basic lowering? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

TooT · 05-06-2005, 11:34 PM

Hey i'm new here and i have a 68 shortbed thats getting some stuff done to it, but we wanna lower it first....whats the best and quickest way to lower these trucks? i have a S-10 Xtreme thats been lowered using spindles and blocks, thanks guys i love this forum! oh yeah i dont wanna lower it really low....just enough to make it look level with possibly 18's

68w/sbc406 · 05-06-2005, 11:37 PM

welcome from portland or. where you from? you can do springs or spindles (or both) in the front and you can do springs or blocks (or both) in the rear

BraveDave · 05-06-2005, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TooT

....whats the best and quickest way to lower these trucks?.....

GET OUT THE BLOWTORCH, BABY !!! WHOOOOOOOHOO!!!

TooT · 05-06-2005, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BraveDave

GET OUT THE BLOWTORCH, BABY !!! WHOOOOOOOHOO!!!

lol, thats what my brother is saying to do..it's no show truck or anything...needs carpet, a seat, a bed(or a lot of bed work) paint and taillights....it'll look sweet in the end!

TooT · 05-06-2005, 11:53 PM

MARIOS68PANEL · 05-06-2005, 11:49 PM

Welcome , From a Nor Cal New Guy

1978steven · 05-07-2005, 12:30 AM

Looks like a great builder you got there, what are you currently doing to the truck?

TooT · 05-07-2005, 08:24 AM

nothing yet, the bed is getting bolted on today and it's gonna get a little primer on it.....the bed isnt all that great but it'll work for now till i can find a better one.

Joe67 · 05-07-2005, 09:02 AM

Welcome, nice '68

SCOTI · 05-07-2005, 09:37 AM

Check out the suspension forum as it has lots of info on choices when lowering.

For mild drops w/a relatively low budget, use drop spindles for 2.5" of drop. If you want more, trim the stock front springs 1 coil while it's apart. That will be about 4.5-5.5" of front drop depending on how much your stock springs have sagged. Some people are very opposed to cutting coils (I've done most of the trucks I've lowered this way & it works well for the cost). But, if cutting is a problem, spend a little more $$ & substitute some new 1-3" dropped coils. Put some off the shelf/stock HD gas shocks & if it's not already equipped w/a sway bar, get one -- they make a significant difference.

Keep in mind, the shorter the front spring, the harder it is for someone to align the front end. That's usually why spindles + springs are the easiest overall method.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMCPaul

3" front drop springs often max out the studs where you shim upper a-arm for alignment and when maxed out they require off-set ball joints then to complete alignment properly( Off-set ball joints are Extremely Expensive ) and it is true that if you jack truck up anywhere in front other than under lower a-arm your springs will fall out as suspension sags when you raise the truck. Lowering springs of 3" in the front also make a vehicle more prone to bump steer problems not found when front is lowered using spindles.
GMCPaul

The back can be done w/dropped coils (or airbags if you plan to tow anything) for between 4-6" of drop. You can also add lowering blocks (2" should be the practical limit when using blocks) in combination w/springs/bags to get more drop w/a better ride. The lower the rear goes, the more mods that will be necessary. 4" w/springs won't require any other mods (get some new shocks to match the fronts!). 6" drops should prob get the shock brackets relocated for a better (more effective) angle & an adjustable panhard bar (or shorten the stock one. More than 6" of drop & you'll definitely want the clearance the frame w/some c-sections.

Hope this helps & welcome to the board.

4tiresngas · 05-07-2005, 12:47 PM

Welcome to the board from Southern Cal. I just lowered my '69 in my garage, and I had never done anything like that before. It really was pretty easy. I bought Early Classic Enterprises 2 1/2" drop spindles and stock front springs and 4" drop springs for the rear. I have 275/60/15's all the way around right now. It sits 30" from the garage floor to the top of the front fender well and 31" from the garage floor to the top of the rear fender well. I plan to put 17"s on it eventually. Good luck.

TooT · 05-07-2005, 04:00 PM

about how much are the spindles and wheres the best place to get the spindles and springs? thanks again guys...

1978steven · 05-08-2005, 01:14 PM

I'd go with the ECE springs and spindels.

**BIG ORANGE** · 05-08-2005, 01:20 PM

I good cheap way to do this would be remove the front springs and cut 1 round out of the bottom coil then have the frontend aligned. Then go to Advance Auto Parts and get a 2" block kit that comes with the Ubolts and use them on the rearend and then you will have a 2" drop and you truck will look cool and level.

BraveDave · 05-08-2005, 05:18 PM

I have 2-1/2-inch dropped springs and 2-inch dropped spindles up front and my A-arms bolts were maxed out to the point where you couldn't get a zero camber. The shop said I was out of luck so I went to Home Depot and bought 4 4X1/2-inch grade 8 bolts. They installed these in the A-arms and it works perfectly. Why don't these guys have enough sense to figure this stuff out for themselves?

05-06-2005, 11:34 PM	#1
TooT Active Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Jonesborough, TN Posts: 390	basic lowering? Hey i'm new here and i have a 68 shortbed thats getting some stuff done to it, but we wanna lower it first....whats the best and quickest way to lower these trucks? i have a S-10 Xtreme thats been lowered using spindles and blocks, thanks guys i love this forum! oh yeah i dont wanna lower it really low....just enough to make it look level with possibly 18's

05-06-2005, 11:37 PM	#2
68w/sbc406 Got Light Emitting Diode? Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Newberg, OR Posts: 2,485	welcome from portland or. where you from? you can do springs or spindles (or both) in the front and you can do springs or blocks (or both) in the rear __________________ 1968 1/2 ton 2wd lwb 6 lug disc and bags up front. Next c notch and rear bags '02 Chevy Silverado LT ext cab short bed 2WD 5/7 drop on 22's(the family car) 1993 Cherokee work ride/weekend wheeler Last edited by 68w/sbc406; 05-06-2005 at 11:37 PM.

05-06-2005, 11:49 PM	#6
MARIOS68PANEL Active Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: North Highlands. California Posts: 449	Welcome , From a Nor Cal New Guy __________________ 67 short step 71 Custom

05-07-2005, 12:30 AM	#7
1978steven Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Currently New Windsor, NY but Texas is home Posts: 332	Looks like a great builder you got there, what are you currently doing to the truck? __________________ 2002 Silverado 2500HD LB7 CCSB LT EFI Live by Rob at ATP, Edge CTS Insight DSP 5 control, S&B CAI, PPE boost valve, Pro Fab AIH, AirDog II 165, PPE WIF sensor delete plug, 5" stainless exhaust, Cognito braces & HD tie rods, H2's 315/70 R17 BFG's 2004 Tahoe LT 2006 Silverado Z71 LS 1971 Chevy C10

05-07-2005, 09:02 AM	#9
Joe67 67 is sold Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Troy, Michigan Posts: 6,733	Welcome, nice '68 __________________ Joe - Formerly 67c10step ------------------------------- 1967 Chevy Stepside - ECE 4/6, fuelcell, 5lug - SOLD gr8lakes - My ebay auctions Click here to order forum apparel :: Click here to become a subscribing member

05-06-2005, 11:53 PM	#5
TooT Active Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Jonesborough, TN Posts: 390

05-07-2005, 08:24 AM	#8
TooT Active Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Jonesborough, TN Posts: 390	nothing yet, the bed is getting bolted on today and it's gonna get a little primer on it.....the bed isnt all that great but it'll work for now till i can find a better one.

05-07-2005, 12:47 PM	#11
4tiresngas An American Soldier Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Grumolo D' Abadessee, Italy Posts: 503	Welcome to the board from Southern Cal. I just lowered my '69 in my garage, and I had never done anything like that before. It really was pretty easy. I bought Early Classic Enterprises 2 1/2" drop spindles and stock front springs and 4" drop springs for the rear. I have 275/60/15's all the way around right now. It sits 30" from the garage floor to the top of the front fender well and 31" from the garage floor to the top of the rear fender well. I plan to put 17"s on it eventually. Good luck. __________________ Dan dan.brue@us.army.mil

05-07-2005, 04:00 PM	#12
TooT Active Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Jonesborough, TN Posts: 390	about how much are the spindles and wheres the best place to get the spindles and springs? thanks again guys...

05-08-2005, 01:14 PM	#13
1978steven Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Currently New Windsor, NY but Texas is home Posts: 332	I'd go with the ECE springs and spindels. __________________ 2002 Silverado 2500HD LB7 CCSB LT EFI Live by Rob at ATP, Edge CTS Insight DSP 5 control, S&B CAI, PPE boost valve, Pro Fab AIH, AirDog II 165, PPE WIF sensor delete plug, 5" stainless exhaust, Cognito braces & HD tie rods, H2's 315/70 R17 BFG's 2004 Tahoe LT 2006 Silverado Z71 LS 1971 Chevy C10

05-08-2005, 01:20 PM	#14
BIG ORANGE Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Lancaster S.C. Posts: 4,764	I good cheap way to do this would be remove the front springs and cut 1 round out of the bottom coil then have the frontend aligned. Then go to Advance Auto Parts and get a 2" block kit that comes with the Ubolts and use them on the rearend and then you will have a 2" drop and you truck will look cool and level. __________________ Things happen for a reason! Last edited by BIG ORANGE; 10-06-2009 at 09:32 PM.

05-08-2005, 05:18 PM	#15
BraveDave Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Magnolia, Texas Posts: 336	I have 2-1/2-inch dropped springs and 2-inch dropped spindles up front and my A-arms bolts were maxed out to the point where you couldn't get a zero camber. The shop said I was out of luck so I went to Home Depot and bought 4 4X1/2-inch grade 8 bolts. They installed these in the A-arms and it works perfectly. Why don't these guys have enough sense to figure this stuff out for themselves? __________________ '72 Chevy Cheyenne Super, '56 Chevy Bel Air,'56 Chevy Nomad, '61 Chevy Impala, '64 Cadillac Fleetwood, 1966 Thunderbird Convertible



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