Suspension help
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New User
Joined: Mar 2009
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Suspension help
Hey guys, I dont know what went on but I had to get a new login. I havent been on in like a year I think, but my Pics and everything is gone. anyway, im back.
Was worndering how hard it would be to put 93-95 Lightning Suspension front and rear of my old 79 its a 2wd short bed. Im going to keep my front I beams.. I have a friend that has a 93 Lightning and I was looking at it. They look pretty much the same as far how everything is bolted up and such. just an idea, has anyone ever done what im talking about..
Thanks
Evan
Was worndering how hard it would be to put 93-95 Lightning Suspension front and rear of my old 79 its a 2wd short bed. Im going to keep my front I beams.. I have a friend that has a 93 Lightning and I was looking at it. They look pretty much the same as far how everything is bolted up and such. just an idea, has anyone ever done what im talking about..
Thanks
Evan
Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 248
Likes: 2
If it is a serial #'s-matching Lightning, buy it, leave it intact, take care of it, and if it's missing parts, take your time, save your money, and when you can, buy original correct parts for it. If possible, keep it as close to original as possible, try not to repaint, rebuild,...and down the road, you'll be glad that you did.
Use your '79 to be your parts runner and driver. If your '79 is a small-block truck, look for some big-block front coils, see if a sway bar from a 2WD dent side 1-ton will work, take your helper leaves (bottom ones) out of your leaf-spring packs in the rear, consider some 15x8's and 255/60R15's. These mods ought to help your '79's handling and stance, but talk to others - they may have better advice.
The main things: Keep the Lightning intact. Modify the '79 separately.
Use your '79 to be your parts runner and driver. If your '79 is a small-block truck, look for some big-block front coils, see if a sway bar from a 2WD dent side 1-ton will work, take your helper leaves (bottom ones) out of your leaf-spring packs in the rear, consider some 15x8's and 255/60R15's. These mods ought to help your '79's handling and stance, but talk to others - they may have better advice.
The main things: Keep the Lightning intact. Modify the '79 separately.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 295
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From: Pikeville, KY
I was talking about buying lightning supension, not parting out a truck, I dont think I could do such a thing lol. I found the front coils and front sway bar new, and the spring hangers on the rear I know are the same up to 96. I was wanting to put lightning leafs and the snubber on the leafs on the rear of mine and also the rear swaybar. but i'll look into your idea aswell..
Thanks
Thats me right upon top incase I may confuse someone, I remembered my old password..
Thanks
Thats me right upon top incase I may confuse someone, I remembered my old password..
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 15
From: Costa Mesa, CA
The rear suspension may work, and SPRINGS from the front may work, but the i-beams are a different deal. I'm not positive about hte front sway bay - but it could probably be used.
Our 70's trucks had equal length I-beams (both beams the same length), and the trucks starting in the 80's had un-equal length beams (1 beam is much shorter than the other).
So aside from the coils and shocks I don't think much (there's only the beams and radius arms left) would work.
Our 70's trucks had equal length I-beams (both beams the same length), and the trucks starting in the 80's had un-equal length beams (1 beam is much shorter than the other).
So aside from the coils and shocks I don't think much (there's only the beams and radius arms left) would work.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 295
Likes: 0
From: Pikeville, KY
thanks. didnt know that the 80 up trucks had different size I beams. This is just a Idea I had and may try doing it, I just dont want to be out alot of money then nothing work. My front coils on my 79 are shot well the right one is I know for sure, even my wife she weights around 125 lbs and it sits down more on her side when she is in it than my side does, I weight around 280, lol and the curves is a different story, rolls like a 50 model Ford coupe around left handed cruves and tight as it ever was when turning right cruves. Ive replaced both radius arm bushings and mounts. Those helped out alot, nothing else is wore out in the frontend, only thing else is left are coil springs. My dad replaced them back around 1990 I think and the truck set for 8 years before my dad an I pulled it out and restored it.
