Lowering questions??? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

anthony_1269 · 10-22-2002, 01:10 PM

Wuz up chevy fans, I have a 71 fleedside longbed that I am bringing to life. I plan to lower it with coil springs 3" in the front, 4" in the back w/panhard and shock relocators. I was just wondering if there would be a clearance problem with the truck? Should I also add 2 1/2" lowering spindles or will this also cause a problemo. Also would there be a clearance problem, and or would it look good, if I added 17" rims in the front, and 18" rims in the back, or should I go 17" all around? Thanks!

*Randy70C-10* · 10-22-2002, 01:18 PM

I've heard that the lowest you can go with no problems is a total of 4 inches in the front and 6 in the rear (with c-notch).

**1971Stepside** · 10-22-2002, 03:01 PM

If you want to drop the front of the truck that much I would not recommend doing that solely by springs. You will probably want to give Early Classics a call and get their 4/6 drop kit. This kit has the new spindles, all four springs, four shocks, relocator kit and adjustable panhard bar. Bring the big bucks as it is an $800 kit. I bought it for mine and it is high quality stuff. You should have no troubles with clearance on normal stuff. Oh, watch those road kills in Texas!

Anyway, as for the wheels the guys at Early Classic have stressed to me several times that 17" are the best choice all around for these trucks (especially with the 4/6 drop). I would like 18" but will wait until I am a little further along to decide.

Good luck. You can check out stance photos at Early Classics web site......man, I should be getting a commission!!

chevjayfsd · 10-22-2002, 05:10 PM

My truck is lowered 5.5/4... I have bottomed out a couple of times in the front but have not had 1 problem with the rear, never have bottomed out back there. Just get some really nice shocks and you should be fine...Now if you want bags thats a different story!!!

**1971Stepside** · 10-22-2002, 05:17 PM

chevyjayfst, how did you achieve a 5.5/4 drop? I'm curious because your truck looks like a 4/6 drop. To me a 5.5/4 drop would have a much steeper rake angle than yours does. Did you cut the springs?

crazy longhorn · 10-22-2002, 06:14 PM

Im with the rest of these guys, I would also say that 4/6 is about max drop without "bumpin the ugly side " on the road. I dont reccomend more than a 2" drop on the front spring. I have cut 1 ring off the coils( a no no) on my longhorn, for approx a 3" drop. The problem this causes is "bump steer" due to the angles of the tierods. best bet is a 2 1/2" spindle, & a 1 1/2,or 2" spring up front. I have what i call "loosely" a 3/5 drop(no aftermarket parts), & have also dropped the body 1 1/2". I would also reccomend running a set of 3/4 lenght headers & tucking the exhaust up inside the frame for clearance on that 4/6 drop. You need to decide what you like for stance.....level or raked, & figure that you will need 2- 2 1/2" more drop at the rear for a level stance. Good luck.....crazy AL

chevjayfsd · 10-22-2002, 07:13 PM

I got the stance by 2.5 in. spindles and 3 in. coils/ 4 in. coils in back... I have noticed this also even 5 in. drops look alot lower than mine, so its probably just the company, but i like the way it sits...
Jason

10-22-2002, 01:10 PM	#1
anthony_1269 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 110	Lowering questions??? Wuz up chevy fans, I have a 71 fleedside longbed that I am bringing to life. I plan to lower it with coil springs 3" in the front, 4" in the back w/panhard and shock relocators. I was just wondering if there would be a clearance problem with the truck? Should I also add 2 1/2" lowering spindles or will this also cause a problemo. Also would there be a clearance problem, and or would it look good, if I added 17" rims in the front, and 18" rims in the back, or should I go 17" all around? Thanks! __________________ 1971 Chevy Longbed Fleetside Chevrolet All The Way!

10-22-2002, 03:01 PM	#3
1971Stepside Almost Satisfied Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 2,932	If you want to drop the front of the truck that much I would not recommend doing that solely by springs. You will probably want to give Early Classics a call and get their 4/6 drop kit. This kit has the new spindles, all four springs, four shocks, relocator kit and adjustable panhard bar. Bring the big bucks as it is an $800 kit. I bought it for mine and it is high quality stuff. You should have no troubles with clearance on normal stuff. Oh, watch those road kills in Texas! Anyway, as for the wheels the guys at Early Classic have stressed to me several times that 17" are the best choice all around for these trucks (especially with the 4/6 drop). I would like 18" but will wait until I am a little further along to decide. Good luck. You can check out stance photos at Early Classics web site......man, I should be getting a commission!! __________________ 1971 C10 Stepside. LSx 6.0 with BTR Stage IV, Speed Engineering Headers, 4L80e transmission w/3200 Circle-D Stall. 3.73. Posi. Purchased this truck when I was 17. I started the rebuild (or take apart) in 1993. I have drug it around all over the country in pieces. Finally back on the road in 2021. "I can't complain, but sometimes I still do. Life's been good to me so far."

10-22-2002, 05:10 PM	#4
chevjayfsd Project 7dos Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Abilene, Texas Posts: 876	Go Low My truck is lowered 5.5/4... I have bottomed out a couple of times in the front but have not had 1 problem with the rear, never have bottomed out back there. Just get some really nice shocks and you should be fine...Now if you want bags thats a different story!!! Attached Images __________________ 7DOS - 1972 C-10 350/350 Porterbuilt/Accuair 20x8.5/20x10 Ride Low or Die PSSST - Yes it's bagged. 7dos build thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=610290

10-22-2002, 05:17 PM	#5
1971Stepside Almost Satisfied Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 2,932	chevyjayfst, how did you achieve a 5.5/4 drop? I'm curious because your truck looks like a 4/6 drop. To me a 5.5/4 drop would have a much steeper rake angle than yours does. Did you cut the springs? __________________ 1971 C10 Stepside. LSx 6.0 with BTR Stage IV, Speed Engineering Headers, 4L80e transmission w/3200 Circle-D Stall. 3.73. Posi. Purchased this truck when I was 17. I started the rebuild (or take apart) in 1993. I have drug it around all over the country in pieces. Finally back on the road in 2021. "I can't complain, but sometimes I still do. Life's been good to me so far."

10-22-2002, 07:13 PM	#7
chevjayfsd Project 7dos Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Abilene, Texas Posts: 876	71Step I got the stance by 2.5 in. spindles and 3 in. coils/ 4 in. coils in back... I have noticed this also even 5 in. drops look alot lower than mine, so its probably just the company, but i like the way it sits... Jason __________________ 7DOS - 1972 C-10 350/350 Porterbuilt/Accuair 20x8.5/20x10 Ride Low or Die PSSST - Yes it's bagged. 7dos build thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=610290

10-22-2002, 01:18 PM	#2
Randy70C-10 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Virginia Beach, Va. U.S.A. Posts: 15,320	I've heard that the lowest you can go with no problems is a total of 4 inches in the front and 6 in the rear (with c-notch).

10-22-2002, 06:14 PM	#6
crazy longhorn Fabricate till you "puke" Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ill Posts: 9,403	Im with the rest of these guys, I would also say that 4/6 is about max drop without "bumpin the ugly side " on the road. I dont reccomend more than a 2" drop on the front spring. I have cut 1 ring off the coils( a no no) on my longhorn, for approx a 3" drop. The problem this causes is "bump steer" due to the angles of the tierods. best bet is a 2 1/2" spindle, & a 1 1/2,or 2" spring up front. I have what i call "loosely" a 3/5 drop(no aftermarket parts), & have also dropped the body 1 1/2". I would also reccomend running a set of 3/4 lenght headers & tucking the exhaust up inside the frame for clearance on that 4/6 drop. You need to decide what you like for stance.....level or raked, & figure that you will need 2- 2 1/2" more drop at the rear for a level stance. Good luck.....crazy AL



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