Front suspension Handling Mods...?

[mscles]

I have an 84 that I'm in need of some advice for.

I have read the entire "make it Handle" thread and already searched....

I have CPP upper and lower arms. 2" drop modular spindles and 1" drop coil springs
front tires will be 275/40R20's on 9.5" wide rims

I'm looking to help center the front wheel slightly and get to the magic 7deg caster angle. It will be a static drop daily driver so good performance but plenty of suspension movement and clearance needed.

I would buy a dropmember if they made one for coil springs....but since they don't...

Should I:

A. Cut the frame to raise the crossmember up 1"


B. Pancake the crossmember 1"

C. Move the lower control arms forward 1"

D. switch to rack and pinion (I already have all new pieces for the current style and I don't want to change the box placement but am willing to change things to reduce bump steer)

E. some combo of the above.


I have read that the 73-87 trucks have more caster built in (5 deg) but have found multiple contradictions

I haven't found any good threads detailing the newer body style crossmembers for performance

Please help

[Custom 68]

I swapped to the CPP upper arms and retained my stock ones. I was able to get 7+ degrees of caster with those arms They have the additional built into them. I am afraid if you moved the lower forward without moving the upper you would end up with too much caster. That is based on mine now.
There are now a couple options for coil spring (coil over) front cross members. Scotts and Porterbuilt both do, I am not sure if No Limit has or not. Plus another out there is doing it.

[canadian trucker]

Here is a link to a great front suspension setup (with coilovers)

http://www.porterbuiltfabrication.com/?p=453

Thats what I would run.

[tinydb84]

I'm doing something similar to A and C.
Posted via Mobile Device

[mscles]

Originally Posted by Custom 68

I swapped to the CPP upper arms and retained my stock ones. I was able to get 7+ degrees of caster with those arms They have the additional built into them. I am afraid if you moved the lower forward without moving the upper you would end up with too much caster. That is based on mine now.
There are now a couple options for coil spring (coil over) front cross members. Scotts and Porterbuilt both do, I am not sure if No Limit has or not. Plus another out there is doing it.

I may have to mock everything up with what I currently have to get an idea of how much caster it has. Thanks for the reply. I may not have made myself perfectly clear. I want to use a stock style coil spring for this project.

I did notice that the holes in the CPP arms are sloppy/looser than I thought they should be on the stock studs

One question - your truck is a 73-87 that you used the arms on and got 7 degs?

[mscles]

Originally Posted by canadian trucker

Here is a link to a great front suspension setup (with coilovers)

http://www.porterbuiltfabrication.com/?p=453

Thats what I would run.

Thanks! I have looked through their site and seen a lot of their products on here. I saw a post that they don't make a coil spring (stock type) version because there isn't a demand. I have never asked but I would buy one in a minute.

[mscles]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

I'm doing something similar to A and C.
Posted via Mobile Device

From what I remember about the joe touring/make it handle threads, the best combination was 2 1/8" frame notch to raise the crossmember and lower arms moved 3/4" to 1" forward and switching shims on the upper arms to push them back.
This was done on a pre 73 crossmember though, and I haven't found any hard evidence on what the differences are.

[tinydb84]

I'm doing a 2.5'' Z and I am sectioning the upper and lower control arms. I am moving the upper ball joint back a bit and the lowering one forward a bit. It solves my laying out problem, adds caster, and should help clear the fenders.

A bit of everything. Hopefully.

[Custom 68]

Originally Posted by mscles

I may have to mock everything up with what I currently have to get an idea of how much caster it has. Thanks for the reply. I may not have made myself perfectly clear. I want to use a stock style coil spring for this project.

I did notice that the holes in the CPP arms are sloppy/looser than I thought they should be on the stock studs

One question - your truck is a 73-87 that you used the arms on and got 7 degs?

I guess I didn't say but this setup is on my 1968. I know the arms and spindles are somewhat interchangeable with the correct joints so I assumed the results would be similar. Again I am using stock lower arms with a stock mounting location.
I didn't really notice the holes being too sloppy. but I hope once they are set they can be tightened up and will stay where they are put.
I had startd a thread about moving the upper holes. My thought was to move them down slightly but I have not done the calculations on what that location should be so for now I will leave it stock until I can find the better location.