Do I need one?

[Already Gone]

I am planning to do a 3 1/2" front (2 1/2" ECE drop spindle with 1" drop spring and I already have 1 1/4" sway bar installed ) drop and a 5" rear drop with new coils and ECEs Super Track Bar and shock relocator kit with new shocks my 72 long box big block truck.. I am running 235/70R15 tires on my truck now wich are 28.2 inches high and will eventually be running 255/60R17's on 17x8's which are 29 inches high. I've been reading all the banter on here about the drop crossmember especially ECE's and would like some opinions from you guys and girls if should get or need the dropped crossmember with the proposed suspension mods for my truck. I dont like things hanging from under my truck and the holes in the crossmember for the exhaust pipes really appeal to me because I will be putting headers on the 396 as well. I was just on ECE's website and they have a special on that crossmember for 199.00 and Christmas isn't far away.

[craig@ridetech.com]

With the amount of drop you are doing it's probably a good idea to at least replace that crossmember and with the added benefits of the exhaust clearance and the ease of installation you really can't go wrong, and they look good as well. Air Ride Technologies has a pretty sweet set up as well to help cure your problem. They offer a complete rear system that sells for $1699 or you can buy just the pieces and parts you want. The front crossmember they have sells for $225 by itself and is an all tubular piece. I attached a pic that shows all the pieces of the kit.

[67Fleet]

That ART bolt-on kit is a total waste of money IMO. You can bag your whole truck including EVERYTHING for less than the cost of that "kit", and still have enough left over for the ECE drop crossmember.

To answer the original question: No you don't need the drop xmember for a static drop of 6" or less in the rear.

[Already Gone]

Thanks everyone for the help. I drive the truck daily in the summer months and don't want any problems after I lower her.

[Shane]

Nice shameless plug.

As far as a response to the original poster, you don't need it with the amount of drop you have.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Shane

.... As far as a response to the original poster, you don't need it with the amount of drop you have.

Agreed.

[72 cheyenne pdx]

Hey LSC71 - Do you know what the maximum lift is on that kit? I am looking for a bag system that will keep me low to the ground around town, and since I am a avid fisherman/camper I have to go down a lot of old logging/service roads, would like to fill the bags to get an above stock height. There are a lot of pot holes and don't want to scrap the frame/body. Let me know.

[craig@ridetech.com]

Originally Posted by 72 cheyenne pdx

Hey LSC71 - Do you know what the maximum lift is on that kit? I am looking for a bag system that will keep me low to the ground around town, and since I am a avid fisherman/camper I have to go down a lot of old logging/service roads, would like to fill the bags to get an above stock height. There are a lot of pot holes and don't want to scrap the frame/body. Let me know.

With the rear fully inflated you can acheive a close to stock height on the rear Strong Arm kit. Now if you use our regular Cool Ride kit it should go back to stock height fully inflated, but probably not anymore than that.