coil to leaf spring

[frisky68]

found a donor truck for my 70 Stepside...was hoping this truck would have a coil setup as my rear control arms need replaced..but the truck has leaf springs...will these work in place of the coil spring setup that I have now ?? the donor truck is a 70 C20 camper special. Thanks...Ken

[WES]

It should work but you need to take carefull measurments as to where the leaf spring brackets mount. The leaf spring chassis have marks on them as to where the brackets go and the coil spring chassis don't. You will also want to get some softer springs as the 3/4 ton springs will ride like a brick on the short bed chassis..... WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com (http://www.ClassicHeartbeat.com)

[longhorn man]

Personally, i would keep looking for the trailing arms.
The coil suspention is far better than the leaf for daily driving, and also if you plan on putting so horse power under the hood.
Also, EVERY SINGLE leaf spring truck I have crawled under (which in reality is not alot...but still...100%) has had AT LEAST one leaf broken.
Somethign to think about.

------------------
'69 G.M.C. (http://geocities.com/andys_69_gmc/) 350/350 and a heluva cam. Still trying to clean up the left over damage from the Dope-Smokin-Old-Man.
The 1970 One ton Longhorn (one of only 1404 built) with only a TH350...soon to be CADDY powered and a TH350.
Check outThe Longhorn Website (http://www.longhorntrucks.freeservers.com/) Andy, in Columbus Ohio...Home of JEGS
And now...another site. The caddy swap page (http://geocities.com/caddyoneton/) is under construction!

[racedvl]

I agree with longhorn man. http://classicheartbeat.com.westserver.net/ubb/smile.gif

------------------
racedvl@ameritech.net

Founding Member http://hometown.aol.com/racedvl/racedvl69index.html

For some pictures of my truck. http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1531416&a=13519296&f=0

[longhorn man]

Also like to add...
If you overload coils, they will go into coil bind...stack up on each other. While not good for the spring, it will hold up on ocasional overloads.
Leaf springs (in good shape) will hold up better UP TO the point of overload...once you go too much further, they start to do funny things, and handling may be a little funny. (not funny ha-ha either)
So up to load limit, and loaded on a regular basis, leafs are better, IF they are in good shape. If the load is smal, or you plan on racing...drag strip, or street race, the coil is 10 times better.
Just liik under any bush car (NASCAR) and look...Well, I think they would stop you first, but you'd see the super long arms like on our trucks.

------------------
'69 G.M.C. (http://geocities.com/andys_69_gmc/) 350/350 and a heluva cam. Still trying to clean up the left over damage from the Dope-Smokin-Old-Man.
The 1970 One ton Longhorn (one of only 1404 built) with only a TH350...soon to be CADDY powered and a TH350.
Check outThe Longhorn Website (http://www.longhorntrucks.freeservers.com/) Andy, in Columbus Ohio...Home of JEGS
And now...another site. The caddy swap page (http://geocities.com/caddyoneton/) is under construction!

[68 Suburban]

I wouldn't think control arms should be that hard to find. Probably a lot easier to find the control springs than it will be to switch over http://classicheartbeat.com.westserver.net/ubb/wink.gif

[Ron-70]

Try LMC Truck catalogue. Quality parts at reasonable prices.

[longhorn man]

originaly posted by Ron-70Try LMC Truck catalogue. Quality parts at reasonable prices.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! They are one of the higher priced companies, and alot of the stuff they sell doesn't even fit.
Granted, i have not bought much in the reproduction parts, but the only thing LMC has sold me that fits...is the hat on my head.
Get good original ones. junk yard arms would more likely than not be better than the LMC ones.
Someone prove me wrong if I am wrong...the whole idea is so that everyone gets views they may not have thought of.

------------------
'69 G.M.C. (http://geocities.com/andys_69_gmc/) 350/350 and a heluva cam. Still trying to clean up the left over damage from the Dope-Smokin-Old-Man.
The 1970 One ton Longhorn (one of only 1404 built) with only a TH350...soon to be CADDY powered and a TH350.
Check outThe Longhorn Website (http://www.longhorntrucks.freeservers.com/) Andy, in Columbus Ohio...Home of JEGS
And now...another site. The caddy swap page (http://geocities.com/caddyoneton/) is under construction!

[This message has been edited by longhorn man (edited 09-21-2002).]

[Sams_71]

I think LMC's prices are a bit higher than everybody elses.



------------------
Sam

For the record...`71 Chevy Cheyenne
http://home.att.net/~tmj39/wsb/html/view.cgi-home.html-.html
'67 Chevy Custom
The Genuine Chevy - GMC Truck Club of Kansas City http://www.chevygmcofkc.org/

Contact me
tmj39@att.net

[Fast68Chevy]

originally posted by longhorn man
Also like to add...
If you overload coils, they will go into coil bind...stack up on each other. While not good for the spring, it will hold up on ocasional overloads.
Leaf springs (in good shape) will hold up better UP TO the point of overload...once you go too much further, they start to do funny things, and handling may be a little funny. (not funny ha-ha either)
So up to load limit, and loaded on a regular basis, leafs are better, IF they are in good shape. If the load is smal, or you plan on racing...drag strip, or street race, the coil is 10 times better.
Just liik under any bush car (NASCAR) and look...Well, I think they would stop you first, but you'd see the super long arms like on our trucks.
------------------



well all 67-72 1/2 ton trucks regardless of
type of rear suspension got 5,000 lb std equipment GVW rating, both can haul very close to same load- as per GM specs-
and i have actually placed 4,440 lbs in back of a 68 C-10 longfleet and even though that was more weight than the truck itself weighed, it still hauled it over 40 miles to a scrapyard and yes i have receipt to prove i did that and no i didnt have overlods on it, just stock original rear coils and arms, and yeh i put on 16" 6 ug wheels and some tougher tires first and yes rear bumper was only bout 3" from the ground.

stil hauled the load though! i wanna see a leaf rear 1/2 ton truck do that without breaking down..

i firmly believe in the superior hauling and handling ability of coil rear/trailing arm type rear suspension and am dumbfounded that GM did away with it in 73...

good luck!

------------------
Randy
Lincoln, IL
fastr68@yahoo.com

[This message has been edited by Fast68Chevy (edited 10-06-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Fast68Chevy (edited 10-06-2002).]