How Low????

[CuzItsFun]

I know that this question has probably been asked a thousand times, but I am going to ask it again. I just picked up a '70 Chevy SB and I want to lower it without using air. I already have a front disc conversion with drop spindles and the rear is coil. I want to lower it as low as I can.

[jimmydean]

You can do a 6" drop coil in the rear and I think a 2" coil in the front. You can also run a 2" block in the rear, but you might be close to the frame at that point, so consider a frame notch.

It might be a harch ride, but you'd be low.

[Shane]

"Low enough" is never low enough.

[PanelDeland]

As far as it goes you can "Z" the frame and have it layin' rail.You won't be able to drive it that way but you can lower it that much.The real question is how low can I get away with and still be able to drive it.The ride height you decide on needs to be high enough to keep you from high centering on speed bumps,in dips in the road and on the slope of driveways.I think for around here that would be at the very least 4 in for a weekender and around 6 for a DD.You know the conditions where you live better than I but these are things you need to consider.You don't want to hate driving it cause it sprays sparks everywhere you go.

[novajess1972]

I am not using air, either. Air was way out of the budget. I simply have 2 1/2 inch ECE drop spindles and 2 inch springs on the front and 5 inch springs in rear. Of course I can go lower in the rear, but I wanted a nice rake look. Also, your wheel/tire package will be a factor in your decision. I run 20s on all corners with 255/45-20 front and 295/45-20 rear. This may help serve as reference.

Jesse

[see ten]

This thread is a wheel tire thread but a lot of guys also have their drop listed as well. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=143835

I wanted my C10 as low as I could it get it out back without having to run a notch. I also wanted to keep the rake to a minimum. I wanted her to look pretty close to level. My rear drop is 6" which I was told wouldn't bottom out but it does. Under most driving conditions it's fine but if I hit railroad tracks to fast or when I drop off a speed bump it bottoms out. I am kind of halfway planning on adding a notch with a large bumpstop. I would rather have it hit on a rubber stop than on the frame. If you put in a notch with a very small bumpstop (or none at all) reportedly you start having axle bedfloor clearance issues. My front drop is a 2.5" drop spindle combined with a 1" drop coil.







Here it is parked next to member 71see10s pickup his truck has a 2.5" drop spindle with a new stock height coil in the front. Out back he has a 5" drop coil. In my opinion he has the right drop if you don't want to be worried about bottoming out but still want a lowered truck. You can also go to www.earlyclassic.com they have a section of stance photos.

[brak]

Since we're on the topic...

If you lower the rear 5 or 6 inches in the rear without air, will you lose the ability to tow?

I don't do alot of towing with my 72 (that's what the 93 K1500 is for), but i'd like to have the option to pull a trailer if need be.

[Ram-Man]

Nice trucks see-ten!! The towing would depend on tongue weight I would guess. With it that low any tongue weight would push it down to the frame. Where you at in MN brak?? I'm in the cold part

[brak]

Originally Posted by Ram-Man

Nice trucks see-ten!! The towing would depend on tongue weight I would guess. With it that low any tongue weight would push it down to the frame. Where you at in MN brak?? I'm in the cold part

I'm originally from San Diego, so all of minnesota is the cold part
I'm down in bloomington.

as far as towing, that's what i figured, but i remember that somebody (western chassis maybe?) had it listed on their site that a 4/6 drop was the lowest you could go and still tow.

my truck was lowered by the PO, not sure how far, but it bangs badly. I'm preparing to swap over to a SWB frame, and want to do the suspension right. I like the idea of a 4/6 drop, but want to make sure my truck is still functional.

[Slammed70]

Im 6/8 with spindles and coils up front and coils with "custom" spacers on the ass end.

Personally its to low for me being that its also my daily. My rear axle makes contact with the frame on even the tiniest of bumps. I cant pull up to the speaker thing at Sonic because my front bumper wont clear the curb thing they have there. And its to "rakeish" looking for me, but it was like that when I bought it so Im not to blame. If I had the time Id notch it. And the ride is so bumpt its made my CD player skip a few times.

But like any project practicality comes first. Sure you want the truck to sit down in the weeds...but not so low you cant drive over a speed bump. And dont forget the "nickle and dime" **** that comes with every project (different shocks, bump stops, etc....) and look at 71See10s truck...you might even need an alignment too.

Hopefully I dont need to tell you NOT to ever cut coils to lower a vehicle. never, never, NEVER do this....I dont care what some self proclaimed gearheaded backwoods hillbilly tells you. DONT DO IT!

[ostncoln]

Originally Posted by Slammed70

Im 6/8 with spindles and coils up front and coils with "custom" spacers on the ass end.

hey slammed70 do you have any pictures of your truck

[Slammed70]

Originally Posted by ostncoln

hey slammed70 do you have any pictures of your truck

Just one...its ****ty though. I took it through the windo right after it rained. Its also got my peice Camaro in it....

[Slammed70]

Oh yeah....and get an adjustable panhard bar so you tires dont rub when you turn right.

[see ten]

Those pics of 71see10s truck were made right after we finished with the drop and it had not been aligned yet. Alignment was a real nonissue, it seems like it only had to have two shims added on the passenger side. The cost of a drop can also add up quickly. I think I spent about $1800 on mine. The drop kit is just a small part of the equation. You have to figure for things like new exhaust (it no longer clears things down there anymore). I also used the ECE extreme drop crossmember and had a one piece driveshaft built. Then we somehow missed it needing upper control arm bushings until it was at the shop to be aligned, so I let the shop handle them. Both my truck and his also used the super track bar out back to keep everything lined up when rolling down the road. I would also think that towing a trailer with a 6" drop isn't going to happen without the addition of some bags back there. ECE sells a rear bag kit just for this purpose. You don't have to have an onboard compressor but you will have to fill a schrader valve every time you want to load it up.

[Elsie72]

I've hauled 2 sport-bikes in mine with a 5" drop, and it wasn't bottoming out.

[CuzItsFun]

I love this site. Thanks see ten for the pics, AWESOME truck by the way. Thanks everyone for the input.