61 chevy pickup help

[my61chevy]

I have a 61 chevy pickup and i know how to lower the rear a. cut the coil spring, or b, buy one already cut. Now my problem is the front, i don't have a clue how to lower that. Any suggestions?

[john gemmer]

your front should have coil springs don,t cut or heat them it better to bye the the spring with the link taken out mine is droped 4inches but thats too much I have to rase it a inch my headers hit speed bumps that just requires me to get huger headers but you also need to concider where your oli pan is at you get it to low ! well you know what will happen to me if had to do it all over again I would get a air bag kit it should have every thing ya need for front and back .I should of ask frist do you have a strate axle in front or A-arm supention in front i there is another way but that requires cutting up your truck and putting a camaro sub frame in front

[Dave Severson]

Check around, don't they make dropped spindles for that truck?? I'm not a chebbie guy, is a 61 straight axe or IFS suspension???

[my61chevy]

It doesn't have any springs in the front, i think they started with the springs in 63, but i do have a a arm set up. I was told that if i wanted power steering and power brakes i would have to put a camaro front on. is this right?

[Dave Severson]

Nope, it's not right on the power steering. A late model chebbie steering box (some of the chebbie guys here will provide you with the part # and what you can get one off of) could be adapted to your truck.

If you want power disc brakes on the front, they are available also. Do a google search for "power disc brake conversion kits" or wait till the Streetster jumps in with his most helpful list of links.

[my61chevy]

thanks everyone, like i have mentioned before this is my first classic car, so im still learning.

[john gemmer]

I know a 77 chevy pickup will bolt up to my 65 I will ask some other chevy guy if it would also bolt up on a 61 it would be good know I just pick up a 62 chevy tk I will get back to ya unless some one beat me to it

[john gemmer]

Originally posted by john gemmer
I know a 77 chevy pickup will bolt up to my 65 I will ask some other chevy guy if it would also bolt up on a 61 it would be good know I just pick up a 62 chevy tk I will get back to ya unless some one beat me to it

Ok its what I thought the 61 has the same frame as my 65 a 77 chevy 1/2 ton front end will bolt up that will give you your disc brake then you can get your spring height you want

[john gemmer]

sorry for posting so much but Im a little confused here but you should have coil spring in front unless it a 4wheel drive or straight axel then you would have leaf

[john gemmer]

ow man
my61chevy I stand corected the 61 has a torsion bar suspension set up you can jack the truck up and look for two bars that run down each side at the end by the trany will be a bolt on each torsionbar you should see a bolt w/ cotter pin pull the pincrank on bolt to lower it I am not sure witch way but you should be able to see your wheel go the way you want to rais or lower the wheel need to be off ground this will also take the tension off the bar

[my61chevy]

Thanks John, Well i have another question then, with my front suspension the way it is, how would i go about putting on power brakes?

[john gemmer]

I thought I already posted it but I may not have they sell a kit to do that or you can go to a wrecking yard a 1977 chevy 1/2 ton front end will bolt up all the bolt will match up except 1 you will have to oval that one

[john gemmer]

Originally posted by john gemmer
I thought I already posted it but I may not have they sell a kit to do that or you can go to a wrecking yard a 1977 chevy 1/2 ton front end will bolt up all the bolt will match up except 1 you will have to oval that one

make sure if you do the wrecking way you get the vacuum canister and portion valve and master cylinder

[my61chevy]

Rock, thanks man, my friend has a junked out 77 he is useing for parts , you know what john you are on smart guy thanks alot man

[john gemmer]

Originally posted by my61chevy
Rock, thanks man, my friend has a junked out 77 he is useing for parts , you know what john you are on smart guy thanks alot man

Ow man no Im not just been their done that if you keep saying that my head s going to swell up and no wone will ge able to deal with me