How low of a static drop can you go without a c-notch

[demoj21]

First post long time lurker here.My question is how low can you go with a static drop and not have to modify your frame? I originally wanted to do air ride but my build fund can not afford air, air ride, and LS swap. I also don't want to c notch the frame now. I want to go as low as I can for the look but I want a good ride, without bottoming out issues and such. Thanks Jason.

[68shortwide]

Hmm. Without bottoming out? I think you'd be good with a 3/4 or possibly a 4/6, any lower you're sure to bottom out on tiny bumps.

[demoj21]

With a 4/6 do you need to do a c-notch? Do you have issues with clearances on the front inner fenders, or need to mod. rear wells? I understand tire size will be a part of whether there is clearance or not to some degree. I probably will be looking to run 18x8 fronts 20x8 or 10 rears. Thanks Jason.

[Lees68GMC]

This really won't be much help as My 68 is a GMC with rear leaf springs. Front is 2-1/2" drop spindles and stock springs, rear is custom fabbed rear shackles and removal of 3 leafs per side. I have some bottoming on hard dips and I'm installing prothane bump stops and yes, finally a C-notch kit $99.00, BUT I'm not going any lower than what you see here. I'm eventually going with 20 X 8.5s in Front with 20 X 10s in Back and I believe this is all the drop I can get without tire clearance problems in he future. Current Tires are BFG 275-60-15s on 15 X 8s all around. In conclusion You Could get by with No C-Notch at this level and tolerate the occasional bottoming, however even occasional banging makes me crabby, so C-Notch it is, unless some better cost effective solution surfaces..- Lee

[brad_man_72]

You could bottom out at stock ride height.... I'm running a 6" rear drop w no notch, axle is barely sitting on the bumpstops. So if I wanted to go lower without a notch I could take out the bumpstops.

So the answer is, it depends. Some people go 6" with no notch, some people won't go more than 3 without a notch. Its up to you.

[leddzepp]

All depends. I bottomed out routinely with 5" springs. Install the ones you want, and if it needs a notch, then notch it.

[csfields]

I did a 3.5 / 6 inch drop. I had originally went with 4 inch shorter springs in the rear with the original bump stops and I think it would have been ok, yet I wanted it lower. I added 2 inch blocks and a C-notch was a must. I put it in with the bed on. Wasn't that big of a deal. Now I have plenty of clearance. In my case, once I went with a 6 inch drop in the rear, you will have to change out the rear pan hard bar, it will hit the rear cover. I went with a CPP bent pan hard bar and made it real nice.

[ujsf01]

I had a 72 that I did a 3/5 drop with 18x8 fronts and 18X9.5 rears and did not use a notch. It was the CPP kit with the adjustable panhard bar and shock relocation brackets. I know there's a lot of badmouthing CPP on here, but I had no trouble installing this kit and I liked the look. That said, I know they used to be a vendor on this forum, but I don't see them anymore. That may bring some validity to all the complaints. ECE has some nice pieces and seem to have a more favorable light shed on them.

[csfields]

I also used the CPP shock relocation kit, C-notch, pan hard bar and drop spindles and no complaints here. I even purchased the CPP steering column that is a direct replacement and saw a lot of bad lip about it, so far no complaints.

[67 chevelle]

I did a 3-5 CPP drop on my 68 c10 , no bottoming issues , but the front shocks died within 100 miles , oil everywhere .

[Ironangel]

"Generally" and still be able to haul 500lb loads...4" inches in the rear of LWB trucks without C-notching, without pan hard bar changes, and maintaining the factory shocks in their factory locations...Up front depends on tires, sway bar, whether or not you use drop spindles, (which you should)...3" inches up front with 60's, 4-1/2" to 5" inches with 70's using 2-1/2" inch drop spindles...The only geometry changes there would be 3 turns "in" on the outer tie rod ends and shorty shocks...This pic is "Sally" with 4" inch drop springs in the rear, 2-1/2" inch drop spindles up front with factory coils and 1/2 coil cut off...

[VDOG]

I have a 5 1/2 in drop in the front and 5 inch in the back o 15x8 in front and 15 x 10 1/2 in back. Once I figure out the new wheel size im going to run will determine how much lower I will go.

[1969Chev]

I have a c20, so I have more reinforcement and what not. but I am running 5 inch drop springs in the front, and 5 inch drop springs in the rear with 1 1/2 inch lowering blocks. I always bottomed out, then I got a shock relocation kit and cut out some little 3/4 ton reinforcement bracket that gave me another 1/2 inch of clearance and never bottom out. Rides really smooth