The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1960 - 1966 Chevrolet & GMC Pickups Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 09-13-2010, 09:23 PM   #1
Stacked78
Registered User
 
Stacked78's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Hermleigh Texas
Posts: 51
any way to get lower in the front?

ok so ive finally started spending some time with the 63 shortbed again. got my handles shaved, fixed front fenders and started molding the tailgate and rollpan to the bed. im startin to do some research for my suspension setup and i know the factory crossmember creates a problem up front if i want to get really really low (which is the goal of this entire project). i've looked at the porterbuilt stuff and i know its good stuff but on my budget i cant really afford to drop the money for thier crossmember.... ive heard of a couple guys z'ing the front but i honestly am not sure about what the entails? will i have to chop up my firewall and tranny hump? i dont mind reworkin those if i can get around the expensive crossmember because the cabs not pristine. ive got my notches for the back and that whole situation figured out i'm just a little leary about up front. the trucks not gonna be a show truck, just something laid out with everything shaved and some other custom bodywork (because thats what i do for a living ) any help and advice would be appreciated since this is my first time actually puttin a truck on the ground correctly, cause i guess torchin my coils in the garage isnt considered politically correct lol thanks guys

Nathan
__________________
1963 C10 Shortbed: project, shaved, slammed
1965 C10 Longbed: 355, 4pd new process, Daily Driver
1991 F150: 300 inline, 3in lift 33s, Stacks. RIP
1992 Dodge 250: 98.5 12valve, 500hp POD injectors, rolls coal...
1986 Chevy 4x4 Shortbed: 4in lift, 33s, daily
1995 2500: 6.5 TD, straight piped, the tow mule
Stacked78 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-14-2010, 09:30 AM   #2
fleetsidelarry
Senior Car Nut
 
fleetsidelarry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: shellman bluff, GA
Posts: 1,411
Re: any way to get lower in the front?

you get what you pay for when you torch coils, for sure. plus I don't think you'd get as low as you need to go if you want to "lay frame". torched springs came with my truck when I bought it, they weren't even the same side to side, what a joke.

xratt sectioned his own crossmember to make a dropmember, it's on his build thread from earlier this year, I believe. here it is look at post 22:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ighlight=xratt

you go this low you also have to lose the inner fenders and change the hood hinges.

on the other hand, a combination of dropped spindles and drop springs'll get you down 5 inches or so.

just depends on how low you want to go
__________________
Larry

Last edited by fleetsidelarry; 09-14-2010 at 09:36 AM.
fleetsidelarry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-14-2010, 09:55 AM   #3
LT1 Burb
Registered User
 
LT1 Burb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Winchester Oregon, formerly Vancouver BC
Posts: 2,949
Re: any way to get lower in the front?

I have bags up front and my A-arms have taken a beating over the years from bad roads. They are the lowest point and once in awhile they hit hard, good thing is they are readily available and easy to replace.
LT1 Burb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-14-2010, 12:13 PM   #4
1Bad62Pro/Street
"Where were you in '62?"
 
1Bad62Pro/Street's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Cleveland County, North Cackalacky
Posts: 5,013
Thumbs up Re: any way to get lower in the front?

Mustang II IFS Front Clip!


__________________
PROJECT: "FULL METAL YELLOW JACKET"
1962 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed Nostalgia Pro/Street Pickup Truck
PROJECT: "FULL METAL YELLOW JACKET Build Thread
What Are You Workin' On? - 1Bad62ChevyPickup
PROJECT: "TYRANNORAMBLER REX"
1969 AMC Rambler American Nostalgia Pro/Street
Youtube Channel: Father Son Projects
Youtube Channel: 2TIMOTHY2FITHTEEN

"North and South Carolina Folks Click Here!"
(((( ~ I have Parts For Sale & Miscellaneous Stuff ~ ))))

"Well being as there's no other place around the place,
I reckon this must be the place, I reckon...Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk" -Curly Howard Ph.D.
1Bad62Pro/Street is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-14-2010, 01:50 PM   #5
Stacked78
Registered User
 
Stacked78's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Hermleigh Texas
Posts: 51
Re: any way to get lower in the front?

That's for the help guys, and I drove my 65 all through high school on torched coils cause that's all I could afford at the time. I'm def goin on air for this build and I'm gonna look into the info from fleetside larry. Thanks again guys ill keep yall posted
Posted via Mobile Device
__________________
1963 C10 Shortbed: project, shaved, slammed
1965 C10 Longbed: 355, 4pd new process, Daily Driver
1991 F150: 300 inline, 3in lift 33s, Stacks. RIP
1992 Dodge 250: 98.5 12valve, 500hp POD injectors, rolls coal...
1986 Chevy 4x4 Shortbed: 4in lift, 33s, daily
1995 2500: 6.5 TD, straight piped, the tow mule
Stacked78 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-14-2010, 03:29 PM   #6
ANoodle
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Livermore, CA
Posts: 41
Re: any way to get lower in the front?

I went with the drop spindles in front along with front air bags.
When I drop the front, it sits on the ground..
ANoodle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-15-2010, 10:37 AM   #7
Malibob
Registered User
 
Malibob's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Pittsburgh
Posts: 392
Re: any way to get lower in the front?

If I am not mistaken the 63 rises already in the front (higher than a 64-66) so you will be lower if you put the crossmember in (in lieu of torsion bars) so you may be happy with that. Otherwise get an extra crossmember and cut it up. I have one and am going to put it in this winter. Plenty of people on here to help you with that. DON't GO MORE THAN 1 1/2" though.

(maybe it was the 61-62 that hooped up higher) dont remember now.
__________________
This statement was made possible by a grant from this station and continued support from viewers like you.

Flickr

Last edited by Malibob; 09-15-2010 at 10:38 AM.
Malibob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-15-2010, 10:37 AM   #8
roofingbloke
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: swindon, england
Posts: 290
Re: any way to get lower in the front?

Try This. www.capkaoscustoms.com
roofingbloke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-15-2010, 12:39 PM   #9
vin63
It's Better With Nitro
 
vin63's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Chino Hills, CA
Posts: 2,262
Re: any way to get lower in the front?

Going with an aftermarket crossmember would be ideal, but if that is not an option right now, I would think about Z-ing the frame to raise the crossmember up and clearance the inner fenders to allow the tires to extend above the fender line to get the truck lower. As an example, here's a photo of my stock location front crossmember. When the air springs are deflated, the crossmember ends up being about an inch off of the ground while the inner fenders rest on top of the tires.
__________________
1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside
Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads
4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch
Tubular front and rear suspension
Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes

Last edited by vin63; 09-15-2010 at 12:40 PM.
vin63 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-15-2010, 03:22 PM   #10
Malibob
Registered User
 
Malibob's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Pittsburgh
Posts: 392
Re: any way to get lower in the front?

Quote:
Originally Posted by vin63 View Post
Going with an aftermarket crossmember would be ideal, but if that is not an option right now, I would think about Z-ing the frame to raise the crossmember up and clearance the inner fenders to allow the tires to extend above the fender line to get the truck lower. As an example, here's a photo of my stock location front crossmember. When the air springs are deflated, the crossmember ends up being about an inch off of the ground while the inner fenders rest on top of the tires.
What spindles are you using? Mine are 2.5" and the crossmember hits the ground. I would love to eliminate that.
__________________
This statement was made possible by a grant from this station and continued support from viewers like you.

Flickr
Malibob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-16-2010, 12:50 PM   #11
vin63
It's Better With Nitro
 
vin63's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Chino Hills, CA
Posts: 2,262
Re: any way to get lower in the front?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Malibob View Post
What spindles are you using? Mine are 2.5" and the crossmember hits the ground. I would love to eliminate that.
I'm using ECE 2.5 drop spindles. My crossmember would also rest on the ground if it were not for the inner fenders resting on top of the front tires (27" diameter).
__________________
1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside
Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads
4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch
Tubular front and rear suspension
Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes
vin63 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:05 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com