Flip kit? + Shackles? How low can I go in the back.

[SKarpenz]

I've already purchased Summit products for my old F150 and they were awesome. Thats why I asked if anyone here was using them as well.

[slugish]

Am I the only person in the truck nation that has Chassistech (from AIM Industries in Arizona Ithink) drooped front spindles. Benn on for 4 yrs , with no problems along with 3 in. coils. Ikeep hearing about western chassis, djm, belltech as the brands to buy. Mine wer a great deal less tha belltech etc. Anyone have any experience with Aim. Mine seem to be fine at the best price I could find

[benoit454]

I never seen or heard of them.

Best price has my name written all over it.


But from what I keep seeing and hearing due to being too low, or LCA interference seems like dropped coils or cut coils or combo would be best for a guy on a budget, or one that wants low but not dangerous low, like a blown tire, or hitting crap with the LCA's or crossmember or something.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by slugish

Am I the only person in the truck nation that has Chassistech (from AIM Industries in Arizona Ithink) drooped front spindles. Benn on for 4 yrs , with no problems along with 3 in. coils. Ikeep hearing about western chassis, djm, belltech as the brands to buy. Mine wer a great deal less tha belltech etc. Anyone have any experience with Aim. Mine seem to be fine at the best price I could find

No.... there's alot of guys on here that have heard of & used ChassisTech, aka AIM industries.

Yes AIM has better prices..... Just hope you don't get the wrong part because what you save on the front end you will definitely have to pay for on the back end; your fault or not.

Many here also complain about the quality & customer service as well. I've used their S-10 spindles on a couple of occasions many years ago w/o any problems @ all. But after hearing the more recent stories, I would not feel confident purchasing stuff from them.

These days, I've been using Sport Truck Direct. But it seems even these guys have issues w/poor customer service lately so I don't know if I'll use them again or not.

[N2TRUX]

AIM (aka Chassis Tech) SUCKS.....but I'm not bitter. I find the best deals come from Summit Racing. What ever you do avoid AIM. They WILL screw you with shipping, and/or returns when they send you the wrong part no matter who's fault it is.

[bigblock73]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

AIM (aka Chassis Tech) SUCKS.....but I'm not bitter. I find the best deals come from Summit Racing. What ever you do avoid AIM. They WILL screw you with shipping, and/or returns when they send you the wrong part no matter who's fault it is.

Sounds like Sport Truck Direct to me.

[SKarpenz]

Yeah I did business with Chassistech once and they were OK, just seemed a long time for shipping. I will be going with summit, but I have another question on wheels: I want to run just some 15x7 or 15x8 smoothie wheels since I'm a huge fan of that style wheel, is there any specific backspace or offset I should look for to optimize the appearance? I HATE big wheels (17"+) and thats another reason I'm going for small wheels, but I want them to look good.

Also, any specific tire size/brand to look for to go on these wheels?

[benoit454]

As for wheels I'm with you all the way man.

I run old school crager ss's but on my car, going to get a set for the truck also.

They have a 4 inch or bigger backspace or you can get reversed offset which has like 2.25 inches of backspace. I run them and they might help clear on the lower spindles with the control arm hitting the rim lip problem.

Tires size, I say do a 275 or 295 50 15, they have short sidewall for low profile and just looks great on lowered trucks, plus they are pretty fat tires which IMo look awesome.

I say 15x8's with 175/50's on all four

or try 15x10's on back with a 295 50 or wider tire, like 305-325 or something if you can find one.

maybe even do a 235 60 or 50 up front for turning radius and no hiting issues with it lowered.


I run 215 65's on all four with 15x7's and they are too skinny for my tastes. i got pics, pm me if you want to see them or let me know and I'll pm ya some or email them your way.

[SKarpenz]

Thanks a lot man! I added you to my AIM so I'll hit you up when I see you online.

[SKarpenz]

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....e1=yes&place=5

I think that is a great low-cost wheel/tire setup at just over $600. I could always get spacers if I need to widen the stance. God I love smoothie wheels, haha.

[Goodie]

what about those old school Keystones?

[SKarpenz]

They cost more and I'm not really into that style. But thanks for the suggestion.

[benoit454]

Well IMo for the under a hundred a piece wheel, I'd rather go with a chrome 8-spoke what some call wagon wheel, or the saw blade, or star pattern chrome wheel. I'm not a fan of stock or stock appearing wheels, like pictured in that link.

Nice tire though. Good price too, makes me wanna order a couple of em.

us wheel has a knock off crager now that's cheaper I'm considering them for our 84 c10.

[SKarpenz]

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

I like these Cragars better than the smoothies. I don't think my truck would look quite right with them anyway, haha. The Cragars are even cheaper too, so thats a plus.

[loblazer]

I did a 5 x 5 on my Blazer. 3" drop spindles and 2" coils. 5" flip kit in back with C notch I made. Belltech drop shocks and flip kit from Stylin Concepts.

Had a nice rideand didn't bottom out. Sold it last summer. OCT 2004 TOTM

Doug

[benoit454]

Yea thoose cragers you posted are the ones I said 8 spoke/wagon wheels, us wheel is even cheaper on thoose same wheels.

The cragers I run and love and the s/s's

[SKarpenz]

The Cragars are actually cheaper, lol.

[SKarpenz]

What kind of shocks are you guys running in the rear? Front? I've been looking at the bell-tech Nitro shocks, don't know whats good or bad.

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

[jchav62]

I see a lot of you guys are running 2" drop shackles. I was under my '83 this weekend and it doesn't look like there is any room for drop shackles. Does a notch have to be cut? Thanks...

BTW, I was planning a doing a 2"/2" or 2"/4" drop, but those 4"/6's and 5"/8's drops look awesome!!! Might have a change of plans...Nice trucks!!

[bigblock73]

Originally Posted by jchav62

I was under my '83 this weekend and it doesn't look like there is any room for drop shackles. Does a notch have to be cut? Thanks...

Yes, the bed support has to be notched to clear.

[benoit454]

So you Do have to notch it to clear the shackles???

I was thinking the same because it didn't look like there was much room.

On the other hand guys you know with the leafs under the axle you can buy lowering blocks like 1/2 1 inch, 2, 3, 4, inches and lower the rear more.

I'm thinking now that's the way I'd go. Flip kit and blocks if I need extra room.

What about the drop hangers do they require any additional clearance to work?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by bigblock73

Yes, the bed support has to be notched to clear.

I wonder if that's year model related? I thought I would have to notch the bed rail on my 74 because I've heard it was required but I didn't have to trim anything.

Hhmmm . . .....

[jchav62]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

I wonder if that's year model related? I thought I would have to notch the bed rail on my 74 because I've heard it was required but I didn't have to trim anything.

Hhmmm . . .....

Maybe so because on my '83 the shackle is only about 1" below a bedrail. It doesn't look difficult to notch out though...

Thanks for the info BTW...

[bigblock73]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

I wonder if that's year model related? I thought I would have to notch the bed rail on my 74 because I've heard it was required but I didn't have to trim anything.

Hhmmm . . .....

It might depending on the rear leaf spring length. My 73 has HD leafs (56" I believe), I trimmed mine based off Bell Tech's instructions, but by the looks of it, they would have been behind the bed support anyhow. I can almost guarantee if I had 52" leafs, I'd have to trim.

I wish my truck was still here, I'd go snap a pic.

[Mr79C10]

On my 79 I had to trim the rail under the bed so that the shackle would clear.