[campracing]

I have a 81 c10 that I am rebuilding the front end. I want to lower the front. I have a set of s-10 coil spring that I want to use the s-10 was a 95 with a vortec v6 and air. I want to know if any one have ever done this or if you think it will not support the from of the c10.

the truck is down to the frame in the front with no front clip,motor,tranny or control arms. i just hate to put them in and put it all back together and then my oil pan seat on the ground lol

thanks

 

[fast68]

s-10 trucks do fine with v-8 in them the engine weight difference from a 4.3 to a v-8 is not alot at all

i dont know if the spring diameter or length is same as full size but a tape measure should help

measure both of the compressed lengths(mounted in vehicle with engines in them) with the springs in both of the vehicles first

it will give you an idea

if they are even the same diameter that is

compressed length of them both needs to be within a couple three inches of the same


my 91 s-10 2wd with 4.3 in it has 11" compressed length

bone stock all the way around

and lower spring end diameter 5" OD in the lower control arm

91 is same chassis and suspension as 95 just new body in 94 is all, same deal with other platforms such as the 77-90 b bodies(caprice impala etc) they changed body to bubble body in 91 but exact same chassis and suspension. s-series did the exact same thing. new body but same old platform.



i have some full size 2wd trucks parked around here also like your c10 i can measure as well

with engines in them and bone stock as well

ive got about 9.5" length compressed and looks to be around 5" OD lower end diameter as well

i have a full size truck ront crossmember suspension assembly laying separately over at the building i could measure upper diameter on that since its just the front end by itself sitting
from a c-10 truck these years late 70s early 80s



from the measurements i have gotten it appears s-series springs are taller than full size ones by an inch or inch and a half.



the correct way to lower is with dropped spindles anyways so you dont screw up geometry

you should be able to score a dirt cheap pair of use dropped spindles on an s10 site pretty easily.
or try craigslist.org free classifieds for your area. i buy selle trade parts there every day in towns around here with good results.




good luck

 

[fast68]

oh wait i forgot i got a '97 s-10 2wd parked right next to my 91 and it is 2.2L 4 cyl and it is 11.5" compressed spring height and same 5" lower diameter

same exact identical suspension as the 91






half the engine weight than my 91 with 4.3L and so 1/2" longer compressed length

makes sense to me!


the s-10 wire diameter is not tiny at all.

is very comparable, or same as full size ones by appearance



good luck

 

[campracing]

dang son you did some work for me i thank you very much lol

i have the spring out of the truck now and i put the stock s-10 springs and the heated stock c-10 springs side by side and from what i can tell they would probly be the same size but the s-10 spring has 7 coils and the c10 has 8 so at this time i am still not sure which ones i am going to try