Trying to lay frame on my 60' c/10?????

[GreaseMonky81]

Ok this is what I got I have a straight clean 60 that had a frame off resto started before I picked it up, orginal owner passed away, and famialy sold it to pay the bill. Anyways I want to be able to drag frame on this one but I have a very small budget but am a decent welder/fabracator.

My question is, Is there a way to bag the front of this truck using the stock torsion bar control arms and not Zing the frame also any pics of some rear setups with out back halfing would be great I have looked, and looked and cant seem to find any info on this. Seems like everyone swaps over to later model front suspension. This will be my first bagged rie so sorry if I come across a little slow.


p.s. I will try and get some pics up as soon as I can figure out how to post them

[PrerunnerRob]

Originally Posted by GreaseMonky81

Ok this is what I got I have a straight clean 60 that had a frame off resto started before I picked it up, orginal owner passed away, and famialy sold it to pay the bill. Anyways I want to be able to drag frame on this one but I have a very small budget but am a decent welder/fabracator.

My question is, Is there a way to bag the front of this truck using the stock torsion bar control arms and not Zing the frame also any pics of some rear setups with out back halfing would be great I have looked, and looked and cant seem to find any info on this. Seems like everyone swaps over to later model front suspension. This will be my first bagged rie so sorry if I come across a little slow.


p.s. I will try and get some pics up as soon as I can figure out how to post them

I went through this while building my truck. You cant lay frame with the stock front crossmember, unless you z your frame. The lower control arm mount points hang below the frame, so if you want to lay the frame past this point, you will need a z or a dropmember. As for the back, you will need a weld in notch, but its height really depends on your overall tire diamater. I assume you will be bagging this, but that is another can of worms!

[GreaseMonky81]

Yes I am planning on bagging it. What about laying rockers thats lower then the rest of the suspension?

[GreaseMonky81]

I looked on the porter built site at the dropmember but they dont have spindels and no one make cnotrol arms for the 60-62

[gringoloco]

I would call Nate at Porterbuilt. I know people bolt in later crossmembers, so I can't see why a Dropmember wouldn't work...

[PBFAB.COM]

Originally Posted by GreaseMonky81

I looked on the porter built site at the dropmember but they dont have spindels and no one make cnotrol arms for the 60-62

Nobody makes aftermarket arms or spindles for the 60-62 due to the torsion bar suspension. If you're looking to lay frame, it's either a "Z" or a Dropmember. If you go the Dropmember route, you would need to update the spindles and brakes as well (my site is severely outdated, and not very well maintained... this should be changing here in the next few weeks!).

If you have any specific questions on the Dropmember, I will be more than happy to answer them.

[PrerunnerRob]

Things required to lay out to the rocker:
Front end- Either the Porterbuilt dropmember and all the related components, including new control arms, spindles, rack n' pinion, etc
or
Z-the front end and make everything fit. This may be alot more work then you imagine, since the engine and transmission must come up at the same time. Also, if it is a manual tranmission, all linkage must be changed accordingly.
You will also need to cut the rear frame crossmember and plate it flat, it hangs way below the frame. While doing this, it's a good time to take care of rereouting the exhaust so it doesn't hang below the frame.
Rear-At a minimum, you will need a weld in notch. I tried to preserve my rear trailing arm setup on round 1 of my rear frame clip, and it was a waste of time. Do yourself a favor, run a paralell 4 link with a Watts link or a triangulated 4 link. Either way, no rear end lateral travel, and extremely solid.

I tried to do it on my own the first time around on my truck by skimping here and there, only to realize that all the parts would have paid for themselves in time. I'll post more if I can think of anything, let us all know how it goes!

[GreaseMonky81]

What is the price of the dropmember, and do you have to go to a rack and pinion set up if so how much modifying to the steering column is required??

[jlaird]

Originally Posted by GreaseMonky81

What is the price of the dropmember, and do you have to go to a rack and pinion set up if so how much modifying to the steering column is required??

Nate can tell you exactly, but if you need everything from hub-to-hub your looking at a probably around $3000. This assumes rotors, spindles, arms, dropmember, rack, etc.

[LUCKIN-FOU]

I would go with the Porterbuilt Drop crossmember. I would get rid of the torsion bars. If all else fails build a chassis.

[PrerunnerRob]

Originally Posted by GreaseMonky81

What is the price of the dropmember, and do you have to go to a rack and pinion set up if so how much modifying to the steering column is required??

Its very easy to modify the column. I pulled marked my steering shaft for length, cut it, and then machined the end flat on 2 sides. It is 3/4" OD, which now fits perfectly into a DD Borgeson universal joint.

[GreaseMonky81]

Ok have I have sold some parts and saved the cash and I think I may be ready for a dropmember what all does it come with and what is the price? Also will it lay wockers with a 30" tire and how much lift will i get? Have you made one of this for a 60 yet?

[Frizzle Fry]

I don't think anyone has mentioned that the 60-62 frame has more issues for laying frame than just the torsion front end. They are a completely different frame than 63+. You are looking at cutting out the big X in the middle of the frame, boxing the rails, and installing new crossmembers at minimum. I'd just go with a 63-66 frame to start with. 67-72 can be made to work with body mount mods.

[GreaseMonky81]

Whats the reason for cutting the X out of the middle? I knew the where different but from what i could tell the x could stay

[Frizzle Fry]

To lay frame the center of the X will hit the ground inches before the rails. The rear portion of the X will just get in the way IMO, especially if you go with a 4-link.

[GreaseMonky81]

I was gonna make a 4 link but try and use the factory trailing arms and trim the center of the x and plate the bottom of it

[leftcoast66]

Frizzle makes a good point, yours would bolt onto a 63-66 frame. You would be able to keep your idea of using the stock back trailing arms for the setup, except you don't have to worry about the center x and getting it to work or cutting it out. Would give a good starting point w/ a 63-66 frame. Heck, you could bag the frame and enjoy the truck then swap em out once its all bagged. Easier to work on also.

[GreaseMonky81]

The truck is all tore down already that was the way I purchased it from the resto shop.

I have a plan for the back do I think I will stick with this frame that and since I am on a budget cant rally afford to buy another frame. That and this frame has already been Sandblasted and stuff like that.