Questions about body dropping

[bagged69c10]

Ive seen where people have just stuck 2x4 inside thier frame rails and cut the bottom off. Is that all I would have to do to mine? Im in the slow process of Zing it 3.5 inches right now and pretty much just have a bare frame so if Im gonna bodydrop it nows the time. I would appreciate any help.

[7deuce]

Dude you should be hammered with the 2x4 and a 3.5 Z. I did the same with the 2x4 and only Z'd mine 2 3/4" and you see how it lays. If you want to lay door, ask Camaro Thunder hes the man in that area.

[bagged69c10]

Im just trying to make sure that is going to work. I was about to stock floor it and remembered seeing this done. I guess technically its stock flooring, but you know what I mean. What size wheels are you running?

[bagged69c10]

I just read your thread and you said you also done a 1.5" crossmember drop. I will if I have to I guess, we'll see.

[7deuce]

NO, DONT DO A 1.5" All of your stock stearing will hit. Do a 1 1/8" and youll only have to do a little grinding her and there. Unless your going to run a rack & pinion.

[bagged69c10]

Not going to run a rack. I guess Ill just wing it and hope it turns out.

[7deuce]

Let me know how it turns out.

[XXL]

Originally Posted by 7deuce

NO, DONT DO A 1.5" All of your stock stearing will hit. Do a 1 1/8" and youll only have to do a little grinding her and there. Unless your going to run a rack & pinion.

1.5" does not require a rack. Steering can be resolved with a some swivel joints and a Heim joint.

[7deuce]

I was talkin about the tie rods comming across the front of the Xmember. I had to grind the lip of the front of it so the tie rods wouldnt hit. I was getting ready to do my Xmember drop and someone on the thread told me when they did a 1.5 they ran into all kinds of problems and ended up shimming the Xmember down with washers. But I cant say for sure about the 1.5 drop. I know tht its REAL tight with a 1.125. Has anyone done a 1.5?

[culookn]

do you have any pics of the cross member drop?

[XXL]

Originally Posted by 7deuce

Has anyone done a 1.5?

That's what mine is in the pic above.

[bagged69c10]

Im sure I wouldnt have to do that much since I did a 3.5" Z. How much did all those steering U joints and shafts run ya and where did ya get em if you dont mind me asking?

[culookn]

to raise the cross member do you have to section the part where it would come up into the frame? just need a pic for a reference.

[XXL]

Originally Posted by bagged69c10

Im sure I wouldnt have to do that much since I did a 3.5" Z. How much did all those steering U joints and shafts run ya and where did ya get em if you dont mind me asking?

About $265 for all, from Borgeson

http://www.borgeson.com/

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by 7deuce

I was talkin about the tie rods comming across the front of the Xmember. I had to grind the lip of the front of it so the tie rods wouldnt hit. I was getting ready to do my Xmember drop and someone on the thread told me when they did a 1.5 they ran into all kinds of problems and ended up shimming the Xmember down with washers. But I cant say for sure about the 1.5 drop. I know tht its REAL tight with a 1.125. Has anyone done a 1.5?

That was me. There's no way a 1.5" notch would work w/my combination of parts. I had to grind alot off the front lip of the crossmember & whittle some off of the u-bolt 'perches' as well just to get a 1 1/8" notch to work. It only worked after shimming w/some 1/4" spacers.

[slammd72]

the way im doing my stock floor is putting 2x4 inside the frame rails, lowering the body mounts, then cutting the TOP off. but then again my frame is a one ton frame, so under the cab it is 8" tall.

[7deuce]

Are you going to cut the top or the bottom off the frame?

[Rokcrln]

Originally Posted by 7deuce

Are you going to cut the top or the bottom off the frame?

He is cutting off the top. Notice his body mount location!
Also my 71 is BODY DROPPED 2" (done 7yrs ago) and what a pain! I am 6' tall and now most seats are too tall and I am up in the head liner. I need to find short bottom seats. I would go with a frame shave if I were to do one again.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[67Fleet]

Originally Posted by 7deuce

Are you going to cut the top or the bottom off the frame?

lol, cutting the bottom off wouldn't really accomplish much other than a lot of wasted time.

Rokcrln, what is a frame "shave"??

[7deuce]

How do you figure cutting the bottoms off is a waist of time? I ran 2x4 in the frame rails cut the bottoms off, didnt have to move the body mounts and didnt have to deal with all the frame rolls on the bottom lip that hang you up from layin flat. And the truck was layinin on the rockers. I also only did a 2 3/4 Z and I have 1 1/16 before the front X member and a arms hit the ground.

[XXL]

Originally Posted by Rokcrln

Also my 71 is BODY DROPPED 2" (done 7yrs ago) and what a pain! I am 6' tall and now most seats are too tall and I am up in the head liner.

You're not slouching enough!

I'm 6' 3" and am pretty comfortable in my chop top cab. Seat is stock (like "really ugly and old" stock ). When I get the seat rebuilt one of these days, I will have the bottom and back thinned out a little-- modern pad is a lot better, and takes less, than the old wool stuff.

[blt2rail]

cutting the bottom off is atotal waste of time you cant get a stock floor body drop with out it and mine lays the door with stock floor and cut down frame and z up font

[XXL]

Originally Posted by blt2rail

cutting the bottom off is atotal waste of time you cant get a stock floor body drop with out it and mine lays the door with stock floor and cut down frame and z up font

I disagree. The low point on my truck is currently the bottom hoop of the trailing arm xmember. Once I flatten that, the new low point will be the frame rails themselves. If I were to take the bottom 1.5" off using 3" square tube as above, that'd give me more clearance.

[7deuce]

Thats how I thought, frame hits before body so cut the bottoms of the frame rails. All I know is the truck lays with half the rockers cut and that was my goal. And if you cut the top or bottom off there still is the same amount of work. Im still not getting this " Waste of time" thing. I think there would be a little more work cutting the top off. But when its all said and done you still have a hammered truck, top or bottom.

[bagged69c10]

Not to mention if you cut the top then you still have to deal with the bed. Are yall using 2x4 or 2x3.