Over at Dagel's Street Rods...
Over at Dagel's Street Rods in Orange, CA, the California Hauler received its engine and trans mounts, as well as its stance, thanks to custom rear leaves from Detroit Eaton Spring. Its new lowered coils for the front are from AIM Industries.
This is the second of two stories discussing how the California Hauler got a new stance. The last article (Nov. '07, KC) highlighted the new rear parallel springs from Detroit Eaton Spring, while this installment covers the new front coil springs from AIM Industries. AIM Industries sells six different coil springs for the '82-and-up S-10s, depending on whether your truck is a four- or six-cylinder, and if you want it lowered 1, 2, or 3 inches. The cost is around $80 for a pair of coils, but shipping and handling is brutal (possibly due to their weight).
We had taken the California Hauler (the 'glass '41 Willys body from Auto Classics mounted to a stock Chevy S-10 chassis) to Dagel's Street Rods in Orange, California, to have them fabricate both engine and trans mounts and add the new suspension components. We could have gone with an airbag suspension, but we thought we'd try the old-school method with modified parts. Our before and after measurements show we were able to lower the truck a full inch, and that amount will probably grow once the springs settle in and we go through a few dips in the road with it.
The next step in the Hauler's buildup will be installing the 347 Ford V-8 that was assembled and dyno'd at Smeding Performance in Rancho Cordova, California. We'll also take a look at the Ford AODE transmission from TCI Automotive in Ashland, Mississippi. From there, it's on to the nose and fenders assembly. Hey! It'll look like a real truck soon!
Work began on the old coils...
Work began on the old coils by removing the locknut at the top of the shock.
Two screws hold the shock...
Two screws hold the shock into the lower A-arm, and they both have to be removed. After that, remove the shock from inside the coil.
Do not try to remove coil...
Do not try to remove coil springs without some type of coil compressor! To do so without the tool is very dangerous and potentially deadly. Our tool gets lowered inside the coil in place of where the shock was, and its arms are then fitted around the coil.
You can see where the coil...
You can see where the coil gets gripped by the compressor's arms. An impact wrench is used to tighten the threaded tool, which compresses the coil, lifting it off the lower A-arm.
With the compressor still...
With the compressor still holding the spring tight, you'll see the coil slowly lift off the lower A-arm, after which you can remove the two bolts that hold the lower A-arm to the chassis.
Once the A-arm has been removed,...
Once the A-arm has been removed, slowly back the compressor tool off the coil and it should easily fall away from the upper arm.
The stock S-10 coil is on...
The stock S-10 coil is on the right, and the new lowered coil from AIM Industries is on the left.
There is an upper rubber gasket...
There is an upper rubber gasket that came out with the old coil assembly (it helps get rid of squeaks) that can be reattached for assembly with some masking tape.
There is a nub in the lower...
There is a nub in the lower A-arm that the end of the coil sits against, preventing it from turning in the arm. Make sure you line the end of the new coil up with the nub for reassembly, then use the coil tool to compress the spring during reassembly.
After reinstalling the two...
After reinstalling the two bolts that hold the lower A-arm in place, the shock is reinstalled from the bottom. Depending on how much the new coils will lower the truck, you may need to get new shocks that will fully operate in the new configuration.