Lowering my c20

[bcwilson_1]

Ok ive searched and either missed it or didn't look long enough (adhd). Im looking to lower my c20 about 4-5 inches in the rear, and about 2 inches in front. I have 16" wheels and stock 31" tires currently. Im eventually going to a 20" rim and about a 30" tire. For now, can I take any leafs out to lower it a couple inches in the rear? And ive read about cutting front coils by 1 coil safely. How much drop could I get cutting 1 coil up front, and taking the overload leaf and however many others safely in the rear? I wont be using the truck to haul more than a light boat and an atv (2000 lbs. Max at a time).


If there is a specific thread or build on here please link me to it.


EDIT** Im just wanting to do a budget type drop until I get my new wheels. Then, I will be going normal route and getting new suspension.

[72c20customcamper]

I took two out of the rear dropped about 1 1/2 But you need to shim the u bolt nuts to clamp the rear tight. Mine bottomed out before they were tight. Haven't done the front yet but I'm going to use drop spindles. And then 2 inch lowering shackles in the rear.

[PepperTreeGarage]

It'll look sweet once you do the full rebuild. I'm still working on it, but this is the stance on ours. lots to do yet. 1972 Custom Deluxe 20 Custom Camper.

[84yotamann]

how much did you drop yours pepper??

[PepperTreeGarage]

Originally Posted by 84yotamann

how much did you drop yours pepper??

5.5 front. Flipkit and pulled bottom leaf in back, approx. 7.5. It's not done yet as I'm adding helper bags in the rear for loads and trailer duties.

[bcwilson_1]

Originally Posted by PepperTreeGarage

5.5 front. Flipkit and pulled bottom leaf in back, approx. 7.5. It's not done yet as I'm adding helper bags in the rear for loads and trailer duties.

That looks good... Probably a little lower than ill go. I don't want the tucked look, just on top of the tires

...actually now that I look at it, it looks like yours might be just on top of the tires? Its kinda dark around the tires in the pic.

[bcwilson_1]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

I took two out of the rear dropped about 1 1/2 But you need to shim the u bolt nuts to clamp the rear tight. Mine bottomed out before they were tight. Haven't done the front yet but I'm going to use drop spindles. And then 2 inch lowering shackles in the rear.

I like how this looks like it still has a slight rake. Maybe I could do this and put a slightly thicker tire on the back wheels to fill the wells. How did yours effect ride quality? Did it smooth it out a bit?

[PepperTreeGarage]

Originally Posted by bcwilson_1

That looks good... Probably a little lower than ill go. I don't want the tucked look, just on top of the tires

...actually now that I look at it, it looks like yours might be just on top of the tires? Its kinda dark around the tires in the pic.

Front tires are 245/75X16 (30.5 in. dia.) which is to tall for my application. We'll be going with 235/55X16 (26.2 in. dia.) on the 6.5 in. wide steelie. This puts the fender opening just at the top of the tire. Rears will be 255/55X16 (30.1 in. dia.) on an 8.5 wide steelie, just tucking a little. Want this lowered 20 to be able to do the work it was made for.

[bcwilson_1]

Originally Posted by PepperTreeGarage

Front tires are 245/75X16 (30.5 in. dia.) which is to tall for my application. We'll be going with 235/55X16 (26.2 in. dia.) on the 6.5 in. wide steelie. This puts the fender opening just at the top of the tire. Rears will be 255/55X16 (30.1 in. dia.) on an 8.5 wide steelie, just tucking a little. Want this lowered 20 to be able to do the work it was made for.

Ya I'll be using mine to haul but not as a 3/4 ton. I wanted a 1/2 ton but this was all I could find.

[PepperTreeGarage]

Originally Posted by bcwilson_1

Ya I'll be using mine to haul but not as a 3/4 ton. I wanted a 1/2 ton but this was all I could find.

I hear that all the time. I'm feeling like I'm one of the few that actually wanted a lowered C20 long bed and still wants it useful. HaHa. I just always liked the lowered 1 ton "Crew Cab Duallys" that were prevalent in the 90's and still were used as tow vehicles for various jobs, boats, race cars. The camper was gone by the time we bought it. But we were told it carried a cab over camper from day one until 2010.

[bigrigpardo]

Originally Posted by PepperTreeGarage

I hear that all the time. I'm feeling like I'm one of the few that actually wanted a lowered C20 long bed and still wants it useful. HaHa. I just always liked the lowered 1 ton "Crew Cab Duallys" that were prevalent in the 90's and still were used as tow vehicles for various jobs, boats, race cars. The camper was gone by the time we bought it. But we were told it carried a cab over camper from day one until 2010.

hell no you aren't the only one I am a total fan of a 20 being a 20 but still looking low and bad ass. I have mine lined out for a 12v swap and getting it down low too. I want it to be low, be able to hold a load, and be able to pull anything!! did you notch your frame in the back to go that low? ive wanted to do an axle flip with my 71 but it didn't look like there would be much travel for load.

[PepperTreeGarage]

Originally Posted by bigrigpardo

hell no you aren't the only one I am a total fan of a 20 being a 20 but still looking low and bad ass. I have mine lined out for a 12v swap and getting it down low too. I want it to be low, be able to hold a load, and be able to pull anything!! did you notch your frame in the back to go that low? ive wanted to do an axle flip with my 71 but it didn't look like there would be much travel for load.

I'm working on the C-Notch combination Helper Bag set up now. Also making reinforcement plates for the C-Notch, both for inside and outside the frame. We're using 1/8 in. plate so we can bend it to the contour of the frame, then edge Tig weld it together to make it 1/4 in. thick for the outside plate and 3/8 thick for the inside plate. Kind of overkill, but it's the way I want to do it.

[PepperTreeGarage]

Originally Posted by bigrigpardo

hell no you aren't the only one I am a total fan of a 20 being a 20 but still looking low and bad ass. I have mine lined out for a 12v swap and getting it down low too. I want it to be low, be able to hold a load, and be able to pull anything!! did you notch your frame in the back to go that low? ive wanted to do an axle flip with my 71 but it didn't look like there would be much travel for load.

I also cut off the rubber bump stop bracket, (it won't be used anymore). Also the overload stop on the top of the axle housing, gives almost an extra 1/2 in. of room before bottoming out against the poly button that comes with the C-Notch kit.

[bcwilson_1]

Originally Posted by PepperTreeGarage

I hear that all the time. I'm feeling like I'm one of the few that actually wanted a lowered C20 long bed and still wants it useful. HaHa. I just always liked the lowered 1 ton "Crew Cab Duallys" that were prevalent in the 90's and still were used as tow vehicles for various jobs, boats, race cars. The camper was gone by the time we bought it. But we were told it carried a cab over camper from day one until 2010.

Oh I'm not looking to swap axels and turn it into a 1/2 ton I just want a budget drop. I'll be keeping it a 20 and its usefulness. When I do actual suspension I'll be bagging the rear for heavier loads when needed. But yes there are few of us out there that want a lowered 20. I just wish their were more pics of them to get inspiration from.

[PepperTreeGarage]

Originally Posted by bcwilson_1

Oh I'm not looking to swap axels and turn it into a 1/2 ton I just want a budget drop. I'll be keeping it a 20 and its usefulness. When I do actual suspension I'll be bagging the rear for heavier loads when needed. But yes there are few of us out there that want a lowered 20. I just wish their were more pics of them to get inspiration from.

Here's a thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=429995

[Jose's 69]

Here's mine. I have coils in the back. Lowered 3.5 upfront with drop spindle and 1 inch drop spring and 5.5 in back with 4 inch drop spring and 1.5 inch block. No c notch. Haven't loaded it much besides helping friends move and furniture pickups. No problems with clearance. Want to lower more in the back but the rear end pumpkin is close to hitting. I have 20x9 Detroit steel wheels on it

[Jose's 69]

Sorry forgot pictures. Lol.

[84yotamann]

Originally Posted by PepperTreeGarage

5.5 front. Flipkit and pulled bottom leaf in back, approx. 7.5. It's not done yet as I'm adding helper bags in the rear for loads and trailer duties.

Hey Pepper looks like you made the spring under pad yourself, is the any measurements i would need to make one or does it pretty much just to keep the pinion angle off the stock pad?

[PepperTreeGarage]

We couldn't find a flip kit for a C20 with the Dana 60, so we got one that would fit a 3 1/8 Dia. housing and went from there. Here's the pics of the mods we made. You can see that they were a little to wide and to short. But a little fabrication and some TIG welding, and they work just fine.

[MoFormula]

Pepper, what kit did you start with? That seems like such a simple kit.

Originally Posted by PepperTreeGarage

We couldn't find a flip kit for a C20 with the Dana 60, so we got one that would fit a 3 1/8 Dia. housing and went from there. Here's the pics of the mods we made. You can see that they were a little to wide and to short. But a little fabrication and some TIG welding, and they work just fine.

[PepperTreeGarage]

It was a kit from Western Chassis that fit the dia. of my Dana 60 which is 3 1/8 in. The location holes are larger than the head of the spring tie bolt, so I had to make adapters to locate the axle.

[bcwilson_1]

Originally Posted by PepperTreeGarage

Here's a thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=429995

I've been on this one several times haha. I should have clarified I meant more 20s that have 20 inch wheels.

[bcwilson_1]

Originally Posted by Jose's 69

Sorry forgot pictures. Lol.

I remember yours from another thread! Ya it's pretty sweet. I dont know if I'll ever go the distance and go coils on this build tho

[bcwilson_1]

Originally Posted by Jose's 69

Here's mine. I have coils in the back. Lowered 3.5 upfront with drop spindle and 1 inch drop spring and 5.5 in back with 4 inch drop spring and 1.5 inch block. No c notch. Haven't loaded it much besides helping friends move and furniture pickups. No problems with clearance. Want to lower more in the back but the rear end pumpkin is close to hitting. I have 20x9 Detroit steel wheels on it

What did you say your offset/backspace is on those rear wheels?