How to cup lower control arms on a 67-72 C10

how to cup the lower control arms for airride suspension on a 67-72 c10 to get the truck lower

[@deankay4434]

Job well done! As a note, the lower control arm shaft is held with "U" bolts. GM recommends the use of 9/16" U-bolts as they had 5/16", 1/2" then went to the larger size. It is a safety thing although for 50+ years they have survived pot holts, Road craters and pasture jumping. This is $9 each & come with washers and nuts. Tip: For those equipped with manual steering, more positive chamber is desired. The shaft fits a pin the "U-Shaped" perch. If the lower shaft is moved forward, by drill a new hole back about 3/8", you will gain about 4 degrees positive chamber before any shims are installed. The shaft end bushing are metal and if greased will last another 50+ years. It is 4 times more robust than rubber bushings and easy to service. Identical to the top. 1967 C10 frames are odd as they did not have indentation for the power steering gear nor did they offer on. Solution? Remove manual steering gear, but a quick ratio P/S gear box from (buyautoparts) for a 72 C10 p/n 82-00293 QR for 2WD and send an undamaged core. If core inspections passes, you get a check for the core valve deposited on credit card. It is a 2:75 - 3:25 Lock to Lock and don't forget to buy a pitman arm for the newer truck 2WD to fit. On 67, the manual box has pipe-like spacers. Cut two in half with a 5 degree angle. The front two at 5/8" at 5 degrees angle and mark to rotate so they fit flush on frame and steering gear box. The std bolts will fit as I used large flat washers inside the frame to spread the load. Recheck torque after 500 miles of driving. DK, ASE Master Tech since 1978, retired but 67 C10 owner.

[@ccgarage5040]

Great information my current project I'm working on this week is pancaking the cross member. It's cut and put back in the truck but now I have to modify the steering because of clearance issues

[@cadilakisrodcustom]

Nice video man! I need to get mine cupped.

[@ccgarage5040]

It wasn't too bad of a process

[@cadilakisrodcustom]

@@ccgarage5040 I have the cups already, just need to stop workin on other stuff and get to it 🤣

[@ccgarage5040]

@@cadilakisrodcustom gotta figure out what you want done more, my truck is top of my list at the moment

[@josebeltran702]

How did the welds end up holding? I’m thinking of. Doing the same thing I have the same welder

[@matts1972blazer]

Where did you find the cups and what bags are you running?

[@ccgarage5040]

I'm running airlift 2600 pound bags the cups are from a company called twisted immage

[@matts1972blazer]

And do you have drop spindles?

[@ccgarage5040]

The drop spindles are ccp 2.5 inch

[@gregmccoy8616]

You never gave the measured height afterward. I would assume it went down to 3” ?

[@ccgarage5040]

Sorry about that I'll go take some measurements

[@ccgarage5040]

I made a short video but there is 4 inches from the bottom of the bumper to the ground

[@johnjorquez3982]

Is there a reason you didn't measure out from center at 4 points to make sure it was dead center?

[@ccgarage5040]

It needs to be center with where the spring pocket was not the center of the control arm

[@johnjorquez3982]

@@ccgarage5040 ahhhh....makes sense. Thanks!

[@ccgarage5040]

@@johnjorquez3982 no problem the cups I'm using also have a small amount of adjustments from side to side and front to back

[@johnjorquez3982]

@@ccgarage5040 so I have a 65 c20 that i just started dismantling friday....the current phase is to get tje body off and engine out and have the frame blasted. Then I will prep it and paint it....thinking of doing all my suspension work right after but unsure of what I need to drop the front....drop coils and cupped control arms and bags? Or do I not need drop coils and do a drop spindle instead...thos is where I get lost...I'm trying to drop it around 10-11 inches from where it sits stock....idk if that's achievable with bolt on/weld on parts?

[@ccgarage5040]

@@johnjorquez3982 cupped lower control arms or tubular lower control arms depending on how much you want to spend. Roughly $100 to cup or $500 for tubular. Drop spindles will get you another 2-3 inches lower and is a good opportunity to upgrade to disc brakes. If you want to be on airbags you won't need coils but will have to decide on what parts you want for the rest of the air ride like valves, switches, bag size, and air line size

[@Flacos_pov]

Can I use these cups with just my lowering springs instead of bags?

[@ccgarage5040]

I don't think so best bet would probably be get tubular lower control arms I would suggest drop spindles too

[@Flacos_pov]

@@ccgarage5040 Iv got three inch lowering spindles and three inch lowering springs Im looking to go a bit lower it’s a 78 suburban, you still think it wouldn’t work?

[@ccgarage5040]

@@Flacos_pov no because the spring pockets are already the lowest part of the control arm but there not flat so to run airbags we cut that area out and use the cups to have a good mounting surface

[@Flacos_pov]

@@ccgarage5040 what if I extended the cups🤔 I’m really tryna get this done

[@ccgarage5040]

@@Flacos_pov my cups are actually the first thing to hit the ground when I air out

[@Doshchopandtuneshop]

Best moments 17:31

[@miguelreno7759]

Size of the cupped man wanna do mine 76 c10

[@ccgarage5040]

There 3 inch cups from twisted images