need suggestions for S10 suspension

[jerome]

Hi, my name is Jerome, i am a new member here. I recently bought a 1982 S-10 which I have already stripped down to the frame. I am almost ready to put some suspension parts back on it, and I need to figure out what to order. Here are the basics of the project. It will be a primarily street driven truck (occasional autocross/drag strip action). It will have a 383 sbc and T56. As for suspension, I want it to launch well and get good traction, but I dont want drag shocks or anything like that. The rear suspension will leaf spring & traction bars. The front suspension will be tall spindle conversion w/ 1LE brakes. This is what i'm thinking:

Belltech tall drop spindles http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=BEL%2D2105&N=700+4294925130+4294853238+4294908216+400013+115&autoview=sku
Global West G-body Tall spindle conversion UCA w/ delrin bushings
delrin bushings for LCA
QA1 coilovers
1LE brakes

belltech 3" lowering springs
competition engineering slide-a-links

I have a few questions about this...
are these the right spindles
do I want non-adjustable, single, or double adjustable (what is overkill for just street driving?)
what kind of shocks should i get for the rear
do i want regular height ball joint or tall ball joint?
will the SPC UCA's work for my application (they are much cheaper than Global West)?

Sorry for the flood of questions. I am a bit confused with all the options. Thanks for your opinions. It seems like this is a great place for no-nonsense info.

Thank you,
Jerome

[jerome]

after reading some more, it seems that using a Howe tall ball joint w/ the SPC upper arms will work to improve the handling just as well as the tall spindles, but without the bumpsteer problems. I think i will just use S10 drop spindles and adapt C5 brakes to them.

So here's the new shopping list:
belltech s10 drop spindle
SPC UCA
Howe tall ball joint
c5 brakes
del-a-lum bushings for LCA

Here is the stuff i still am unsure about...you can disregard the previous questions:
Are coilovers the best choice for my application?
What kind of shocks should i run in the back for the leaf springs?
Will the del-a-lum bushings make a noticeable impact on handling?
What does the SC&C stage II kit add over the tall balljoint & UCA?
Also, tell me if i am on the right track here with what I am doing?

Thanks,
Jerome

[TitoJones]

You can now use our AFX tall spindles with the SC&C stuff, and the C5 brakes bolt right up.

Tyler

[jerome]

yes, the afx spindles are very very nice, and I would love to have them, but they are just way out of my price range. (The s10 spindles can be had for 215 already modified with bracketry for c5 brakes)

thanks for the suggestion though

[Slow Ride]

Don't use the QA1 coilover kit for the S-10. It is made for the G-body and doesn't allow you to set the ride height very low before the shock bottoms out. I will be sending my shocks back this winter to have the shafts shortened to allow me to drop the front end to where it was with the standard drop springs and stock control arms.

[ZZ4Blazer]

The kit is nice, but like Slow said doesnt alow for the truck to be set very low. I think bout max is 4" drop(2" spindles) without problems.

The air ride tech lower control arms for their shockwave air bag works very well with the coilover, and is a drop arm, giving you back some of your suspension travel.

I have the single adjustable shocks on my truck now, but just bought a set of the double's off a buddy of mine.

My truck is extremely low, and bottoms out the tires before the suspension. I think Im going up 1" all around this winter though.

Also going to swap tot he AFX spindle, and C6Z brakes. If you change your mind and still wanna go with b-body drop spindle, let me know. Mine will be for sale at the end of the year.

Pic of mine for reference.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[jerome]

so setting the QA1's spring height at lowest setting removes alot of suspension travel?

2-3" is all I want, im not looking to put it in the weeds, after all only 3" lowered in the back.

i'm still wondering what the stage II SC&C kit adds over the tall BJ and the adjustable arms? oh wait, just read this again...there are 2 tall BJ with the stage II, adding even more height to the spindel?

also, i'm trying to price out brake prices, wheres the best place to get c5 brake stuff, aftermarket or GM...is gm parts direct the best? is aftermarket generally pricier than stock?

BTW nice truck zz4

this is my truck: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2410978

thanks,
Jerome

[ZZ4Blazer]

If your using a drop spindle for 2" of drop,then you shouldnt have much problem getting 1" drop from the QA1 kit. You would be fine that way.

What do you need for the brakes? Calipers and rotors? Or do you need the hub assembly as well?

[jerome]

well ed over at s-seriesforum does the premodified spindle and it comes with a hub, so that is taken care of. I'm pretty sure its just calipers, pads, rotors, lines and misc. bolts that i will need. he wants 215 for spindle/hub and around 800 total for the whole package. Would i be better off getting everything already assembled from him or trying to piece together my own package?

how much of a difference did the tall spindle make for you?

[ZZ4Blazer]

Cool, I was gonna mention the Ed miller kit to you if you needed the hub and everything. I think that might be your cheapest option.

The tall spindle was a noticeable upgrade. But you can certainly feel the bumpsteer. I was gonna see about using the stock s-10 spindle with tall balljoints and C5 brakes from ed over the winter, but I think Im gonna go with the tall AFX spindle to correct the bumpsteer and C6Z06 brakes instead.

[Slow Ride]

DEfinately go with the SC&C uppers too. The Global West ones are fine, but still don't add enough caster for my liking.

[jerome]

cool, its all sorta coming together now.

which qa1 kit should i get, small block or big block. Would the heavier springs be better for handling? or would there just be a big sacrafice in comfort?

does anyone know the part number for the tall howe ball joints? cause racepartsusa lists them for 75 each which would be $40 dollars savings over getting them from SC&C. Also, how much additional height should there be? i'm looking at the howe web site and they list up to .5" taller bj's. Does anyone know what SC&C's BJ's are?

actually i just found this page to ask howe for a quote :
http://www.howeracing.com/Suspension/Index-BallJoints-Form.htm

does anyone know the specs that i should be looking at, or what SC&C ball joint specs are?

thanks,
jerome



thanks,
Jerome

[jerome]

nvmd found all the info and asked for a quote from howe already

these are the specs i asked for:

Housing: 223221 - Small 4 Bolt - Metric GM Car Up - Moog 5208 - 22321 Caps
Housing Finish: Standard Black Anodized
Cap: 22321 - Standard Broached Aluminum
Stud Taper Style: 22360 - GM Metric Car - Moog K5208 - 2.0378in per ft. - 22321 Caps
Stud Length: +.500

the lowers were the 224170 housing, 22321 cap, 22470 stud +.500"

[Slow Ride]

Get the small block ones. I had the BBC ones with a BBC and it did not set down at all. HARD as a rock. even with 2 - 200#+ guys jumping on the bumper didn't budge one bit. You will probably want to scale it before buying springs. I ended up getting another set of springs and will probably have to change them again after I get the shock shaft length issue corrected.

Here is how mine sits with about 1" left before the shocks bottom out...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[jerome]

great, thats just about the ride height i want

scaling isnt really an option, as the frame is completely bare right now, and i'm putting it all back together.

but i will look into different springs. see how this qa1/ global west springs thread plays out too.

thanks,
jerome

[ZZ4Blazer]

My trucks pretty much all about handling. I do drag it occationally, but trucks being built to handle. Right now I have 800 lb coils in the front of my truck. I honestly dont think it rides too bad, compareable to other lowered trucks. I have noticed I do get a little shutter on rough roads in a turn. So this winter when I change stuff over, Im gonna drop down to a 600 lb coil, and probably dial the shocks in better.

Buddy of mine has the sbc coils in the front of his 4.3 blazer, and I got a ride over the weekend. Noticeably softer than my truck, too soft for my liking. Just my opinion though.

[Slow Ride]

For reference I am using 300#/in springs set at about the middle of the shock, but it allows the front to rise pretty easily when I have the shocks set on full soft.

[syborg tt]

here is my Daily Driver

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

I would suggest that you look at the Global West Upper and Lower Control arms as they are built for these trucks with handling in mind.

I would do this

Front
Global West Upper & Lower Controls Arms
Coil Over Kit or Simple pic a nice Spring
Bell Tech Spindle 2" Drop
Bell Tech Sway Bar
Bell Tech Suspension Stops (you will need these)

Rear
Bell Tech Lower Spring
1" Lower Block
CBR Perfromance Battle Bars (Designed Specifically for s10's)
Bell Tech Sespension Stops (You will need this)

If you put in the suspension stops in the front you will have about 1/4 of clearence to your inner wheel well if you are running a 26" tall tire.

-- When you put the cab back on make sure you pull the cab back as far as you can so you can gain 1/2 of clearence in your turning radius (tire won't rub on the inner wheel well).

If you put the bell tech suspension stops in it will give you just enough clearence over the differential to clear the exhaust. It also takes bumps very hard in the rear as they are very rough riding springs.

If you want to lower your ball joints to gain the advantages of the tall spindle conversion - just buy the correct upper and lower control arms. I know of a couple guy's that are not happy with the tall spindle conversion.

[jerome]

syborg, i have long been a fan of your truck after seeing the pics you posted on various s10 forums. a few questions:

where can i find these belltech suspension stops? are they droop stops or bump stops?

i am going to do C5 wheels, i think you have the ZR1's? do they rub at all?

How do I put the cab back on further back? the bolt holes are not elongated are they?

How much are you lowered? i remember seeing one of your posts you have a backhalf right?

THanks,
Jerome

[Slow Ride]

I was looking at the battle bars. Do they work well? I am using the Lakewood bars and see the Caltracs and Slide-a-links hang down too far.

[syborg tt]

syborg, i have long been a fan of your truck after seeing the pics you posted on various s10 forums. a few questions:
Thank you - it's been fun to build


where can i find these belltech suspension stops? are they droop stops or bump stops?
Autozone - about 10 bucks

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

pic of them in the rear

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

pic of the stock front and new stop

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

installed

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif


i am going to do C5 wheels, i think you have the ZR1's? do they rub at all?

Actually the Wheels came from SLP - it's there Take Off's
Cost was $605.21

245/40 17 Front & 275/40 Rear


How do I put the cab back on further back? the bolt holes are not elongated are they?

The holes on the frame are round to give you room to square the cab on the chassis. Make sure you pull it back as far as you can.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif


How much are you lowered? i remember seeing one of your posts you have a backhalf right?

Actually Syborg is back halfed and my black truck rides on the stock frame. It's confusing sometimes but i have two trucks

The black truck has:
3" drop front
3" drop Rear
The rear needs one more inch but i have to remove a bracket on the frame and redo the exhaust