1972 k10 rear springs

[Treky67]

Hey guys, first post on here thanks for adding me. I bought my first 1972 k10 about 3 weeks ago. First thing i wanted to do was replace all the springs, bushings and shocks. So naturally the best way was to order and complete lift kit and thats what i did. Now for the problem, my rear springs don't fit. Like not even close, and i can't figure out why my rear springs are so different. The springs i removed from the truck are 56" eye to eye and 3.5" wide at the eye. The new springs are 52" eye to eye and 3" wide at the eye. Every single resource i have read says these trucks only ever came with 52" rear springs. Nothing seems to be modified on the truck. Hangers are all rivetted like factory and frame does not appear to be cut. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Travisarmenta]

Are you positive its a period correct chassis? Unless I'm mistaken 73-?? all had 56 In. springs.

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by Travisarmenta

Are you positive its a period correct chassis? Unless I'm mistaken 73-?? all had 56 In. springs.

That's kinda what I'm thinking too. I know my K20's are 52" long.

Measured the width on my rear springs (should be same as a K10). Leafs are 2 1/2" wide, hangers are 2 7/8" at the bushings.

[Treky67]

I'm 90% sure its the right chassis everything sits as it should. From what i understand major modifications are required to put a 67-72 on a 73-87 chassis. And the front spring are correct for the year. 73-87 have 52" rear springs and 46" front springs. My truck had 43" front springs, correct for a 67-72. Some one on another forum said maybe the truck is on a suburban chassis. Any one here that can very that?

[palallin]

My '69 has 52" rear springs, which might seem irrelevant, but I replaced them with springs sold for a '73-'78. . . .

[Travisarmenta]

67-72 Suburban springs are the same dimensions as the pick-up.

[57taskforce]

Hmm... two guys in a month or so with the same issue. Does the frame vin by the steering box match the cab vin? This guys seemed to have an earlier frame with with 56’s. I’ve only ever seen 52’s from the factory on these trucks and it seems his pictures didn’t load.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=765585
My k20 has 52s as I said in the above thread.

[Treky67]

I know for a fact that my 72 is sitting on an older chassis. The truck has drum front brakes from what i understand the 72 would have had front disc. And the body vin# is that of a c10. But this still doesn't explain the 56" rear springs. I can't find a 56" rear spring on any website for any model or variation of 67-72 truck.

[Travisarmenta]

Originally Posted by Treky67

I know for a fact that my 72 is sitting on an older chassis. The truck has drum front brakes from what i understand the 72 would have had front disc. And the body vin# is that of a c10. But this still doesn't explain the 56" rear springs. I can't find a 56" rear spring on any website for any model or variation of 67-72 truck.

Does it have open or closed knuckles? Closed: 67-68 4X4 (rumor is some of these had longer springs but not sure where to confirm), Open knuckles with drum brakes: 69-70 4x4.

[palallin]

Originally Posted by Travisarmenta

Does it have open or closed knuckles? Closed: 67-68 4X4 (rumor is some of these had longer springs but not sure where to confirm), Open knuckles with drum brakes: 69-70 4x4.

Not quite: '69s also had the closed knuckles, drum brakes. '70s had open knuckles, drum brakes. '71 - '72 open knuckles, disk brakes.

[Travisarmenta]

Originally Posted by palallin

Not quite: '69s also had the closed knuckles, drum brakes. '70s had open knuckles, drum brakes. '71 - '72 open knuckles, disk brakes.

You are right, I was off by a year for the closed knuckles.

I left out 71-72 because the OP stated he had Drum brakes.

[Treky67]

Closed knuckle, drum brakes. Hopefully that clears up a couple questions.

[BILT4ME]

I don't know what brand springs you bought, but we recently bought and installed a 4" spring lift for our 70 GMC K2500 and it has 52" springs......

However, I had noted on SkyJacker's website that there is an option for 56" springs. I was unable to determine what exact model had those, but I measured ours before ordering to confirm.

What problem we DID have was that the steering damper on our 70 is a pin - pin mount and not an eye-eye mount. Skyjacker doesn't even have a pin-pin mount steering damper. We had to buy a Rancho one to fit that was long enough.

Our K2500 also had extra long parking brake cables. We bought the ones for the K2500, but they were 2-1/2" too short. We had Inline tube make us the correct set.

So the answer, is YES, there IS an option for 56" springs. Is there anything special (such as Camper-special or Longhorn version) for your truck?

[Treky67]

Originally Posted by BILT4ME

I don't know what brand springs you bought, but we recently bought and installed a 4" spring lift for our 70 GMC K2500 and it has 52" springs......

However, I had noted on SkyJacker's website that there is an option for 56" springs. I was unable to determine what exact model had those, but I measured ours before ordering to confirm.

What problem we DID have was that the steering damper on our 70 is a pin - pin mount and not an eye-eye mount. Skyjacker doesn't even have a pin-pin mount steering damper. We had to buy a Rancho one to fit that was long enough.

Our K2500 also had extra long parking brake cables. We bought the ones for the K2500, but they were 2-1/2" too short. We had Inline tube make us the correct set.

So the answer, is YES, there IS an option for 56" springs. Is there anything special (such as Camper-special or Longhorn version) for your truck?

I don't believe it to be anything special. Its a 72 short box stepside c10 mounted on a early closed nuckle front axle k10 chassis. The 56" rear springs did not look heavy duty. They only had 2 leafs. But someone may have removed leafs in search for a better ride. What i ended up doing was taking the original 56" main leaf and installing it onto the 4" lift springs that came with the kit.

[BILT4ME]

Originally Posted by Treky67

I don't believe it to be anything special. Its a 72 short box stepside c10 mounted on a early closed nuckle front axle k10 chassis. The 56" rear springs did not look heavy duty. They only had 2 leafs. But someone may have removed leafs in search for a better ride. What i ended up doing was taking the original 56" main leaf and installing it onto the 4" lift springs that came with the kit.

Can you post a VIN number of the FRAME that is stamped into the LF rail of the frame, on top? I'm curious what version of truck would require the longer spring.

The longer spring would actually give a SMOOTHER ride, not necessarily "heavier duty".

Maybe they did that on the shortbed to reduce the harshness?

Has the frame been sectioned?

[Treky67]

Originally Posted by BILT4ME

Can you post a VIN number of the FRAME that is stamped into the LF rail of the frame, on top? I'm curious what version of truck would require the longer spring.

The longer spring would actually give a SMOOTHER ride, not necessarily "heavier duty".

Maybe they did that on the shortbed to reduce the harshness?

Has the frame been sectioned?

I will get a vin number tonight. Frame does not appear to be cut. If it was they did a really good job.

[junksaver]

67 and 68 4wd trucks have 56" springs that are 3" wide. This was not an option. This is how all the 4x4 were made those 2 years.