84' 3/4 lowered advice

[Nightrider]

I have a 1984 Chevy Scottsdale long bed 3/4 ton.. I want to lower my truck but not get crazy... I would think 5/7 would be too much. Whats a good compromise between height and function..

[tinydb84]

Shackles and hangers with drop spindles. 2/4 drop. You can cut the springs later if you want lower.

[Nightrider]

I am trying to find the best deal for those right now.... Thanks Im think on it..

[Nightrider]

Is it possible to do a 6inch drop in the back and not cut into my frame??

[manimal]

if you change your front brakes, you can run 1 ton dually spindles. wasnt sure if you knew that or not. That is how I lower my 3/4tons.

[Nightrider]

Originally Posted by manimal

if you change your front brakes, you can run 1 ton dually spindles. wasnt sure if you knew that or not. That is how I lower my 3/4tons.

You saying that would be cheaper... easier?

[manimal]

check the costs. If I remember right, when I did a c20, I looked at drop spindles for the c20 and the c30 were cheaper. I used BellTech. Just use c30 front calipers. Look up ball joints for both. I believe they are the same.

[tinydb84]

I lowered mine 6 in the rear by doing shackles/hangers and pulling the bottom 3 leafs. There was enough room without a notch at that point. POL makes drop spindles for the front.

[Nightrider]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

I lowered mine 6 in the rear by doing shackles/hangers and pulling the bottom 3 leafs. There was enough room without a notch at that point. POL makes drop spindles for the front.

I know doing it that way is alot cheaper would you say its a better ride then doing a 6 inch axle flip?? or about the same? what do you think..

[tinydb84]

Originally Posted by Nightrider

I know doing it that way is alot cheaper would you say its a better ride then doing a 6 inch axle flip?? or about the same? what do you think..

They don't make a flip kit for the 8 lug axles. Your perches are different. Your spring pack is also different so your flip will get you closer to 8 inches instead of 6.

I didn't drive mine much with the lowered rear. I ended up tearing it apart to do more work to it and haven't driven it since.

[Nightrider]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

They don't make a flip kit for the 8 lug axles. Your perches are different. Your spring pack is also different so your flip will get you closer to 8 inches instead of 6.

I didn't drive mine much with the lowered rear. I ended up tearing it apart to do more work to it and haven't driven it since.

Alright cool thanks... i found a Chevy C10 4" Drop Hangers Shackles Lowering Kit off of ebay... i would think it would work because a shackle is a shackle right?

[tinydb84]

Originally Posted by Nightrider

Alright cool thanks... i found a Chevy C10 4" Drop Hangers Shackles Lowering Kit off of ebay... i would think it would work because a shackle is a shackle right?

I dont think they would. I believe the perches are in different spots.

[Nightrider]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

I dont think they would. I believe the perches are in different spots.

so what you saying i should do? lol

[tinydb84]

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/d...19-4/overview/

They make C20 specific parts

[Nightrider]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/d...19-4/overview/

They make C20 specific parts

right... do you have a website link of where you bought yours at???

[manimal]

Again, measure the width of the springs. Look at BellTechs website and see if they are the same as a 1t dually. If so, order the shackles and hangers.

[Nightrider]

Originally Posted by manimal

Again, measure the width of the springs. Look at BellTechs website and see if they are the same as a 1t dually. If so, order the shackles and hangers.

ok sooo i looked at BellTechs website and they did not have any shachles o hangers for either a c20 or c30? so i went to IdCarid and found a BellTech 6907 4 inch drop shackle and hanger kit but its for a c30... so I just need to see if this will work.... its funny its a bigger deal with the back of the truck then the front.

[jrpontiac]

For the rear, if you have a welder. You can get a new spring perch (axle tube) and weld it opposite of the current perch and your flip kit is done. At the same time you can weld a shock stud onto the ubolt bracket and your spring mount is done. This is what I did with one of my c10's and it worked nicely. Cost me maybe $20.

[Nightrider]

Originally Posted by jrpontiac

For the rear, if you have a welder. You can get a new spring perch (axle tube) and weld it opposite of the current perch and your flip kit is done. At the same time you can weld a shock stud onto the ubolt bracket and your spring mount is done. This is what I did with one of my c10's and it worked nicely. Cost me maybe $20.

what do you mean by welding it the opposite way? on the bottom?

[jrpontiac]

Originally Posted by Nightrider

what do you mean by welding it the opposite way? on the bottom?

Yep, just on the opposite side (bottom) of axle housing.

[tinydb84]

The link I posted should fit a C20. Click on the application tab.

[manimal]

Originally Posted by Nightrider

ok sooo i looked at BellTechs website and they did not have any shachles o hangers for either a c20 or c30? so i went to IdCarid and found a BellTech 6907 4 inch drop shackle and hanger kit but its for a c30... so I just need to see if this will work.... its funny its a bigger deal with the back of the truck then the front.

If the springs are the same width, the shackles and hangers will work just fine. Or you can use 1t springs and make your own pack. If you do a spring flip, make sure you set your pinion angle correctly.

[SCOTI]

Like jrpontiac indicated, a flip-kit can be done on the cheap by adding (welding) new leaf mounting pads under the axle tube vs. on top & using fresh/new U-bolts/nuts (don't re-use U-bolt hardware; you can re-use the original plates). But, you'll get more than 6" of drop (closer to 8" depending on how thick the spring pack is). You would need to source the pads & U-bolts for the correct OD of your axle tubes.

The shackles/hangers will get you 4" drop. You could remove some leafs to play around w/additional drop.

There is also another possibility that doesn't require welding but would require some modification (cutting, trimming, drilling, & measuring because you won't have specific instructions). You could use a 98-00 3/4 ton 8-lug flip/c-notch kit. They're similar in design. The axle tube OD should be the same (14bolt GM housings). The main difference is in the frame-rail profile but the 98-00 c-notch could be trimmed to fit where necessary.

[Nightrider]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

The link I posted should fit a C20. Click on the application tab.

that truck is badass! thanks

[Nightrider]

Originally Posted by manimal

If the springs are the same width, the shackles and hangers will work just fine. Or you can use 1t springs and make your own pack. If you do a spring flip, make sure you set your pinion angle correctly.

ok ill make sure i dont mess the pinion angle up..