How low can an '87 R20 go?

[madmax908]

1987 R20 regular cab, 8 lug, 14" rear, needs rear springs.
It tow's a trailer loaded to 3,000 lbs, or does some home depot runs.
I figured I would do the axle flip when I replaced the springs, but dont want to give up the towing ability.
My goal is to have the top of the fender-well even with the top of the tire, or a little above.
I would like to avoid a C notch kit if possible.

Am I asking the impossible?
Has anyone done this?

[madmax908]

Nobody has lowered a R20 (C20) ?

[tinydb84]

Here is my C20 (similar to your R20):

As you can tell Ive done a few mods to lower it a bit.

From my memory there isn't enough room to do an axle flip without notching the frame. There was another thread on here (cant remember where) that used custom springs to lower it. You could get a set of springs made to lower it enough that you wont hit the frame.

Prior to cutting my truck up I used a set of lowering shackles and hangers to get the rear lower. I also removed 3 or 4 of the lower leafs to improve the ride. Here is a pic (the driveway is angled and the front was not dropped yet). It lowered the rear around 6 inches. I didn't haul anything but it didn't bottom out.


Hope that helped.

[madmax908]

tinydb84 thank you for the reply!

I'd like to lower the truck slowly to see with the shackles/hangers first and see where it put the trucks height at.
Do you remember which ones you used?

Also, once you put the C notch in it, are you able to haul loads/tow with it?
(I still put an ATV, and haul a couple a thousand pounds with it.)

[tinydb84]

I used air baggit brand. I know they aren't a quality brand but they seemed to be fine. I think I still have them somewhere.

I didn't c notch mine. I didn't need it for that drop. I did a back half later when I went lower.

There is a notch strength thread on here if you Google it. I would not tow on a c notch though.

[dragn91]

Heres is mine it has the shackles and hangers in the rear with the one inch thick overload spring removed just has two cut coils in the front with bumpstops removed but its all 6 lug swapped now when it was 8 i had tinyb4s old drop spindles on it. It still gets used it has 44 2x6x14ish in it and 5 bundles of new shingles under that. http://

[dragn91]

Also no c notch in my truck still has room even loaded like in the pic. Heres it emptyhttp://

[madmax908]

dragn91 Thanks for the info!
Your recipe is what I was looking for.

As for the 8 lug to 6 lug conversion.
What is the advantage to making a switch? (rim selection, better brake options?)
How did you switch? Axle & rotor swap?

[tinydb84]

Not to answer for dragn91 but I did the swap to 5 lug. I did it initially for the wheel choices and lighter rear end but looking back I wouldn't have changed it.

I swapped the spindles, UCA/LCA, brake rotors and rear end out back.

[madmax908]

tinydb84 thank you. I think I will leave well enough alone.

If I really want larger tires I will look into the Dodge Ram option.

[dragn91]

I only did the 6 lug swap to run the 22 inch steel transport wheels i used all gm parts to keep it easy to find off the shelf parts for and kept it all 3/4 ton parts i didnt like the idea of running 1/2 ton spindles with special order rotors. I love the look of lowered trucks still running eight lug wheels i just happen to absolutely love the transport steelies more.

[kwmech]

Originally Posted by madmax908

1987 R20 regular cab, 8 lug, 14" rear, needs rear springs.
It tow's a trailer loaded to 3,000 lbs, or does some home depot runs.
I figured I would do the axle flip when I replaced the springs, but dont want to give up the towing ability.
My goal is to have the top of the fender-well even with the top of the tire, or a little above.
I would like to avoid a C notch kit if possible.

Am I asking the impossible?
Has anyone done this?

You may need to put some air bags on it to carry the weight when needed. Other than that should be fine