1978 C15 Short Bed Step Side Leaf Spring Question

[Dejure]

Just picked this critter up a few weeks back. Looking around under it, I noticed the thing had 7 leaf springs plus the mounting bar on each side. Curious as to if this is the norm? Anyone got one or other wise know what theirs is, such as number of leafs?

I note there is new iron under there, holding the leaf springs.

Tugging at my memory is that my old 69 C10 step side might have had coils.

 

[Tank6x2]

Seams correct, a suspension spring shop can add or remove as many leafs as you would like the ride to feel like

 

[Finkaire]

Ordered the truck with heavy duty springs. Forty years later I would like a little softer ride. Spring shop said they could level the truck and give it a softer ride by re-arching and maybe remove a leaf, came with 5. As for the front, the old springs would be softer than replacing them with new.

 

[legopnuematic]

72 was the last year for rear coils on 2wd Chevy trucks (GMCs and all 4wd would be leaf sprung rears).

As far as the rear leafs are concerned, a short bed could be the same GVWR as a long bed, so the same leaf spring choices were available to both long and short wheel bases.

 

[Dejure]

Thanks for the feed back all.

 

[Grit dog]

72 was the last year for rear coils on 2wd Chevy trucks (GMCs and all 4wd would be leaf sprung rears).

As far as the rear leafs are concerned, a short bed could be the same GVWR as a long bed, so the same leaf spring choices were available to both long and short wheel bases.

GMCs couldn’t be had with coils? Ha never knew that. I believe the 67-72 Chevy C10 and C20s were the last coil spring rear suspension truck until the 4th and 5th gen Rams.

 

[legopnuematic]

GMCs couldn’t be had with coils? Ha never knew that. I believe the 67-72 Chevy C10 and C20s were the last coil spring rear suspension truck until the 4th and 5th gen Rams.

I believe it was an option for coils, but leaf spring was standard, opposed to Chevys being the opposite.

I'm not sure that I've personally seen a 67-72 GMC C series with rear coils, but I've certainly not seen them all.

A quick look through the first 10 or so bring a trailer results show all leafs on the 67-72 GMC C series.

 

[chevdude]

I have a 1980 GMC shortbed with rear coils and trailing arms.

 

[TotalyHucked]

GMCs couldn’t be had with coils? Ha never knew that. I believe the 67-72 Chevy C10 and C20s were the last coil spring rear suspension truck until the 4th and 5th gen Rams.

In '67-72, Chevy was standard coils, leafs optional. GMC was opposite cuz it was the "work" truck, leafs standard, coils optional. I've seen plenty of both, both ways

 

[Turbo4whl]

I have a 1980 GMC shortbed with rear coils and trailing arms.

This is not stock. Someone changed the rear suspension or put the 1980 sheet metal on an earlier frame.

 

[chevdude]

You sure?
This is a base model truck.
Straight six, three on the tree.
Four wheel manual drum brakes.

 

[idahovette]

Yeah, for sure not original, if it doesn't have disc brakes on the front

 

[legopnuematic]

We need pictures!

All squarebody trucks left GM with front disc brakes, and rear leafs.

Sounds like it might be on another frame or someone did a lot of work to swap all that stuff onto a square frame.

 

[xm20k]

Typical half ton springs are 4-5 leaf and overload if 7 plus an overload it probably has the heavy-duty chassis option or is a BIG TEN (don't think the steppers had the decal) or was modded by an owner that was trying to up the carry capacity.

Forget what year (72 maybe) but by 80 drums were no longer used on the front of these trucks. Trailing arms till 73 I think.

 

[Grit dog]

^What they all said. Never a 1973 or later full size GM pickup that had front drums or rear coils.
If you want a comprehensive run down of all the specs on your truck as it left the assembly line look up GM Heritage information kits. There’s scans of every year Chevy trucks and many other GM cars full spec book with all the options dimensions codes specs for chassis and powertrains etc. It’s really cool and helpful.