carloski (Jun 1, 2022), nova_robotics (Jun 1, 2022)
My uncle out in Phoenix bought a camper about that size for his pickup the only problem was his 63 Chevy pickup was only a half ton and to top that off had torsion bar front suspension and coil spring rear. Us kids named the truck wobbles because that was all it did going down the highway. I imagine that stretched pickup being all jacked up with a bout a 10 inch lift kit would do much the same even though it is probably a 1 ton truck
Last edited by Frank S; Jun 1, 2022 at 12:42 PM.
Never try to tell me it can't be done
When I have to paint I use KBS products
bruce.desertrat (Jun 1, 2022), nova_robotics (Jun 1, 2022)
From early 60s to early 70s (not sure exact range, but ended with square body intro in 73) GM offered 2 truck rear suspension options. Trailing arms with coils or leaf springs. Coils rode better with light loads, leafs for working trucks. I've owned several of each. But to my knowledge the front suspension on GM trucks never had torsion bars until they went to IFS in the late 80s and early 90s.
Pretty sure his had torsion front like my Plymouth Belvedere, Know it had coils in the rear because I help[ed my dad insert a couple pairs of those twist in coil Seperators to try and stiffen up the rear suspension for my uncle How he ever managed to drive that thing from AZ to Texas is still a mystery . About the only way to keep it from wandering all over the road was to hook up a small trailer behind it and use a load equalizing hitch with anti sway braces attached as well.
Never try to tell me it can't be done
When I have to paint I use KBS products
I was a Chevy parts counter man for a few years and I can tell you for sure they did have front torsion bars, 60-63 if my memory serves. I still have a copy of the Chevy truck parts book that covers 1972 and back 10 through 30 series trucks and it shows parts breakdowns for the torsion bars. It actually has listings on some that went back into the 1920's.
Thanks baja; I was getting ready to haul out all of my old repair manuals to double check incase I was misremembering. I didn't think I was since I have worked on a lot of different vehicles over the years, but that fact has a way of causing makes to run together. Just like Ford came out with their twin I beam front suspension in 1964 and Dodge didn't come out with an A arm car type front suspension until 1972
Never try to tell me it can't be done
When I have to paint I use KBS products
baja (Jun 2, 2022)
Well then, I stand corrected. I owned a number of that body style, but never liked the knee breakers (windshield wrap around), so generally avoid the very early ones, and I guess that's how I missed them. The ones I owned back in the day often got square body front suspension cradles swapped in along with rear axles as part of suspension, brake and 5 lug upgrades (71 & 72 IIRC for the rear coils bolt-in). I thought I knew them very well, but I guess you just don't know what you don't know.
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