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Lovett · 03-30-2017, 09:36 PM

If you look at a stock truck, one that has nothing done to it. The front of the truck needs work to lay the frame on the ground. The front cross member, engine oil pan and the lower control arm would be the lowest parts on the truck. They would be the first to touch the ground.

I am doing a bagged 65 truck right now. My plan is to do the front 1st. Get it to lay on the ground then do the rear of the truck to match.

Doing a low cost, do it yourself project. I have added a 2 inch drop spindle, disk brake. On the lower control arm. I have cut out the center of the of the arm where the coil spring was on it. I then used 1/4 inch plate to make a box for the air bag to set even with the bottom of the control arm. That gets you a few more inches of "lowered"

The next thing on the list is to raise the upper and lower control arm mounting points in relation to the ground. The plan will be to cut the frame between the firewall and the front cross member. Move it up 3 inches then weld it back together. This would be the hot rod "Z"ed frame. This will lower the truck and other 3 inches. Because I am adding a rack and pinion steering. I will cut the frame between the front cross member and the radiator core support. This will "lower" the front of the truck back to stock for sheet metal, front bumper. I am not using the stock steering box. idler arm, so that part of the frame does not have to be in the same plane, level as the front cross member and control arms. This will allow the control arm, spindles to be at the correct angles at ride height. I will also cut the inner wheel wells and hood hinge to make room for the top of the tires being way up from stock location.

I am adding a 700 trans to the v-8 engine. I will have to make some adjustments to the firewall and cab floor for the Engine and trans to fit because they are tied to the "raised" cross member. They will be 3 inches higher to the fame under the cab.

My truck is a GMC with leaf springs in the rear. When the work on the front is done. I will have a ride height for the frame under the cab and bed of the truck and the rear end housing. With that data, I will do the rear notch, 4 bar, bag placement on the rear of the truck. to match the travel of the new front end.

Everyone has a way of doing stuff on a project. My thought was the front need to be worked on before the rear.

03-30-2017, 09:36 PM	#11
Lovett Registered User Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts: 20	Re: 65 bag problems If you look at a stock truck, one that has nothing done to it. The front of the truck needs work to lay the frame on the ground. The front cross member, engine oil pan and the lower control arm would be the lowest parts on the truck. They would be the first to touch the ground. I am doing a bagged 65 truck right now. My plan is to do the front 1st. Get it to lay on the ground then do the rear of the truck to match. Doing a low cost, do it yourself project. I have added a 2 inch drop spindle, disk brake. On the lower control arm. I have cut out the center of the of the arm where the coil spring was on it. I then used 1/4 inch plate to make a box for the air bag to set even with the bottom of the control arm. That gets you a few more inches of "lowered" The next thing on the list is to raise the upper and lower control arm mounting points in relation to the ground. The plan will be to cut the frame between the firewall and the front cross member. Move it up 3 inches then weld it back together. This would be the hot rod "Z"ed frame. This will lower the truck and other 3 inches. Because I am adding a rack and pinion steering. I will cut the frame between the front cross member and the radiator core support. This will "lower" the front of the truck back to stock for sheet metal, front bumper. I am not using the stock steering box. idler arm, so that part of the frame does not have to be in the same plane, level as the front cross member and control arms. This will allow the control arm, spindles to be at the correct angles at ride height. I will also cut the inner wheel wells and hood hinge to make room for the top of the tires being way up from stock location. I am adding a 700 trans to the v-8 engine. I will have to make some adjustments to the firewall and cab floor for the Engine and trans to fit because they are tied to the "raised" cross member. They will be 3 inches higher to the fame under the cab. My truck is a GMC with leaf springs in the rear. When the work on the front is done. I will have a ride height for the frame under the cab and bed of the truck and the rear end housing. With that data, I will do the rear notch, 4 bar, bag placement on the rear of the truck. to match the travel of the new front end. Everyone has a way of doing stuff on a project. My thought was the front need to be worked on before the rear.