Need advise on droping my 69 SWB GMC

[tranz am]

Hello. Today has been a good day for me. I just bought my dream truck A 69 GMC SB. Now I want to set it up the way Ive pictured it to sit. I wont to drop it pretty good but not so low that I'm smacking things. I want it to sit about 5 inches off the ground in front, measuring from under the cross member. I want to drop the same amount in the rear as in the front, keeping that slight rake. Its about a 6 inch drop I'm after. I know that there are different ways of accomplishing this. I'm after a performance related approach to dropping the truck so just cutting the front springs wont be acceptable. I dont know what to do about dropping the rear. I know that there are blocks out there but I hear that they can cause undesired effects. Now with this said I need to figure out What type of parts there are available to accomplish this. I want good quality stuff but I also dont want to pay an extreme amount of money to do it. What Are my options? And what company's provide the best deals on sets. Thanks.

[jlaird]

bags or static? do you have leafs or coils in rear?

[jimmydean]

For a static drop, look at some of the kits offered by Early Classic Enterprises.

For air bag setups, look at Suicide Doors. They have a build your own kit and they are also a helpful bunch.

[1972suburban]

I have a 72 burban and am thinking of bags but have no clue what to buy i have used Hydro's for ever but never had bags any specs would be cool or where to get some good stuff.

[jimmydean]

There are a bunch of bag setups in here, just do a search.

Use the "build your own" page at ***************** and hook it up. The only thing not included in the build page are the fittings and bag brackets.

[tranz am]

I have a leaf spring set up in back. I figure I will go static to keep the costs down. Early Classic Enterprises doesn't seem to have a kit available that incorporates leaf springs. Where to go from here?

Here is some pics of how the truck sits now.

[powell72]

ECE does have drop leaves and shackles though, not your cheapest option, but they have them.

[tranz am]

Ok Ill have to inquire a bit deeper into ECE about those.
Ive heard that some people flip there axles over so that the axle sits on top of the leaf rather than under it. Is this a good way to go? It seams as if there isnt much room under to do this and the axle would be botoming out on the frame quite often. I dont really want to notch the thing.

[70stroker]

i have a flip kit on my 70 lwb with an additional 1 inch block for a total of 7 inchs, i have a bolt in c notch also. without the notch my frame was getting hammered by the axle housings everytime i hit a bump. this was with good air shocks out back also. so i would recomment gettin a c notch also. i thing they run under a 100 bucks. my frotn is lowered 6 inchs 3 inch sprigns and spindles. i think my crossmember sits at about 4 1/2 off the ground, i KNOW the center of the bumber is 7 inchs off the ground.

But alot of it is tire height also. out front i am runnign 235-55-15 and out back 295-65-15

on mine if you put the same tire all the way around its sits fairly level. I am happy with the ride. but I hated the ride before the c notch.

[tranz am]

Thats what I was thinking. Wouldnt c notching the frame take away from the value though? Where did you get this flip kit? and how much did it run you? I would love to see some pictures of the rear c notch if you have some. when you notched the frame did you have to cut out the whole section of the frame? did you have to cut the floor out of th bed to do it?

[Inverter]

This is how the cut should look when your finished. I recommend removing the bed.There are some clearance notches to make w/some bolt in units.Its much easier and worth the time to get clean cuts.

[Inverter]

Heres the outside. Yes,,cutting on any vehicle will hurt the resale value. Unless its a Doosenburge,,your not gonna get your money back anyway. So build something that says "YOU!" Have fun !!