Lowering an 84.. sorta

[Matt_50]

I put the front suspension off my 84 c10 donor and bolted on to the frame of my 1950 3100. I now have the engine in and it didn't bring the suspension down quite enough. It sits high in the front.

So, I want to do this fairly cheaply. But safely. I've never cut springs before but that was suggested, but it seems a bad idea. I need to come down in the front about a good 2 inches.

[cochino12]

Perfectly safe, 1 coil should get you 2". Cut it with a cut off wheel, just don't let the spring get real hot.

[Matt_50]

So a cut spring is no different than a lowering spring?

One coil. Do I go from the end and just go straight up and cut there?

[Matt_50]

Well I looked at some pictures. Looks like I would want to cut from the top down. Looks like I could put a jack under the control arm.. jack it up some. Run a chain through for safety..undo lower control arm ball joint.. slowly lower jack.

Sound right?

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by Matt_50

Well I looked at some pictures. Looks like I would want to cut from the top down. Looks like I could put a jack under the control arm.. jack it up some. Run a chain through for safety..undo lower control arm ball joint.. slowly lower jack.

Sound right?

Are you referring to removing the spring? It wasn't mentioned above, but take it out before you cut it. And so the sequence you are asking about is so that you can do that?

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by cochino12

Perfectly safe, 1 coil should get you 2". Cut it with a cut off wheel, just don't let the spring get real hot.

Ditto.

I've done about a dozen 73-87 pickups that way.

My last one was a daily driver for 30 years and had 250,000 miles with no issues.

K

[Matt_50]

Yea I was just making sure I had removal right. Ok, thanks guys I'll cut em and see if that gets the height I'm looking for.

The way these are shaped, I am cutting a cool from the top right?

[mongocanfly]

you can get a spring compressor from your local parts stores rentatool program..will make life much easier and a little safer..

[Matt_50]

I was just looking that up. Looks like oriellys down the street does. I have some for compressing strut springs, but I don't I could get them to fit. Kinda bulky.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Matt_50

Yea I was just making sure I had removal right. Ok, thanks guys I'll cut em and see if that gets the height I'm looking for.

The way these are shaped, I am cutting a cool from the top right?

I'd make the cut at the bottom. Nest the spring back in the pocket when you go back together.

One inch off the spring = roughly two inch drop, due to the geometry of the A arms.

K

[Matt_50]

One inch? Not a coil ? Isn't the bottom of these get smaller and tighter?

[mongocanfly]

one full coil=2in...cut off bottom...I have heated and bent just the last inch or so of the tail after cutting to make it sit flatter but its not necessary

[Matt_50]

Ok cool. I'll do that in a few days. I got motor in but mounts are not fully welded yet. Wanted to check clearances and ride height first. I need 2 inches or so lower. I'll cut them, see if I get height right them make sure engine is level.

Sound like I'm on right track?

[Matt_50]

I'll probably post a pic on the springs.. make sure I cut right spot. Never cut springs before, just replaced them. And to clarify, I'm using a tubular engine crossmember. Engine can stil rotate inside mounts. That's the part that'll get welded once I get the height I want.

Thanks for the quick input guys.