78 squarebody 2wd made2drag

[maxxxy]

What's the advantages/disadvantages of the shackles/hangers/leaf removal compared to the flip kit? I had a flip kit on my truck when I bought it, but I've never installed a static drop on a truck before so I was just wondering.
Posted via Mobile Device

[made2drag]

Originally Posted by maxxxy

What's the advantages/disadvantages of the shackles/hangers/leaf removal compared to the flip kit? I had a flip kit on my truck when I bought it, but I've never installed a static drop on a truck before so I was just wondering.
Posted via Mobile Device

im not sure if the front is going to get a set of drop spindles or not or if i will be able to run 20's with it that low, so since i only have a 5 inch drop up front right now and i want alittle rake...i figure i could move the front hangers up 2 and 2 inch drop shackles for 4 and then pull a leaf or 2 to get 1 or 2 more if i needed it... the way it sits now, it will only take a 4 inch drop to get it how i need it. if i go 2 inches lower in the front, i would either need a flip or pull a leaf in the rear. i need to throw my boss 338's from my c10 on there and see where i stand with the static drop up front. if i could go spindles up front and still turn my wheels lock to lock and have clearance then i'll probably do the flip.

to answer your question...
a flip rides ok but may require a c-notch and you couldnt pull a leaf or 2

pulling a leaf softens you ride and to me makes it ride more like a car

moving hangers and adding drop shackles seems like it would be a stock ride

shackles would have new bushings so it would be tighter around corners

a flip would be easiest but would cost more....$100+ you would have to buy shock extenders so the shocks work right so like $40

drop shackles cost $30 and the rest would be your labor and time

another idea (thanks to Conundrum a member here on this site) would be to change my 2wd leafs with 4wd leafs and i would get 2 inches of drop and then put 2 inch drop shackles, then pull a leaf if i wanted more. to me this would be the best option and probably ride the best. it would be time consuming though since you would have to find and pull 4wd leafs from the junkyard first.

[made2drag]

i took a rear wheel off and found a 1/2 inch thick block. if i take that and 2 leafs off and the flat overload off it will give me 2 inches plus maybe another inch due to softening the spring rate. so 3 inches and i can put 2 inch drop shackle for a 5 inch drop. not sure when but that is my new plan

[made2drag]

pulled 2 leafsprings, the thick overload and the 1/2 inch factory block. i got about 3 1/2 inches of drop....may settle some more. im at 25 inches in the front and 26 1/2 in the rear.

[maxxxy]

Looks good man! I dig the stance
Posted via Mobile Device

[made2drag]

Originally Posted by maxxxy

Looks good man! I dig the stance
Posted via Mobile Device

thanks, now i have to get some boss 338's. 20x8.5's in the front and 20x10's in the rear. if i can i may do a 2 inch spindle and a 2 inch shackle. not sure if i'll be able to, but well see.

tint and an 81 and up front end. since the driver fender is wrecked and the front of the hood is rotten and i dont really like the grille...might as well put my favorite front end and grille on. i may put the same wheel and same front end on it as my 86. not sure how to work with the trim from the old style to new. my favorite thing about the old style is the trim and the verticle marker. i'd love to somehow incorporate the best parts of both front ends by grafting them together...like people do with front end conversions

[maxxxy]

You never wanna stop going lower lol. Some of my recent favorite wheels are the KMC Novas and the Boss 335s. Both would look killer or your truck! But the 338s are a classic. Just a suggestion if you were thinking about switching it up.
Would you like the front more with a billet grill?
Posted via Mobile Device

[made2drag]

Originally Posted by maxxxy

You never wanna stop going lower lol. Some of my recent favorite wheels are the KMC Novas and the Boss 335s. Both would look killer or your truck! But the 338s are a classic. Just a suggestion if you were thinking about switching it up.
Would you like the front more with a billet grill?
Posted via Mobile Device

im also thinking chrome nova's or gunmetal foose nitrous wheels. im also thinking 81 and up 4 headlight with a billet grille like the red squarebody in the new street trucks...or a grille like my 86. its the slope on the 81-87 i prefer over the table top look of the 73-80. straight on i like the 73-80 and side view also...just not at an angle. just doesnt flow as well to me like the 81-87. dont get me wrong ive seen some sweet 73-80 c10s and k5s that i wouldnt change a thing on.

[made2drag]

if it was black i would love to keep the front end...this truck is sweet

http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/chas...air_ride02.jpg



.

.

[maxxxy]

I saw this truck in truckin' magazine a few months ago and it made me fall in love with blazers and the nova wheels.

Posted via Mobile Device

[made2drag]

Originally Posted by maxxxy

I saw this truck in truckin' magazine a few months ago and it made me fall in love with blazers and the nova wheels.

Posted via Mobile Device

yes! love that blazer. thats the grille i want too...with all chrome headlight bezels..... and the nova's are sweet! theres another c10 with nova's on the other site that looks nice too. its primered black laying out. ive seen a couple s10's with the novas in chrome and at first glance they look like billets and have a more finished look, but i like the brushed look too

[made2drag]

maxxxy, heres a link that has a picture of the red c10 with my favorite grille....and a good pic of the blazer with the nova's on page 13. there are several c10's that are killer actually

http://www.sportruck.com/events/showfest2012/12.html






.
.
.

[made2drag]

i decided the seats, which dont recline, were to straight up and down. so i tried bending the back brackets to angle the seats back and they broke at the hole.

[made2drag]

so then i decided to use a bolt head to fill the hole and welded them in the new position.

[made2drag]

after grinding

[made2drag]

now i have to drill 2 holes and bolt the seats in the rear. the front holes are reused.

[made2drag]

heres the end result. you can see the difference between the driver and passenger seat angles now. it is much more comfortable as i gained a more natural angle and more arm reach and more leg reach. now im thinking about lowering my steering column down an inch or 2 since it didnt come with tilt. if i do it, i'll post pics

[made2drag]

another way to get a better angle would be to unbolt the front bolts and add an inch of washers. but the front of the seat would be higher......

[made2drag]

hopefully going to get some stuff done this week

[motornut]

nice!
I like the rake when it's stock rear
that look is what i want with mine

[made2drag]

Originally Posted by motornut

nice!
I like the rake when it's stock rear
that look is what i want with mine

in that picture....i cut 2 coils and everything else is stock.
i would recommend cutting 1 and a half if you arent doing anything to the rear. with 2 coils cut the springs will fall out when you jack the front up. when you let the jack back down, you have to let it down an inch or 2 at a time and check that the spring is indexed until the jack is all the way down. i think i read somewhere that if you cut 1 and 1/2 coils, you wont have that problem. 2 coils gave me 5 inches. im thinking 1 1/2 would give you like a tad under 4. also at 5 inches my shocks are in their sweet spot, so it does bounce a tad. i'll be relocating my shock mounts up 4 inches soon. but as far as cornering...its way better, but then again i didnt put the smaller tires on til later. the 8 inches in ride hieght really made the difference

[made2drag]

also, the springes have settled some... its 25" to the front fender and 26" to the rear fender.

[made2drag]

put my Kicker CVR 12 in

[made2drag]

hidden from lurking eyes

[motornut]

Originally Posted by made2drag

in that picture....i cut 2 coils and everything else is stock.
i would recommend cutting 1 and a half if you arent doing anything to the rear. with 2 coils cut the springs will fall out when you jack the front up. when you let the jack back down, you have to let it down an inch or 2 at a time and check that the spring is indexed until the jack is all the way down. i think i read somewhere that if you cut 1 and 1/2 coils, you wont have that problem. 2 coils gave me 5 inches. im thinking 1 1/2 would give you like a tad under 4. also at 5 inches my shocks are in their sweet spot, so it does bounce a tad. i'll be relocating my shock mounts up 4 inches soon. but as far as cornering...its way better, but then again i didnt put the smaller tires on til later. the 8 inches in ride hieght really made the difference

thanks ,good info won't go more then 1.5
nice trick sub
is that a stock location for the rear speaker?
i was gona remove my ashtrays...closer to my ears...