Which one & Why ???

[Spray-Bomb]

Ok guys, just a few questions here on rear suspension

Tell me why you would do one over the other & what you gain instead of using the other

Frame Z

Bridge or Step notch

Back half


Which one did you use & why
Pics are great too

[PBFAB.COM]

If I was looking for function over form, and a lot less headache I would do a step-notch or bridge notch. If I was more concerned with function AND form I would back-half it. I wouldn't bother doing a "Z" on the rear.

[jlaird]

If I were to do it over again, I would do a backhalf (without the notch) mainly for the looks.

[Spray-Bomb]

Wouldn't a back half be stronger than a big notch ???

Either way to make it look nice you need to raise the floor correct ?

[67Fleet]

yeah, or you can step the floor depending on how tall the notch is. I've seen some floors that have been stepped in various ways that actually looked really nice. Also gives you a chance to get creative.

[Frizzle Fry]

I used the KP step notch and love it. As far as strength, there's no way that thing is weaker than the stock frame. I wouldn't hesitate to tow with it. I kept mine the full 8" because I wanted to run a Camaro rear sway bar in there (not lay frame). Much simpler than a back half and plenty low...

[BACKYARD88]

I built my own notch. This way most of the bed cross sills bolt in the same place so I don't have to modify how the bed bolts on. Not positive what I'm going to do about the floor but I'm thinking about covering the notch with steel and putting wood in front and back of the notch. Gets me plenty low and I like the way it looks. I'll get some new pics with the shocks and undercoat on tonight.

[bagged81]

I have always considers it Z'ing the front and notching the rear. A Z is basically a large notch so you can consider them one in the same, at least to me. Backhalving is a lot of work that I personally just don't want to get into.

If I had to do it all over, I'd notch it just like I did. After you notch, you can just cut out the section of bed where the notch is and not have to worry about moving the floor up and crap. You can cover the hole in the floor by a simple bent sheet metal or you can get creative. I have seen on several trucks where they got some ribbed bed flooring and just made it look like the floor naturally stepped up over the notch.

[BACKYARD88]

Here's a couple new pics. Not finished, it still needs some bracing on the front link crossmember, but close.

[Spray-Bomb]

Sweet !!!

[jlaird]

nice job!. Those rear shocks look like they are at a pretty severe angle. Not sure how well they are going to work like that. Maybe it's just the angle of the picture though.

[BACKYARD88]

I'm not positive they'll work like that either. I've built some 4X4 trucks and angled them like that but I don't know how it'll work on this application, I just wanted them as far outboard as possible.