Convert C20 to C10..... suspension, ride height

[The Autoist]

Hi, I just bought a 71 C20 2wd with a perfect body. I am going to change the front springs to 1/2 ton non heavy duty springs and I am going to remove leafs from the rear. I have questions, I want this to sit and ride like a stock regular 1/2 ton . In the front I have disk brakes. Does anyone know the difference in ride height in the front by just changing the springs? On the rear there are 6 leafs, so I want to remove leafs. Stock 1/2 tons have 4 leafs. Has anyone done this? If so, which ones do you remove and should I remove 3 total? The last question is, I want to run 15 x 8 Chevy truck rally wheels, 6 lugs. I do not want to change the rear end or everything up front. The rallies have zero offset so it is 4" to the outside edge of the rim. I would like to know if anyone has ran these rallies with 8 lugs to 6 lugs adapters. These space the wheels out another 2". So I am worried if they will stick out way past the wheel wells and look stupid. Any info and pictures would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Gary

[lolife99]

Someone actually makes a 8-lug to 6-lug adapter?

[The Autoist]

Yes, Keith, they sell billet aluminum adapters, but I need to be sure that is the right way to go. They are about $260 for a set and you have to cut your lugs down to 1 inch to clear the outside piece. So I really need to know if this is going to look right first.

[lolife99]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jtEtOV...ature=youtu.be

I wouldn’t run a 2-piece adapter on anything.
Those are crazy scary.

I know you’re trying to do this swap on the cheap, but you need to do some actual swapping of suspension components and the rear end.
Early Classic Enterprises make a conversion spindle.
You want a simple answer and their isn’t one.
15x8 6 lug rally’s have a 3-5/8” backspace.
In my opinion they would stick out too far with adapters.
That’s if you could find an adapter to work with your rear axle.
GM did make some 16” rally wheels for the 88-98 trucks but I think they would look goofy.
Good luck with your project.

[jocko]

Originally Posted by The Autoist

So I really need to know if this is going to look right first.

Welcome to the forum. It will not look right - the wheels will look spaced out. I wouldn't use two piece spacers (either). I wouldn't use any spacers, actually. That's a lot of $ and time to spend to make a C20 look like a C10. I believe there are 3/4 ton lowering kits available, but that would probably drop you to lower than stock C10 height - and I'm not sure how to help you get the 6 lug rallies on there without looking like they are sticking out (without changing axles/hubs). If you just want stock C10 stance, except with rally wheels, I think the only way to achieve that is to install 6 lug GM suspension - and, unfortunately, in 2WD 6 lug world, that would be a pre-71 non-disk front suspension, but I can understand why you want to retain your disks. You'd need to have a 6 lug disk conversion and a pre-71 C10 rear or a pre or post 71 K10 rear. Hmm. Sorry, I'm not much help.. It really sounds like you want a C10 but couldn't pass up the great body on the C20 - which I can certainly understand. One option is to just wait. Enjoy the truck and fix up any little things that need fixin, and see how it grows on you. You MIGHT change your mind. The C20s I've had seemed to have a better, more solid ride than the C10s I've had - but that could just be because my C10s were pretty tired - and all my C20s have had rear leafs. Most, not all, C10s had standard coils, leafs were an option. (actually that's the case for C20 Chevs also)

[PepperTreeGarage]

I lowered my '72 C20 as a C20. She can still haul a load and tow a trailer. And yes, that's a Dana 60 hub peaking through the rear hub caps. Just an alternative to making it a C10. Good luck with your build

[The Autoist]

That looks great, did you do drop spindles and shorter springs in the front? Lowering blocks and flip the leafs in the back? I like that look!
I just can't find an 8 lug wheel combination I like. I love the 8"truck rallies. Thanks for the pics!

[KQQL IT]

I'm partial...
but these came out better than expected.
16x7 mt challengers.

[The Autoist]

Nice, thanks

[Mike C]

I’m also of the club of keeping the 8 lug pieces and lowering. 1/2 ton springs in the front is a great idea to improve ride. I would go stock height and then use 2.5” lowering spindle to get down more. Removing two leaves from the rear and then running an ECE drop shackle should get a pretty close to 3” drop for the rear.

If you want to go lower in the rear, a flip kit is cheapest. My 1/2 ton has a DJM flip that lowered the rear 7”. You can fab your own if you have welding skills. I will do that once I make sure I have the correct driveshaft angles. Otherwise you need to buy drop leaves which can get expensive.

So many tire sizes in 16” for cars getting away from the bigger rims not needed. And aftermarket wheel choices let you go to 17’s or 18’s as well.

[feller]

If you were closer I would trade you my c10 running gear for your c20 stuff, I have one broken leaf on one side, and the pinion yoke is missing one of the notches that holds the cross centered, but the rest is in great shape. Oh it's 5 lug too. I am going to work my truck when I'm done with it, hauling firewood, maybe a car trailer, who knows

[The Autoist]

That is something to consider, 5 lug would work fine too. I can always get 5 lug rallies, I just already have 6 lugs. Thanks for your post, it all helps me figure out what I want to do, Thanks

[lolife99]

I would run Detroit Steel Wheel “Delray” wheels.
They come in many size and bolt patterns including 8-lug.

https://detroitsteelwheel.com/products/

[CG]

Originally Posted by lolife99

I would run Detroit Steel Wheel “Delray” wheels.
They come in many size and bolt patterns including 8-lug.

https://detroitsteelwheel.com/products/

Opened the website ... Starting at 254.00 per wheel, ouch.

[PepperTreeGarage]

Originally Posted by The Autoist

That looks great, did you do drop spindles and shorter springs in the front? Lowering blocks and flip the leafs in the back? I like that look!
I just can't find an 8 lug wheel combination I like. I love the 8"truck rallies. Thanks for the pics!

Yes, did 2.5 in. Drop Spindles and 3 in. Drop Springs from POL. Also added the Lowered Brackets for the Sway Bar and Front Shock top mount Reinforcement Bracket. The front shocks are also shorter.

[PepperTreeGarage]

Originally Posted by The Autoist

That looks great, did you do drop spindles and shorter springs in the front? Lowering blocks and flip the leafs in the back? I like that look!
I just can't find an 8 lug wheel combination I like. I love the 8"truck rallies. Thanks for the pics!

And now for what I did with the rear suspension. Flip Kit and pulled one leaf. It's the one nearest to the thick overload. Also added a C-Notch from CPP that we modified and beefed up here at the garage. Then added in a Bag over Leaf system for hauling and trailer duty. Once we finish rebuilding the Dana 60, we'll be able to measure for shorter shocks. I also have the old Sway Bar that came on the truck. I'll be fabbing some new mounts for it, so it can do it's job again. We're the third owner on this truck.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by CG

Opened the website ... Starting at 254.00 per wheel, ouch.

These are actually a cheap alternative to custom billet wheels that run anywhere from $500 each to $1200 each.
You get a custom built rally wheel in any size, bolt pattern, and width.

[The Autoist]

That's funny Keith, we must be on the same wavelength. I called them today. I callrd them and the 8 lugs are only made in 20". She said that the 8 lugs are delayed right now while they finish safety testing. But that isn't a problem, as long as I can get them by spring. I also found out that adapters wouldn't work anyway either. The hole in the center of the wheels are not big enough to clear where the rear end sticks out. Thanks so much for the help!!!

[jocko]

I'm not following. I thought the goal was for stock C10 ride and ride height?

[The Autoist]

The goal for me is to get rid of the 3/4 ton lumber wagon ride and to have the look that most people like of a half ton with a set of 8" rallies. I don't like most of the 8 lug wheels. I probably would not have bought this truck accept it has a fantastic body, low miles, and was very reasonably priced.

[The Autoist]

Peppertree Garage, thanks for the great pics and description of your mods. That's a great job! Way out of my league!

[MFT2473]

Originally Posted by PepperTreeGarage

And now for what I did with the rear suspension. Flip Kit and pulled one leaf. It's the one nearest to the thick overload. Also added a C-Notch from CPP that we modified and beefed up here at the garage. Then added in a Bag over Leaf system for hauling and trailer duty. Once we finish rebuilding the Dana 60, we'll be able to measure for shorter shocks. I also have the old Sway Bar that came on the truck. I'll be fabbing some new mounts for it, so it can do it's job again. We're the third owner on this truck.

That looks really good! I'm I'm the progress of lowering my 70 C20 and haven't been able to find much info. I'm digging your set up! Where did you get the Flip kit from? Would you happen to have a part number for it?

[PepperTreeGarage]

Originally Posted by MFT2473

That looks really good! I'm I'm the progress of lowering my 70 C20 and haven't been able to find much info. I'm digging your set up! Where did you get the Flip kit from? Would you happen to have a part number for it?

I don't have a PN for the FlipKit, as we used one that would fit the DANA 60 housing and then did fabrication from there. I think we got them from Western Chassis/Performance Online. Here's the sequence of the fab work.

[PepperTreeGarage]

Rest of Pics.

[MFT2473]

Thanks for the photos, I'll see what If i can find the flip kit you used. The Fab work looks great ����