79 Chevy suspension?

[7s ranger]

Hello, I recently picked up a 79 c20 to build with my son. His daily driver. Just trying to find info on how the did the suspension back in the day?
Stock lower arm? What coil springs used to get the height to fun a 33”. Shackle flip in rear? Leaf springs used?
Any information would be very much appreciated. I have seen talk on old threads, but nothing with info on the parts . Thank you

 

[TRichards]

PM Mark Newhan. He knows the older chevys.

 

[partybarge_pilot]

It will need at least 3 shocks of the upper arm preferably sticking through the hood to be period correct.

 

[7s ranger]

@TRichards tanks I will try him.

 

[7s ranger]

It will need at least 3 shocks of the upper arm preferably sticking through the hood to be period correct.

I was thinking 2 . See what I ca find out here

 

[Bro_Gill]

I believe the 'stock' set-up was switching to 3/4 ton parts on the half ton trucks and running aftermaket hubs to get the 5 lug pattern back. Metal added to the upper arm to beef it up and possibly tilt the bj cup to help with geometry. Usually a longer spring was inserted in the stock location from a place like Rancho or Rough Country. Shocks? As many as you could fit anywhere. Saw 3 off the upper arm. Saw 2 off the upper arm and 2 (one on each side) or lower arm for a total of 4 per side for the front. Most of them started out Yellow or white, but usually all of them finished with a toasty brown/white color.

 

[7s ranger]

The truck I have is a 3/4 ton. So the stuff should be good?
Was hoping for a specific spring.
Or maybe weld a plate in the lower arm to bring the spring up an inch to raise it? Then shocks off the upper arm.

 

[TRichards]

I think MOOG chassis parts has information on all the springs they carry which are hundreds. We used to run a 900 lb spring about 13" long. It was a crappy ride but the nose was up to fit a 35" tire with some inner fender trimming. You might get 9 to 10" of travel unless you start building custom parts. Look at the class 8 thread by Crafty in the vintage section. It shows some pics of the front end on old school class 8 Chevy.

 

[7s ranger]

I will check the Moog parts, thank you .
I will look at that thread for pictures.
Thank for the info

 

[Bro_Gill]

Another person to ask is Richardson, the 9 guy/ Vintage Sticker guy. His dad had a cool GM prerunner shortbed stepside with all the 3/4 ton stuff applied to it. That was a cool truck and they towed the 9 car with it. He may have specifics.

 

[7s ranger]

Ok. Thank you for the information.

 

[crafty]

Here are some photos of my truck the previous owner had sent me. Quad 2” shocks all the way around. stock upper and lower a arms. You can see the 4th shock mounted to lower arm. Not sure on springs (wish I did) I just know the rear are stock length sprung over Nationals

 

[crafty]

In these you can see he ditches the 2” shocks for 2.5 Race Shocks. The rear is still set up this way.

 

[crafty]

And these are of the last transformation in 2000 and still current...King 3.0 triple bypass. New upper shock mounts. Possibly A arms and new Autofab fiberglass front clips

 

[Ol' Curmudgeon]

You can still reach Lee at RaceShock, (602)505-3700.

 

[Roger Gray]

Here’s mine. Very similar to what Bro Gill describes. This has 4 2’ shocks per corner and 3 2’ in the rear per corner. Stock upper and lower arms up front. And

 

[Roger Gray]

Some more pics

 

[Roger Gray]

Pictures of the exterior

 

[crafty]

You can still reach Lee at RaceShock, (602)505-3700.

I spoke with Lee a few months back about rebuilding my shocks. Super cool gave me great history lesson on the shock industry and still remembers my truck

 

[crafty]

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