Has anyone ever Z-ed and Step Notched and kept stock coils???

[milehightoyz]

Ok, before you guys think Ive lost my mind....heres what Im trynig to do. Im workin on a 71 GMC C-20 2WD Suburban. Basically Im building something fun to pull my toys around with (no serious heavy duty towing, jetskis, dirtbikes, atvs, occasional race car, jet boat etc.) Anyhow I am wanting to keep the 4:11 8 lug rear and heavy duty suspension for the fact that I love how easy the truck pulls and how nice it rides under load (I prefer keeping 8 lug and not interested in swapping out for 5 lug stuff). Highway RPMS and nose bleed ride height are my only 2 problems with this truck at this point. Im going with a 350 vortec/4L80E combo out of a rolled 97 crew cab c3500 which will help my highway driving, next up is my trucks stance, hence this thread.

Plans are to get the truck to a point where it rides very low but utilizes stock suspension and sacrifices no towing capacity. Essentially, I want to change nothing about the ride quality/tow capacity but lower the stance dramatically. I plan to step notch the rear and move factory rear coils up higher into the notch (ie something like a bridge but with stock coils not bags) to get rear to sit lower and still accommodate axle travel (ill replace stock panhard with an adjustable unit). For the front I havent yet decided how low, but I plan to do a combo of either a very mild z, drop coils, perhaps tubular lowers (or maybe just modify my lowers to get a little lower if need be, as far as I can find noone makes a drop spindle for a c-20 71-72 other than chassitech, who will probably send me a toyota spindle and charge me a 50% restock fee to send it back and get the right one).

Just curious if anyone has done this or has pics of trucks that ride low (lower than your typical 4/6, 5/7 stuff without utilizing air, slammed hard but at a fixed height, non adjustable, etc.). Pics would be greatly appreciated. Curious to know if anyone thinks I am crazy as well, or may have overlooked anything that will interfere with my objective or, maybe even suggestions for a more practical means to my end.

Truck will be copperhead orange, black 20/22" KMC wheels polished lip, tan custom leather interior......build thread starting soon, once I decide what I want to do with this pig....Thanks in advanced....

[bagged69c10]

I would say that the Z would be alot of work if you dont want to lay frame.

[loweredd]

I dont see why a Z would be hard to do without laying frame......should be just the same as if laying frame.

It sounds like an idea that would work fine, but I think if you used bags on the rear at least, it would ride great when towing, and not when towing too.

[loweredd]

ROFL, I just saw it was Milehightoys that posted this. LOL, my Caprice is still going strong man. 145000 miles on it. Just went out to Utah and back at the beginning of the month. 25mpg after I put new plugs in it.

[milehightoyz]

ive done 5 z's so far and i dont think they are really that bad if the drivetrain is out and the body is off, which for me will be the case. ideas were a mild z, 1.5-2", a 3" tubular lower, and a 2" drop spring, this should net me 6.5-7" static in front, step notch with relocated factory coil in rear, looking for approx a 6.5/9"" or 7/10" static all together... 22x9.5 305/40/22 on rear 20x8.5 245/40/20 on front...

[milehightoyz]

Originally Posted by loweredd

ROFL, I just saw it was Milehightoys that posted this. LOL, my Caprice is still going strong man. 145000 miles on it. Just went out to Utah and back at the beginning of the month. 25mpg after I put new plugs in it.

hey glad to hear that old cop car is still doing good for you. you shouldve jumped on that 95 z28 i had on ebay.....i gave it away....lt-1 6 speed vortech blower nos etc, onyl did $4600.....wouldve had alot cool swap parts for that 9c1 i sold you......

[72rat]

whats z ?

[loweredd]

to make a really long post short, and cause I'm typing this on my phone, it is where you cut the frame in front of and behind the front crossmember and move it up a certain amount, movng the suspension up in relation to the rest of the truck.

[L0WRIDE]

heres mine 2 1/2 inch z,2 1/2 drop spindles.The back i let the axles sit in the old chassis then made the step notch another 8 1/2 inchs up from it the mounted the stock springs to suit

[milehightoyz]

hey lowride thanks for the pics, thats exactly about where i want to be on my burb, we need to talk....got any more pics? thanks

[L0WRIDE]

heres a few

[L0WRIDE]

And some more, any Q's just ask.

[Slammed '87]

another idea which i haven't seen posted but is alot of work,...bodydrop it. I have seen lotsa s10's rolling around super low with bodydrops and they just hadn't bagged them yet.

[leftcoast66]

Originally Posted by Slammed '87

another idea which i haven't seen posted but is alot of work,...bodydrop it. I have seen lotsa s10's rolling around super low with bodydrops and they just hadn't bagged them yet.

Used to be common in the old hotrods to channel them before they had the airride or hydro's so it'd work great and look great IMO

[fastbagged68]

My buddy has a 54 Chevy that is bodydropped around 5" and sit the front bumper about 3.5" off the ground. It is on static suspension. Doesn't bottom out except steep drive ways.

[ElkyRacer]

For you guys doing a z in the front, how do you correct your radiator to fan diffrences? What about your transmission mounts, redo them as well? Im looking into doing this with my 64 and want to get all the bases covered before I start. And who has done a bodydrop on a 64-66? And what all does that require to be changed up?

[milehightoyz]

electric fan and fab a new trans crossmember that relocates the trans higher the same amount of your z. you will need to build new trans tunnel/firewall section, modify shifter, modify steering shaft, will need stock manifolds or block hugger headers, to name a few things off hand that you will run into, with z. hope this helps elky.

[shortbed70]

When z'ing the front what had to be done to all the mounting points for the fenders rad support etc? I'm thinking of doing my 65

[ElkyRacer]

Ill be running the stock 6cyl so Im thinking about clearancing the crossmember and trying to keep the motor as close to stock position as I can, that might leave me with not having to get an electric fan. Getting the motor down 1-1 1/2 inches shouldnt be too hard.

Kyle

[SCOTI]

6cyl's have larger/deeper oil pans from what's been discussed in the 'crossmember notch' thread. Wouldn't raising everything & dropping the motor 1.5" put the bottom of the pan @ risk?

[ElkyRacer]

I guess I havent caught up with that thread. I by no means am ready to do the z/notch right now, Ive got a Jeep to finnish up so Ive got plenty of time to measure/plan/research. Ill have to look into that.

Kyle