Rear leaf to trailing arm or 4 link if a mild notch was planned?

[NEWFISHER]

Ok you 60's GMC and some leaf rear Chevy guys...If you were going to Bag the rear of a leaf truck, would you buy a used trailing arm/crossmember set up or do a parallel 4 link to stuff the axle "lightly" through the bed?

I'm looking to keep the floor , but run a mild covered notch cover and diff box cover allowing the rear to sit on the pavement or close to it--taildragger

Pic's of your mild notch and parallel set ups pleeeeease!

[LVPhotos]

5 inch pipe to make 2" notch. Axle kisses wood. Rear frame at 11" at ride height.

[NEWFISHER]

Thanks LVphotos. I did the same on my 65, but am wanting to drop the rear on or near the ground with the pumpkin and axle tube through the floor, but don't want to raise the entire floor or have a huge truss style or bridge set up. Kind of a mild truss and looking for pics of 4 link or trailing arm set ups to get away from the leaves in the back of this truck.

[LVPhotos]

Here is Mator. Car Kulture Deluxe (ckdeluxe.com) October 2013 #60. Justin has been watching my build as I watched Mater being built. Cant find this on internet so I scanned it.

[LVPhotos]

First one is Maters 62 frame other is one I had saved sometime ago.

[duallyjams]

vote for 4 link

[NEWFISHER]

Originally Posted by duallyjams

vote for 4 link

Lets see some pix!


LVPHOTOS...Maters set looks good, but uses a traditionally tall notch ( no bridge , which is a plus for me) and with a 2" block looks like it would lay the corner on the pavement

Now I need to decide 4 link or crossmember, blocks, perches angled and trailing arms from the wrecking yard. My thoughts are a " C " literally a semi circle c notch that is gradual so the interior can have a nice rolled pan built and line-x'ed from side to side. Hint: I'm tailoring this from a 64-66 truck, but it's going in the 46 suburban. The Jekyl side of me is collecting LS swap parts and the Hyde part of me is cutting the rear leaf out, dropping it in the tail end and delicately modifying the finished wood floors ( truck bed style) inside the Burb to poke the axle through , but still be able to use the seats.

[LVPhotos]

http://www.classictrucks.com/tech/12...rd_f100_frame/
Curve notch.
http://www.ridetech.com/store/trucks...hash=V260.V328

http://www.fabquest.com/suspension/3-4-link-kits.html

[NEWFISHER]

LV....Nice work. You have expensive taste

[LVPhotos]

I grew up putting Volair an Camaro clips in trucks. It's nice to have off the shelf stuff sometimes. Hell I started this build in 1998 and no one had anything for the 62. I was excited for new fenders at that time. Now wish I had some origials. If you look in my build threads you will notice the budget change. I have swapped in and out at least 3 trucks worth of parts. It's not done but with work coming up I would like to finish this one.

[NEWFISHER]

Why finish it? You will then need something else to work on and run out of room to park 2 vehicles. Ask me how I know. I envy the guys that are methodical and take their time doing these projects. I seem to rush them to be done then get bored and sell/trade them. hopefully with the 46 I have found one I will keep for a long time.

I found a rear crossmember and trailing arm set up from a 64 that was blasted and painted for the same price as a 4 link kit (no coil overs) so price seems to be the same. Which set up will tow and drive better? The more I read about setting up roll center etc on 4 link, it seems the trailing arms would be the better way to go, but the external frame parallel 4 link seems to drop it all the way down? Am I missing something?

[LVPhotos]

Here is the 2014 Ram 2500 optional air ride 5 link. Answer to towing?

http://www.dieselpowermag.com/news/1...photo_04.html#

I would call the guys at Ride Tech 812.481.4787 see if they can help. They got me into the right direction. Dinos Panel and truck were/are in their catalogue.

[duallyjams]

So just for the subject of external 4 link bagged and the ride quality and towing, my dually has been 4 linked and bagged for 12 yrs and 85,000 miles with ride tech, it rides better and can tow more weight at a level ride.