the link. 295/60s are going on them next. Now I have to decide what size I go with up front. Would 245/60 be too big? I want a nice aggressive look so I don't want to go too small but also not too big so the rub. Any suggestions on just how big I could go?

[walkerb]

nice