lowering a 78 c10 diesel

[78-5.3]

ok guys i have a factory diesel c10 and i want to lower it as much as possible im willing to notch the rail aswell ! what i notice is the rear leafs have 8 leafs so if i do a flip which is what a wanna do it loooks like it would lower it 7" this would be cool and i wouldnt mind it at all i was wondering if anyone came across this before !! also it sit high in the front would the factory coil springs be rated for a heavier engine i would love to put in spindles and springs to get it as low as posible again its was a diesel im hoping it didnt have 3/4 ton stuff under there it does have 5 lug 1 1/4 disc on it oh the engine in it now is a 5.3 gen 3 with a 4l60e my plan is to 4 link the rear in the future but not for a while i wanna drive it any help would be cool !!!

YouTube - 5.3 VORTEC 4L60E Conversion into a...

oh it sound much better with the exhaust on now and no valve train nosie either lol !

[N2TRUX]

Welcome to the forum 78-5.3. Looks like you have a pretty good start on a nice project.

Since you no longer have the additional weight of the diesel motor to contend with, standard lower practices will apply. The only thing you don't mention is what size/height tire you plan to run.

For the front I suggest going with 3" dropped spindles. A common practice is to cut one coil off of the stock spring to get 1.5-2" drop. I don't know what spring was used for the diesel trucks so your results may vary.

You can also replace the stock spring with an aftermarket drop spring if it's in your budget.

For the rear you can either run a shackle and hanger kit, or go with a flip kit.

The shackle hanger combo usually nets 4' of drop but your HD spring pack might minimize that somewhat.

As you mentioned the flip kit is the best way to go. You might have to notch a bed brace depending on what spring and wheel base you have.

[fiddy9apache]

and if you run shackles with the flip kitt you will need to notch the bed floor support.

[78-5.3]

thx for the replys i might go for a set of lowered 2" front springs and spindles who makes a safe front spindle at 3" ?? for the back im gonna flip it and 2" rear shackles also im gonna pull of the bed and make my own notch has any one done this as i said i wanna 4 link it at some stage for i mights as well get the tubs and raised notch done soon!!!

[flamingbig10]

djm and beltec make a good 3" spindles

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by fiddy9apache

and if you run shackles with the flip kitt you will need to notch the bed floor support.

Possibly, but not always. It depends on his wheelbase, and spring length.

[78-5.3]

Originally Posted by flamingbig10

djm and beltec make a good 3" spindles

great i got sprindles off DJM 3" GONNA cut the coil 2.5" so that would be 1.25 coils off im gonna use a sawsall with an aggresive blade and in a 5 gal bucket of water see how that goes hopefully not electrocuted LOL

[N2TRUX]

You don't need to put the spring in a bucket of water if your using a Sawzall. Keep a little WD on the blade and you will be fine.

The only time I use the water bucket is if I have to cut them with a torch.

You can also put a tile blade in your circular saw and do it rather quickly.

[flamingbig10]

here is what it will kinda look like with using nextwheels

[Northern lights]

No worries about haveing heavier springs in the front. The first GM diesels were 350 Oldsmobile gas engines with diesel heads and a beefier crank so they shouldn't weight much more (if at all) than any other Olds 350. Also, it's doubtful that your truck came with a diesel as the diesel came out in '79 (at least in Canada) and if it were a diesel, it would have a hydroboost in it rather than a vacuum brake booster, unless you changed that.

[78-5.3]

Originally Posted by Northern lights

No worries about haveing heavier springs in the front. The first GM diesels were 350 Oldsmobile gas engines with diesel heads and a beefier crank so they shouldn't weight much more (if at all) than any other Olds 350. Also, it's doubtful that your truck came with a diesel as the diesel came out in '79 (at least in Canada) and if it were a diesel, it would have a hydroboost in it rather than a vacuum brake booster, unless you changed that.

Diesels came out with the 5.7 in 1978 i ran my vin and it is infact a diesel truck it did have a have a hydoboost and i replaced it with a 84 booster it had all the factory wiring for the diesel under the dash and has the diesel bezel for the glow plugs %100 diesel (WAS) :-)

[78-5.3]

OK ive flip the rear axle over while im waiting for the flip kit took a while getting the bolts out i had to use heat on the rear shakles so the bolt would come out so i replaced the shakle bushings with new one so untill i get the brackets for the housing he is what it looks like!!!

[N2TRUX]

Your on your way. Keep us posted.

[78-5.3]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Your on your way. Keep us posted.

i had to order the u bolts from LMC truck im hoping there the correct 5/8 thread size !!! i order the 8 leaf type hoping they will be during the week!!!
Napa wanted $108 for 4 and there longer so i got my for 65 delivered from LMC

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by 78-5.3

great i got sprindles off DJM 3" GONNA cut the coil 2.5" so that would be 1.25 coils off im gonna use a sawsall with an aggresive blade and in a 5 gal bucket of water see how that goes hopefully not electrocuted LOL

Start w/1-coil & see where it sits. Many times, there's enough sag in the springs height over the years that cutting 1-coil yields more than the average 2" of drop.

[78-5.3]

YEAH i will i just didnt want to pull it apart again to cut another 1/4 coil off though but it shouldnt take long !!!

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by 78-5.3

YEAH i will i just didnt want to pull it apart again to cut another 1/4 coil off though but it shouldnt take long !!!

Easier to cut more off if needed vs. adding that .25 coil back on . . ....

[78-5.3]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Easier to cut more off if needed vs. adding that .25 coil back on . . ....

how low is your truck i cant tell from that little pic?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by 78-5.3

how low is your truck i cant tell from that little pic?

3" spindle + 1-coil cut
flip kit (HD 8-leaf spring option) w/dropped shackles

[78-5.3]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

3" spindle + 1-coil cut
flip kit (HD 8-leaf spring option) w/dropped shackles

very nice !!!!!!!!!
mine is 8 leaf too but no shackles yet !!!i wanna get these 2 inch shackles

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...=STRK:MEWAX:IT
how do the body trim fasten are they clips you screw to the body or screwed from the rear !!!! no punt intended LOL

[SCOTI]

Some of it clips in place; some of it screws in place.

[Ohchiiit]

What is the size and overall height of front tire and wheel?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Ohchiiit

What is the size and overall height of front tire and wheel?

On what?

[Ohchiiit]

sorry Scott, I was looking at the red/orange 78

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Ohchiiit

sorry Scott, I was looking at the red/orange 78

This one is a 74. I didn't see a front shot of a 78 in the thread so I'll give the info on this 74....
Fronts were 18x8" w/245-45-18's (approx 26.7" tall).
Rears were 20x10 w/295-40-20's (approx 29.3" tall).