You know it and we know it, 1967-1972 GM half ton trucks are one of the hottest vehicles in the aftermarket right now. From builds like Project Cheap 10 that we are covering to insane hardcore pro touring trucks like Rob McGregor’s famous “Hell Boy” pickup, these things are all over the place. Their classic styling and simple construction mean that they’ll swallow just about any engine you can think of and they are easy to fix. Since millions were produced, sheet metal and other pieces are also available at every turn, but what about making the ride better and more fun? There are some options and Hotchkis has one of the best known and most widely used in the marketplace. Leave it to them to make a good thing…gooder. They have updated their Total Vehicle System for 1967-1972 C10 trucks to include long bed models as well as those trucks that are already using drop spindles. Why do this? It is simple really.
Short bed half tons are the trucks that everyone looks for and the ones that are beginning to command some seriously nutty money. You can get yourself into a long bed (my preference, actually) for more reasonable money and there are plenty of them available. Since lots of trucks have already been lightly modified for a more performance-based stance, adapting their kit to handle trucks already “tuned up” with drop spindles means that this Hotchkis kit is good stuff for virtually any C10 on the road today…or the one you are getting back on the road.
Driving an old truck rules, driving one that turns and behaves even better than a modern one? So, so much better.
Here’s the full release from Hotchkis –
MORE FUN FOR MORE C10 TRUCKS!
Hotchkis Sport Suspension updates its popular Total Vehicle System suspension for 1967-1972 C10 pickups with applications for Long Bed trucks and for trucks with drop spindles.
Santa Fe Springs, Calif. (June, 2014) – The Chevrolet and GMC C10 pickup truck has quickly become one of the most popular pickups on the market among performance enthusiasts, and for good reason. Not only can you put any GM engine ever made into it, but the truck-arm suspension of the two-wheel-drive models perfectly complements a lowered stance. But as the popularity of the short wheel base variants of these trucks has grown, so have their prices. Thankfully though, long wheel base C10s have remained quite affordable and now Hotchkis is offering its legendary TVS suspension kits to enhance not only the looks of these trucks, but also their handling.
Hotchkis engineers have spent hours on the track developing suspension components for the C10 that are comfortable enough for the street but well tuned for spirited driving – be it track days, autocross events, or your favorite twisty roads. Laying the foundation for the C10’s handling package is a set of Hotchkis Sport Coil Springs that lower the truck four inches in the front and six inches in the rear that lower the trucks center of gravity, improves the front-to-rear weight distribution and delivers a sportier ride with their higher performance spring rates of 1,100 lbs/in up front and 380 lbs/in out back.
Keeping body roll in check is the job of the new front and rear Sport Sway Bars. The kit includes a lightweight, tubular 1 7/16-inch front bar and an adjustable, 3⁄4-inch blade-style rear bar.
Factory C10 front A-arms were obviously never designed for handling, and as such were not built with the geometry necessary for proper handling. A direct bolt-in replacement for the factory units, the new Hotchkis geometry-corrected front upper and lower A-arms increase caster and wheelbase, allow for more camber adjustments and are designed with anti-dive geometry to reduce front-end dive during hard braking. Working with this new suspension geometry, an upgraded steering center link is also included to help avoid unwanted bumpsteer.
Out back, the C10 utilizes a unique truck arm suspension that is still used to this day by NASCAR Sprint Cup cars. To get the most out of this setup, the Hotchkis TVS package includes rear anti-squat brackets for the truck arms to help control excess weight transfer during acceleration as well as an adjustable panhard rod with new upper and lower brackets to precisely locate the rear end. Finally, a set of Hotchkis-Tuned monotube shocks by Fox are included to keep the truck planted and controlled over bumps and during quick transitions.
For C10 owners that have already lowered their trucks with drop spindles, Hotchkis now also offers a TVS kit designed with drop spindle-friendly front sport springs that lower the truck only an additional two inches, maintaining proper suspension travel and geometry (Part #80392).
Like all Hotchkis Performance suspension products, the ’67-’72 C10 Total Vehicle System components are manufactured in the USA, come with all necessary hardware, feature greaseable polyurethane bushings and are finished in durable powder coat. These upgrades can transform your C10 in a single afternoon are the ultimate way to unlock your truck’s true potential. For more information on Hotchkis’ full line of products for the C10 visit its website
http://www.hotchkis.net.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE PHOTOS OF WHAT YOUR TRUCK CAN LOOK LIKE AND THE GREAT STUFF THAT WILL UNDER PIN IT WITH THIS HOTCHKIS KIT –
I was excited to hear this since mine’s a long bed truck too… unfortunately, it’s also one with the leaf spring rear suspension option.
I’m very excited the TVS is built for longbeds now. I own one and have been desperately trying to find the right stance for my truck. I have been researching this build since the first time I saw it on the Hotchkis Google+. Is there any more information on the build itself?? I am interested to know wheel and tire sizes, differences in the TVS, etc.