project: 3/4 ton dropped

[cleansquare]

Originally Posted by 79 blue monster

i went to performance online and got everything i needed. i bought drop spindles($399) and i cut a half coil out of my front springs. my crossmember sits about 2-3 in off the ground. keep in mind i have a big block and a th400. its heavier than your motor. the back i bought weld on axle perches(mounts) and welded them parallel to my stock ones. then i put the axle on top on my leafs and fliped my u-bolts unside down and remounted it. i installed c-notches just in case i hit my frame. it you use these spindles you will not need to do anything with rotors. all the same components bolt up just like the original peices.

http://www.performanceonline.com/71-...e-2-half-inch/
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You cut a.coil or a coil and a half? Just to clarify. Also...in your archives do you have any pics from the side after the drop and shorter tires? Ive seen the pics in the thread
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[cleansquare]

Hey what size tires did you put on your stock wheels after you initially dropped it? I wanna run the same drop and the same stock wheels with my hubcaps but my tires are too big
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[cleansquare]

Do you have a 2 piece drive shaft?
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[79 blue monster]

hey sorry i didnt get back to you yesterday, to answer your questions, i cut only a half coil out. not 1.5 coils. my tire size is 215/65r16. and yes i have a 2 piece driveshaft. feel free to ask any questions, im here to help i couldnt find any pics, but ill take one for you, if this site will allow me to post it.
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[nheller76]

So are u running 16's on the rear? I'm worried that they don't fit around the break drum?
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[79 blue monster]

yes they are 16's all the way around. no rubbing. the only thing i heard was that 15in rims wont fit on the front due to the caliper hitting. might be the same situation in the back.
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[cleansquare]

So you used 2.5 " drop spindles up front and cut half a coil anf that netted you how much drop again?
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[cleansquare]

And are the stock steel 8 lug wheels 16" or 16.5?
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[79 blue monster]

im not sure but from stock height with good year all terrains to my 215/65r16 and my spindles and coils it dropped 8 in. and 9in in the back. but the tires that were on it were pretty tall. my crossmember sits about 2-3in off the ground and my front suspension is just barley sitting on my bump stops.
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[79 blue monster]

my wheels are 16in but they are off a 90's chev. i dont know what the original size was
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[79 blue monster]

update: tranny was rebuild not to long ago! but i found out my 454 block has a crack.
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[nheller76]

O man! That SUCKS!!!!!! Guess its time to find a new one. U gona stick with 454 or 350? Everything is wide open now! I do know how that goes though. Sucky deal man.
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[79 blue monster]

im probibly gonna stick with the 454 but i found a caddy 500 for $700.
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[bloodybigblock]

If you convert than let me know. I need your spindles

[bloodybigblock]

Hey, what center cap do you have over the steelies?

[79 blue monster]

i was going to use the centercaps of the newer 8 lug hd wheels.
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[bloodybigblock]

can u get a better pic of them? I was curious to see what theyd look like.

[79 blue monster]

Its Been a while since I've been on here so I have a lot of pictures and updates. I started wet sanding and buffing out a side of the truck and almost finished with the help of my dad. I bought gm front and rear bumpers from a guy that bought them new in 1990 so there really clean yet.

[79 blue monster]

..

[Billy81]

Looks like it's coming out really nice.

[79 blue monster]

This is the big update... since my 454 block was cracked I picked this Cadillac 500 up for half nothing.
Block: hot tanked, crack checked, ridge reamed, honed, new freeze plugs
Heads: hot tanked, crack checked, new guides, reground seats
New water pump, cloys timing chain, rings. full gasket/seals set. the pistons/bearings were like new yet. Used same cam, but I plan on getting a different one later down the road. I took my Chevy turbo 400 tranny and swapped all the rebuilt parts into my Pontiac 400 case. To mount it I had to cut the firewall and move the tranny up an inch. the front mounts I just flipped passenger side to driver, and driver to passenger. drilled new holes for the mounts and I was done. The engine is almost done, just a few things left and then its going in.

[79 blue monster]

some more

[79 blue monster]

the engine as it sits now

[mickeykreg]

Got any updates? Your truck is major inspiration. I totally dig the long and low look.

I'm so close to dropping my 1 ton...i think the only thing holding me back right now is that it's 12 degrees outside.

[79 blue monster]

i got the engine in and put a new set of wheels on. i started puting my doors back together but ran into some small issues.