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Old 06-09-2010, 08:58 PM   #1
Steve Van Gent
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Drop truck=poor ride

So I did the poor mans drop on my truck. I origionally cut one coil off front, put 3 inch drop springs on rear, truck was a little rough ride. When to 5 inch drop on back, new hard-pan bar, and another half coil off front. Here are results;
1. Front rims now rub on top A-arm when I turn truck
2. rear now bottoms out on rubber stop on regular basis
3. Ride is terrible. I drove from Redding to San Francisco 250 miles, felt like I rode a horse whole way.

I should qualify this by saying that when it was at origional height, it did not ride great-I expected that with A-arm front and swing with coils in rear, it should have been a good ride. It was NOT good.

BTW, my 305 and 700R4 gave me new improved MPG of 13.5MPG! great improvement-I got 15 with origional 4 speed and 350!!!
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Old 06-09-2010, 09:03 PM   #2
62 Bowtie
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Re: Drop truck=poor ride

Bottoms out with 5in coils? you can remove those bumpstops will be a lot less bumpy did you change to lowered style shocks
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Old 06-09-2010, 09:05 PM   #3
Steve Van Gent
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Re: Drop truck=poor ride

If the stops were not in place, would it not hit frame instead?

I am not familiar with lowered shock styles????

Also, what about front-it sucks too....I feel every bump in road, TWICE!
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Old 06-09-2010, 09:15 PM   #4
62 Bowtie
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Re: Drop truck=poor ride

I'm runnin the 5in drop coils out back removed bump stops no hitting whatsoever I am using Doetchtech shocks designed for lowered trucks. You can actually bottom out on stock shocks because of limited travel especially in front
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Old 06-09-2010, 09:20 PM   #5
Rich 5150 69
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Re: Drop truck=poor ride

You may have to put a small c notch in your frame rear, requres welding so you have at least 4 inch travel, front go to 2 inch drop spindles and change out springs to near stock or 2 inch drop I believe. If it still rides rough throw a fat chick in the back.....
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Old 06-09-2010, 09:23 PM   #6
Steve Van Gent
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Re: Drop truck=poor ride

I am actually thinking of going back to 3 inch drop. I think it looks funny at 5 inch drop...3 looked better. Also, I tried to level truck by bringing front down more, again I think it looks funny with truck not having a slight down tilt in front...IMHO...
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Old 06-09-2010, 09:24 PM   #7
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Re: Drop truck=poor ride

You can do a bolt in notch if you want. It will give you more clearance in the rear.
The riding a horse feeling is from your shocks being way out of there useful zone. You need to get shock mount relocators and shocks for the lowered truck.
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Old 06-09-2010, 09:25 PM   #8
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Re: Drop truck=poor ride

and I used to try carrying concrete in back of truck- it got squirelly-I can only imagine what it would do with fat chick in back...
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Old 06-09-2010, 09:26 PM   #9
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Re: Drop truck=poor ride

When I was rollin on 5in. drop springs I had no problem hitting bump stops in the rear. If you are worried, cut them in half. I did not need a notch like CPP advises either. As for the front, have a custom coil made. S-10 springs worked well on mine with a coil and a half whacked out. Rode pretty good considering (cut the bump stops in the front too). Just my .02
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Old 06-09-2010, 09:29 PM   #10
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Re: Drop truck=poor ride

s10 coils had a high enough spring rate for a fullsize? this suprises me, u'd think it'd be way too soft
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Old 06-09-2010, 09:32 PM   #11
Rich 5150 69
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Re: Drop truck=poor ride

[QUOTE]and I used to try carrying concrete in back of truck- it got squirelly-I can only imagine what it would do with fat chick in back.../QUOTE]

LOL>>>>>>>>
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Old 06-09-2010, 09:40 PM   #12
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Re: Drop truck=poor ride

concrete ain't near as fun as a biggin!!!
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Old 06-09-2010, 09:42 PM   #13
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Re: Drop truck=poor ride

Robtech- yeah, someone else mentioned that too, but they worked fine for me. I think they may have been my Malibu springs but they were the same dimensions.
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Old 06-10-2010, 07:48 AM   #14
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Re: Drop truck=poor ride

[QUOTE=Rich 5150 69;4023292][QUOTE]and I used to try carrying concrete in back of truck- it got squirelly-I can only imagine what it would do with fat chick in back.../QUOTE]

Never carry a fat chick in the bed of your truck. Due to their, uhm, geometry, they can roll around and slam into the side of your bed.

This might result in expensive repairs to your truck and, as a side note, may require finding another fat chick.
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Old 06-10-2010, 02:39 PM   #15
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Re: Drop truck=poor ride

You can cut the snubbers down some with a sawzall. I'm in Redding also if you need an extra pair of eyes to take alook at it.
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Old 06-10-2010, 02:53 PM   #16
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Re: Drop truck=poor ride

Probably not the answer you are wanting to hear, but what are you running for tires? If they have enough sidewall height, they can absorb some of the shocks that the suspension is no longer able to.

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Old 06-10-2010, 03:12 PM   #17
72BlckButy
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Re: Drop truck=poor ride

Check out Early Classic Enterprises.... no c-notch will be required.

I'm not sure if the frames are the same, but I'd assume adding shock relocators and drop shocks and you'll be riding smooth.
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1969 CST SWB - Project Blank Slate (4.5/6" ECE Static Drop, 6-lug disc brake upgrade (manual), Billet Specialties Vintec 20x8.5 255/40 (F) 20x10 295/40 (R), 250 I-6)
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