I lowered my chevy pickup, yay...

It finally stopped raining around here and I was able to finish up getting my truck a little closere to the ground. Just a simple lowering job for now to get rid of the 4x4 look, cut in the front and blocks out back. Much thanks to ****** Knuckles for drilling some big holes for me in my blocks. Tomorrow, I'm painting the wheels glossy black and adding some chrome lug nuts and chrome bullets for the centers. After that, I'll start stripping the spray bomb paint job off and put it in primer. I can't wait to see what kind of stuff is under the paint, lol. I've seen some foam in a hole or two already.

Before...


After...




Thanks everybody for this great forum. You guys are my inspiration. I see incredible work here every day. It gets me going to do my own when I don't feel like it. So thanks again.

 

Looks much better!

Funny name.

 

Great start. Lookin' good.
Later,
****

 

Hmm, I wonder how it rides now? We cut 1.5 coils out of my friends c10 and that put it practically on the bumpstops. Any more and the suspension would've been too harsh... it handles pretty good though...

 

Thanks guys.

Truthfully, it rides like **** up front now. I cut two coils up front which put it on the bumpstops. Luckily, I've got another set of front coils. I'll start out with cutting one full coil and if that's not enough, max out at 1 1/2.

How does your buddy's truck ride with 1 1/2 cut? Did he trim the factory bumpstops?

 

Low always looks better.

 

Here's a picture of the truck on its own weight up front:



As you can see, its just touching the tip of the bumpstop. Honestly, I think it rides fine. Helps the truck sway less around turns and unless you hit really big bumps or holes, it isn't too too harsh suspension...

We were thinking about cutting that metal bracket underneath the bumpstop out so the bumpstop would be a couple inches lower (therefore more clearance) but haven't done so yet...

Ask montana65 here on the boards for more info about his truck.

--Matt

 

Yours must be a 63, I had a 61 with drop spindles, torsion bar susp. (try to find headers) and never got to the rear dropped before I sold it, it had the "flat woods" look to it (ugh). God I miss that truck

 

It could be any vehicle, this statement is true

 

You couldn't be more right. It doesn't matter what it is, it ALWAYS looks better lowered.

 

That doesn't look too bad. With two coils cut and a little trimmed off the bumpstop, mine is still sitting heavy on the bumpstops with no travel. It's easy enough to swap out springs, I'll probably just cut my other set by 1 1/2 coils and swap em out. I may end up first cutting the bumpstop bracket like you talked about too. Another inch or two of travel can't be bad.

In all honesty, mine rides ok now, except for potholes. But, there's a lot around here so I'll go ahead and fix it. The back rides great with the 3" blocks and there's tons of room between the axle and bumpstops. I'd like to get another 2" lower in the rear to de-rake it a little.

 

Love the grill on this one. The quad headlights look so much better. I wish I could find a chrome one in nice shape around here. I actually like the earlier hoods too. The '61 has the best looking front end in my opinion, with the '63 a close second.

And I know what you mean about missing your truck. I had another '63 about 15 years ago and still regret selling it. It was the same as this one, long bed, fleetside, big window, but in red. That's why I finally got another one.

 

Love these trucks,need to get busy with mine. I like the GMC grills with quads.Yours looks better!

 

Thanks for the compliment. I like those grills too minus the "GMC" letters. Quads just look better on these trucks. And what's stopping you from getting on yours? Get to it. That's why I love the HAMB. Too many people getting **** done makes you feel bad for being lazy.

 

The truck looks great sitting lower. I'm working on a 66 C20 and putting it in the ground without bags. I did the 2 1/2" drop spindles and 3" lower springs on the front. Keep us up to date as you do the bodywork.

Rod

 

Rod,

Good luck getting it on the ground without bags. It'll be hard. How does your front end do with the 3" springs? Got a pic of how low it is with the springs and spindles? My front has the drop spindles and disc brakes/5 lug conversion. The rear is still drums with the 5 lug. Body work may be sketchy, I'm going to get a welder and teach myself, lol.

Cheers,
Kevin

 

cool man

 

low is the way to go...it's amazing how much it changes a car or truck...

 

That looks alot better man...

 

I have always loved these 60's trucks

 

get rid of those bump stops!! who needs'm anyway..

 

I love those Trucks

heres a few of mine
I dug it out of some blackberrys and got it for free.
as you can see I have fixed it up a lil

 

lookin good , love those 60's big windows
fink

 

It looks cool. I'll look out for it on the streets of Concord and honk if I see you.

Now go order some Chrome Steelies and some thin white wall tires for that thing to really set it off!

 

Thanks for the kind words everybody.

That is a nice pickemup right there. Perfect stance, love the skinny whites with the black wheels. I can't click on your attachments to make them bigger, got any bigger pics? Thanks.

 

I'm definately doing the skinny whites, but with gloss black wheels. I just love that skinny white line in the "black hole" look. Like Ol_skool_Chey's rig. I'll be at the Autofair on Friday at LMS looking for, well, whatever. Holler if you see me.

 

cut the bump stops and brackets out and install smaller 1" bump stops.

 

Don't have the body back on yet. Still welding in new metal to replace the holes. I think the rockers will sit between 7 to 8 inches. Low enough for me and should sit right. Should have the motor finished in the next couple of weeks then I can get going again.

These 60-66 trucks are really nice and more usable than my 50.

Terd: I'll be at the AutoFair also. Should be in my 50 with a CB750 cafe racer. Hope to see the HAMB guys there.

Rod

 

Rod,

It's supposed to rain now, but I'll be there on Friday for sure. I'll be in the pickup.



I got the Jeep TJ coil springs installed over the weekend. It dropped the rear another 2 inches. Here's how she sits now.



It's sitting on the bumpstops up front. I want to cut the bumpstop brackets so I can get a little more travel up front. It should give three inches more travel. Since I'm on the bumpstops now, it may also lower the front another inch or two. I thought I was going to like it flat, but it definately looks better with a little rake. Hopefully I can get that rake back cutting the front bumpstop bracket "humps".

And if anyone's wondering, I'm as low as I can go in the back without C-notching the frame. I've got about an inch of travel, but that seems to be plenty. I didn't hear the rear bang at all,even on some potholes. That's with the Jeep TJ coil springs and 3" blocks in the rear. The front is missing 2 coils from the springs. I'll report back after I take care of the bumpstops up front.