Rear 4" drop, did you c-notch? pics please

[Sid138]

I measured the top of my rear axle to the bottom of my frame. Travel is 7". Dropping 4" would leave me 3" of travel (not including existing bump stops). Is this enough? With 4" drop, did you notch?

[Cris.sanchez3]

Well I haven't done it yet but I have ordered my springs and its gonna be next weekends project I asked other members and checked other posts and they have done 6" with out notching and say its ok if your not towing or putting weight on the rear. You shouldn't have a problem with 4"
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[lolife99]

No notch needed.
Don't be surprised if your 4" drop spring result in about 3" lower than you are now.
Your original springs should have at least 1" of sag in them.
Take some before and after measurement to confirm your actual drop.
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[PanelDeland]

I didn't notch.I do need to do the shock relo I think.It seems like a speed bump occassionally bumps th bumpstops.I think shock relo will stop that but I may need to trim the BS a bit.It's not bad,just enough to tell.

Sorry I don't have a pic on this puter.

[special-K]

You can go as much as 6" w/o a notch. At 6" you are close and have to be careful not to hit bump[ stops. I know of a truck with 7" drop/no notch and that is leaf sprung.

[Mickm69]

I just installed ECE 4-in. dropped springs in the rear of my '69 and have no need to notch.
I did need to reposition the shocks though.
Cheers!
Mickm

[big_al_71]

No notch required for 4 inches, not even for a six inch.. Here is a pict from when my truck had a 4/6 drop kit from Early classics and it may have bottomed out once in three years. If you are going to carry substantial weight then maybe if not you will be fine.

[Sid138]

Ok, thanks. I called a few places including Classic Parts last week just to find the best deal on spindles for the front and coils for the rear. I was asking about drop kits and pricing everything I would need, and a sales rep said that a c-notch was "required" to drop 4" or more. I'm not sure that I've ever heard of anyone c notching unless they're really slamming their truck, so this sort of caught me off guard.

And then I received a Brother's catalog the next day and they also recommend notching for 4" or more for their kits. I already have a 1" block kit in the rear, so I'm thinking about just adding 3" coils out back, along with shock relocating brackets and adjustable track bar, of course and 2.5" spindles in front.

Just wanted to double check with you guys first to be sure.
The fact is, I refuse to cut open the stereo area in my dash for a CD unit, so I'm going with the "factory" looking stereo with a USB port to operate my MP3 player, so I'm dang sure not gonna cut up my freakin' frame, ya know?

But anyway, Thanks again,
Sid

[original-71]

they say that cause they want to sell you the c-notch kit. you dont need to c-notch i have 6 inch coils and a 1/2 inch block in the rear NO c-notch and NO problems. id rather take the advise from the board members than the advise of a sales person

[original-71]

unless you plan to put some serious weight i wouldnt worry about it or plan to go lower in the future then i would c-notch.

[westbrookw]

4" drop springs + 1.5" blocks = no C-notch here. No bump stops either.

[CC69Rat]

^^ Sweet stepper !

[Sid138]

Originally Posted by original-71

they say that cause they want to sell you the c-notch kit. you dont need to c-notch i have 6 inch coils and a 1/2 inch block in the rear NO c-notch and NO problems. id rather take the advise from the board members than the advise of a sales person

Of course I'll take the advice here from the members and friends here on the forum (and locally) before taking the advice from a Toyota Yaris driving sales rep. As stated, no, I'm not cutting our truck.

I bought this truck for one reason, and one reason only. I've built hot rods, and lifted Jeeps or 3/4 ton 4x4's for 25 years, but my 9 year old son has never experienced anything I've built. Because since his birth, I sold my toys, and devoted my life to him and God. I thank both of them and my wife for giving me the wisdom to teach him, and provide for him as was deemed necessary. At this time, I simply deem it necessary for him and I to build the wickedest freakin' little '72 Short Step my bank account will allow for the next 6 years. And at the conclusion of that 6 years, he will learn to drive in this particular truck, and have that story to tell for the rest of his life, and prove it in 20 years by walking his son to my garage he inherited from me, opening the doors and pulling the cover off of "our" old truck that we built together, and the last vehicle his daddy ever built,...just for him.

Btw, Nice ride, brother. Very Nice.

[Sid138]

Originally Posted by westbrookw

4" drop springs + 1.5" blocks = no C-notch here. No bump stops either.

West, I hope our '72 looks at least 1/2 as great as yours in time. Awesome lookin' truck there, west. Simply awesome.

I bought it February 13th for $2,900 and a $115 roll back bill to get her home. And this is where we are now,....at Lowes ("Truck Improvement").

As you can see, it needs drop, wheels and a set of 50 series asap. Gotta get rid of the solid lift cam first though. Priorities, ya know?

[IMG][/IMG]

[One Big Rush]

For those of you who have 4" coils and wanted more drop, how did you go about it? I have a 4" coil in the rear, but the truck needs another 1.5" or so to really make me happy. Are you just using lowering blocks, or did you also add the modified trac bar, shocks, and shock relocating kit?

Thanks

[CC69Rat]

Yes, at 5.5" rear you'd need to think about shock relocation and an adjustable track bar. Pinion angle becomes an issue if you're particular about it but some people are fine without adjusting it.

[westbrookw]

^^he is absolutely right about pinion angle. I relocated the shocks, put on an adjustable traction bar, and had to shorten the drive shaft.

And thanks sid138. This thing is about 12 years of changing my mind.
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[Sid138]

Originally Posted by westbrookw

^^he is absolutely right about pinion angle. I relocated the shocks, put on an adjustable traction bar, and had to shorten the drive shaft.

And thanks sid138. This thing is about 12 years of changing my mind.
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west, it seems to me your truck is a 12 year result in ultimately making the right decisions.

Ok, I haven't thought about pinion angle or driveshaft length when lowering. Makes sense though, but at what point (inches of drop) do you need to shorten?

[bugmasta]

Here is mine with a 4/6 ECE drop kit. No notch needed


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[skorpioskorpio]

I always hate these numerical drop threads, it all really depends what you start out as. My Jimmy is getting a mild 12" drop and won't be even close to laying frame... but then again you can practically sit under it now .

[westbrookw]

Originally Posted by Sid138

west, it seems to me your truck is a 12 year result in ultimately making the right decisions.

Ok, I haven't thought about pinion angle or driveshaft length when lowering. Makes sense though, but at what point (inches of drop) do you need to shorten?

I put the LMC slam kit on that was supposed to be a 4/5 drop. But it only ended up being a 3/4. Pinion angle is not as big a deal lowering it that much, but the drive shaft would not clear the pinion yoke. I believe I had my drive shaft shortened 3/4". As I said earlier, the kit wasn't low enough. I put a 1.5" block in the rear. No adjustments for that. Basically, I lowered the truck with the drivetrain out. So, when I started installing everything, that's where I found the length problem. Like I said, 12 years of changing my mind.
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[BugzC10]

Originally Posted by westbrookw

I put the LMC slam kit on that was supposed to be a 4/5 drop. But it only ended up being a 3/4. Pinion angle is not as big a deal lowering it that much, but the drive shaft would not clear the pinion yoke. I believe I had my drive shaft shortened 3/4". As I said earlier, the kit wasn't low enough. I put a 1.5" block in the rear. No adjustments for that. Basically, I lowered the truck with the drivetrain out. So, when I started installing everything, that's where I found the length problem. Like I said, 12 years of changing my mind.
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Is your drive shaft one or two piece?
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[BigDaddyV]

4/6 drop here also no notch. But it will be diggin pavement soon enough, so I'm adding a deep notch

[fastnotch89]

Do anyone have pictures of the 4/6 drop with a 1.5 lowering blocks?

[BugzC10]

Originally Posted by fastnotch89

Do anyone have pictures of the 4/6 drop with a 1.5 lowering blocks?

4" CPP lowering springs, plus 1.5" blocks plus .25" plate for The Gearbox Garage extended panbar.



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