Drop set ups and wheel combos!!

[malc1080]

Good morning everyone !

I Have a 1980 c10 and want for ideas in lowering my truck. I would like a leveled drop or a drop and wheel combo that will make the fender sit as close as possible to the wheel and not hide any behind the fender. I currently have a big rake that I don’t like . I’m running belltech 3120 from 71-72 trucks and pretty much stuck with that since that’s how I got the truck and don’t have the money to change them. I don’t know if they cut the springs but I’m pretty low in the front . I have long tube headers with 5in clearance and don’t want to do too low. I was thinking of just buying replacement front springs to raise the front and be at just 3in drop. I was thinking of shackles and hangers from belltech in the back since the truck came with shackles and unfortunately cut a big section of the bed frame. I’m running 255/60/15 in the front and 275/60/15 in the rear. I love side walls so the biggest I will get is 17 or 18 in wheels and maybe 50 series . Any pictures of drops and wheel combos will be a big help. I understand this question has been asked but I would like to see new pictures of members who are still active and not a post from a decade ago.

I will post a truck I saw on the forum. I love the stance and that’s something I would like!

Thank you!

[Loco83]

4/5 drop. 15x8 and 15x10's, 245/60 and 295/50 TA's

[malc1080]

Originally Posted by Loco83

4/5 drop. 15x8 and 15x10's, 245/60 and 295/50 TA's

A perfect stance! How did accomplish a 5in drop? Flip kit?

[malc1080]

Originally Posted by Loco83

4/5 drop. 15x8 and 15x10's, 245/60 and 295/50 TA's

And I looked up the sizes for your tire and you are running the same height even tho one is 50 and the other is 60 . That’s why you have a nice leveled drop! I need to find same height tires for all 4 corners and replace the different height of the 255/60 and 275/60!

[Loco83]

Flip kit on the rear.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by malc1080

And I looked up the sizes for your tire and you are running the same height even tho one is 50 and the other is 60 . That’s why you have a nice leveled drop! I need to find same height tires for all 4 corners and replace the different height of the 255/60 and 275/60!

Why? Lot's of people run larger rear tires on non-stock stuff. I've never had a vehicle w/the same size tires front/rear in 37years of driving.

50's, 60's, 70's series are just the sidewall ratio of the tire width. You can mathematically have several different combos that all yield a similar overall height.

[malc1080]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Why? Lot's of people run larger rear tires on non-stock stuff. I've never had a vehicle w/the same size tires front/rear in 37years of driving.

50's, 60's, 70's series are just the sidewall ratio of the tire width. You can mathematically have several different combos that all yield a similar overall height.

Mainly because I don’t want different heights throwing off the levelled drop I want to accomplish. That rake I have has to go lol. But something I learned about different combos of ratios giving similar heights . I would run only wider tires in the back and not higher. But everything is a learning experience. I’ll eventually find the right drop and tires!

[wixthedog]

I run the same set up as Loco pretty much. This picture is 2.5" drop spindles and 2" drop springs in the front and a rear flip kit with 5 leaf packs.

Front is 15x8 with 4" BS and 245/60/15. Rears are 15x10 with 5" BS and 295/50/15.

The front is a little too low for me so I have some 1" drop springs coming in today.

[malc1080]

Originally Posted by wixthedog

I run the same set up as Loco pretty much. This picture is 2.5" drop spindles and 2" drop springs in the front and a rear flip kit with 5 leaf packs.

Front is 15x8 with 4" BS and 245/60/15. Rears are 15x10 with 5" BS and 295/50/15.

The front is a little too low for me so I have some 1" drop springs coming in today.

Thank you so much for replying and helping me out! Would you say your flip kit with 5 packs give it a 6in drop? Hopefully with some more pictures I can decide on just a flip kit or the shackles and hangers.

[malc1080]

Originally Posted by wixthedog

I run the same set up as Loco pretty much. This picture is 2.5" drop spindles and 2" drop springs in the front and a rear flip kit with 5 leaf packs.

Front is 15x8 with 4" BS and 245/60/15. Rears are 15x10 with 5" BS and 295/50/15.

The front is a little too low for me so I have some 1" drop springs coming in today.

Beautiful truck by the way!

[wixthedog]

Originally Posted by malc1080

Thank you so much for replying and helping me out! Would you say your flip kit with 5 packs give it a 6in drop? Hopefully with some more pictures I can decide on just a flip kit or the shackles and hangers.

Thank you, these trucks are hard work but worth it when people say nice things about them.

I didn't measure but I would say it went a full 6". My truck has the longer leaf packs of the two and had 8-leaf packs from factory. My original plan was to ditch all but three plus the overloads but I found both packs had multiple cracked leafs and it forced my hand. I was fortunate and found some 5 leaf packs from a Suburban locally for a deal. I did not c-notch but I also do not work the truck very hard. I've hauled 400 pounds of deer corn and did not have any issues and I never even looked at what clearance I had...

I've never had a lowered truck before this one so I went all in (static anyway) and do not regret it at all. You have to be a little more careful when driving since the LCA's hang really low but it's not too bad once you get an eye for it. I knew if I didn't do it the way I did I would regret it and end up doing it over.

[TrailerTrash]

Originally Posted by wixthedog

I run the same set up as Loco pretty much. This picture is 2.5" drop spindles and 2" drop springs in the front and a rear flip kit with 5 leaf packs.

Front is 15x8 with 4" BS and 245/60/15. Rears are 15x10 with 5" BS and 295/50/15.

The front is a little too low for me so I have some 1" drop springs coming in today.

Very very nice.

I really with I would have gone with a flip kit. I wasnt going for more than 4 inches at the time so I did shackles and hangers then scrapped the stock parts. Now I want just another inch or so out back. I am considering removing the overload leaf and rolling with 3 leafs. Also should get some drop shocks it's on factory length right now

[malc1080]

Originally Posted by wixthedog

Thank you, these trucks are hard work but worth it when people say nice things about them.

I didn't measure but I would say it went a full 6". My truck has the longer leaf packs of the two and had 8-leaf packs from factory. My original plan was to ditch all but three plus the overloads but I found both packs had multiple cracked leafs and it forced my hand. I was fortunate and found some 5 leaf packs from a Suburban locally for a deal. I did not c-notch but I also do not work the truck very hard. I've hauled 400 pounds of deer corn and did not have any issues and I never even looked at what clearance I had...

I've never had a lowered truck before this one so I went all in (static anyway) and do not regret it at all. You have to be a little more careful when driving since the LCA's hang really low but it's not too bad once you get an eye for it. I knew if I didn't do it the way I did I would regret it and end up doing it over.

I completely understand. these trucks are hard work getting the right stance. My goal is to maybe upgrade to a bigger wheel like a 17in or 18in max and still have that perfect stance.
the c notch is tricky. some do it and some don't. Glad you didn't have to c notch the frame and still be able to haul a lot of weight with no issue. That was my main issue that i didn't want a flip kit to avoid c notch.

[malc1080]

Originally Posted by TrailerTrash

Very very nice.

I really with I would have gone with a flip kit. I wasnt going for more than 4 inches at the time so I did shackles and hangers then scrapped the stock parts. Now I want just another inch or so out back. I am considering removing the overload leaf and rolling with 3 leafs. Also should get some drop shocks it's on factory length right now

You have any pictures of just a shackles and hangers? would be a great pic for this thread!

[TrailerTrash]

Prepare for an eye sore

Western Chassis parts
2 1/2" drop spindles
2" shackles
2" hangers

15x7 front 205/60/15
15x10 rear 295/50/15
Both front and rear are 4.5" backspacing




I really want to drop front and rear one inch.

[malc1080]

Originally Posted by TrailerTrash

Prepare for an eye sore

Western Chassis parts
2 1/2" drop spindles
2" shackles
2" hangers

15x7 front 205/60/15
15x10 rear 295/50/15
Both front and rear are 4.5" backspacing




I really want to drop front and rear one inch.

bro thats one badass truck and stance! you had the drop I wanted to all this time lol.. I want a leveled drop and I think ill be going for 3 / 4 drop since I have the 3in spindles. im afraid if I do a flip kit ill get 6in drop and it will be a reversed rake lol. a 3 / 4 is close enough plus ill be running taller tires too to fill up the fender hopefully. Thanks bro! I just hope it looks like yours and hope the difference in beds dont affect it

[TrailerTrash]

Thanks man I appreciate it.

When you do the shackles and hangers, taking the bed off makes it pretty easy. You will need to notch one of the beds crossmembers above the shackle so mark it before you remove the bed and you'll be good to go.

[wixthedog]

Originally Posted by TrailerTrash

Very very nice.

I really with I would have gone with a flip kit. I wasnt going for more than 4 inches at the time so I did shackles and hangers then scrapped the stock parts. Now I want just another inch or so out back. I am considering removing the overload leaf and rolling with 3 leafs. Also should get some drop shocks it's on factory length right now

You'll definitely drop a little bit, I just hope you had better luck than I did! The crack was not apparent until after I tore them apart, glad I found it when I did though. And of course I found the cracks after I spent the time and effort to remove all 4 bushings and press in new ones!!!

3/8" allen head bolt is what you'll need to bolt it back together, about 2" if I recall.

[TrailerTrash]

Originally Posted by wixthedog

You'll definitely drop a little bit, I just hope you had better luck than I did! The crack was not apparent until after I tore them apart, glad I found it when I did though. And of course I found the cracks after I spent the time and effort to remove all 4 bushings and press in new ones!!!

3/8" allen head bolt is what you'll need to bolt it back together, about 2" if I recall.

Oh wow that's something I've never encountered personally. I'm still debating back and forth about it. It would really only cost me for new U bolts and some time

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by TrailerTrash

Thanks man I appreciate it.

When you do the shackles and hangers, taking the bed off makes it pretty easy. You will need to notch one of the beds crossmembers above the shackle so mark it before you remove the bed and you'll be good to go.

Not always. The trucks w/the shorter 52" leaf springs require the bed support to be clearance. Trucks w/the longer 56" spring don't require it.

[TrailerTrash]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Not always. The trucks w/the shorter 52" leaf springs require the bed support to be clearance. Trucks w/the longer 56" spring don't require it.

Ah yes I forgot about that.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by TrailerTrash

Ah yes I forgot about that.

But.... You are 100% correct about marking things before taking them apart. It gives you the outline for the cuts whether you need them or not.

[TrailerTrash]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

But.... You are 100% correct about marking things before taking them apart. It gives you the outline for the cuts whether you need them or not.

Bingo.

I have used this tire size calculator many many times. It's interesting to mess around with different sizes and how they compare
https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by TrailerTrash

Bingo.

I have used this tire size calculator many many times. It's interesting to mess around with different sizes and how they compare
https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc

I'm a numbers guy. I researched the way the math is done years ago (30+) so I could calculate the numbers myself. I go even further & always target consistency when calculating widths for staggered F/R combos. I do not like a 'pinched' sidewall (too wide of a tire on a given wheel) or an 'empty' wheel opening (too short of a tire within the wheel well opening).

I do use online calculators for gearing decisions, number crunching engine combos, CID's, & power output potential. Very handy tools.

[techsan40]

Originally Posted by wixthedog

I run the same set up as Loco pretty much. This picture is 2.5" drop spindles and 2" drop springs in the front and a rear flip kit with 5 leaf packs.

Front is 15x8 with 4" BS and 245/60/15. Rears are 15x10 with 5" BS and 295/50/15.

The front is a little too low for me so I have some 1" drop springs coming in today.

Just got the US Wheel Rat Rods. Do you think with a 295/50 and 4" BS it will stick out too far? Or should I go to the 275/60 which would be about the same . I want 295s in the back but don't want them to stick out way far.