Hot Rod Network set out to upgrade the suspension & brakes on a longbed 1964 Chevrolet Pickup Truck. In this project, we’re taking a work truck and transforming it into a cool cruiser. Here’s a short piece of the article. Click here to view the full article on HotRod.com
When Hec Valdez found this 1964 Chevy it had indeed been a workhorse, but his plan for the truck was retirement and the first step to a more leisurely lifestyle for the C10 included new suspension on both ends and disc brakes on all four corners.
To collect all the parts Valdez needed for his truck’s transformation he contacted Performance Online because their prices are hard to beat and they stock most items they sell. As a result, their fill rate is 98 percent and if they don’t have the parts on hand they’re usually shipped within five business days.
Thanks to everyone involved in the project. It was a pleasure providing you with the parts you needed and helping find the best solution for your upgraded suspension & brakes! Happy cruisin’.
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- Hec Valdez Is In The Process Of Transforming His 1964 Chevy From Work Truck To A Cool Cruiser. Thanks To Performance Online It Now Rides 4 Inches Lower In Front And 6 Inches Lower In The Rear.
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- Coker Supplied The 15×6 Smoothie Steel Wheels And Whitewall Tires. Hubcaps Are 1952 Chevy Passenger Car And The Brakes Are Now Discs At All Four Wheels.
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- Performance Online Provided The Entire Front And Rear Suspension Components And The Parts For The Four Wheel Disc Brake Conversion.
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- This Is What Valdez Began With, A Reasonably Straight C10 That Was Ready To Lead The Good Life In Retirement. Underhood Is The Original Inline Six Cylinder.
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- Typical Of The Era, Chevy’s Independent Front Suspension Was Equipped With Coil Springs And Drum Brakes. If Nothing Else It Was Stout.
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- Christian Arriero, In The Classic Trucks Tech Center, Began The Truck’s Transformation By Removing The Stock A Arms And Spindles With The Brakes Attached.
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- With The Stock Suspension Removed All That Remained Was The Original Front Crossmember.
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- The New Performance Online Control Arms Are Made From 1020 DOM Tubing And Use Late Model 1973 1987 Ball Joints And Tie Rod Ends.
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- To Eliminate Deflection The Upper Control Arms Are Reinforced Around The Ball Joint Mount And Caster Is Increased To Enhance Stability.
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- Performance Online Offers A Variety Of “dropped” Coil Springs. All Are Wound From 5160 Alloy Spring Steel.
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- The Replacement Spindles Not Only Drop The Truck 2 1/2 Inches They Have Integral Disc Brake Caliper Mounts.
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- Valdez Opted For Solid Rotors With The Stock 6 On 5.5 Bolt Pattern Rotors. Five Bolt Patterns As Well As Drilled And Slotted Versions Are Also Available.
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- The Performance Online Disc Brake Kit Includes 12 Inch Rotors, GM Brake Calipers, Brake Pads, Rubber Hoses, Wheel Bearings, Seals, Spindle Nuts, And Grease Caps.
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- To Ensure The Front End Was Good As New, A Performance Online A 1963 1987 Chevy C10 High Performance Tie Rod And Idler Arm Kit Was Installed.
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- Chevy’s Tried And True Torque Arm, Coil Sprung Rear Suspension Is Simple And Stout. Note The Exhaust Runs Under The Center Crossmember And The Driveshaft Is Two Piece.
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- The Driveshaft Runs Through The Hole In The Stock Chevy Center Crossmember. Lowering The Truck Will Result In Interference Between Them And Inadequate Ground Clearance, So The Crossmember Has To Go.
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- After Grinding Away The Rivets The Crossmember Is Removed. Note The Brackets That Mount The Trailing Arms.
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- The Performance Online 1963 1972 Chevy Truck Drop Crossmember Is Specifically Designed For Chevy Trucks That Have 5 Inches Of Drop Or More. It Increases Ground Clearance, Has Bolt On Mounts For Five Different Trailing Arm Settings, And Includes Holes For Up To 3 Inch Dual Exhaust.
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- To Provide Adequate Suspension Travel It Was Necessary To Notch The Rear Framerails. The Material Was Removed With A Plasma Cutter.
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- Performance Online’s C Notch Kit Allows For An Additional 3 Inches Of Axle Travel With The Included Bumpstop. A Shorter Bumpstop Will Yield Additional Travel Clearance.
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- Performance Online’s Replacement Trailing Arms Are Made From 0.188 Inch Thick, 2×3 Inch Rectangular Steel. They Bolt Directly To Your Stock Location And Include Emergency Brake Cable Brackets. Here The Zero Deflection Delrin End Bushings Are Being Installed.
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- The Performance Online Center Crossmember Has Five Different Trailing Arm Settings. The Lower Hole Is The Factory Position, The Others Allow Up To 4 Degrees Of Antisquat For Better Launch And Handling Characteristics.
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- In The Rear, 4 Inch Drop Springs Were Added Along With New Shocks With Shock Relocation Brackets.
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- For Additional Drop We Opted For 2 Inch Lowering Blocks, Which Required Longer U Bolts.
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- The 1963 1970 Chevy And GMC Truck Rear Disc Brake Conversion Kits Are Available In Six Lug For Those Who Don’t Want To Change Axles.
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- POL’s rear disc brake kits include 12 inch rotos, rubber brake hoses, and all necessary hardware.
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- The Rear Calipers Are GM D154 With Integral Parking Brake Mechanisms. They Come With Brake Pads, And Parking Brake Cables Are Available Separately.
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- The 1960 1966 Chevy And GMC Truck Power Brake Bolt On Kits Mount To The Original Master Cylinder Power Booster Mounting Studs On The Firewall. A Proportioning Valve Is Used On Disc Brake Applications.