Simple questions about Z'ing and body drops (channeling)

[98layinframe]

I helping a buddy of mine with his freshly started 73 blazer project as well as I myself recently picked up a nice clean mostly rust free 82 reg cab long bed truck that i cant wait to start cutting into. I've been doing a fair amount of reading on this site over the past few weeks to try and find some helpful pointers from other that have already been down this road a few times.

I cant get the blazer up on my frame table until my current S10 projects body drop is fully welded in place... so Im looking for some ruff measurements for the drop member. First question is how far above laying out on a blazer does the drop member place the front suspension? The current plan is to lay some 2x4" box tubing inside the frame rails and then cut the bottom of the rail off to get the rockers on or as close to the ground as possible. From my ruff measurements with the drop member in place it looks like the rockers will still be about 1/2" off the ground when the control arms touch? this sound right?


The second truck... my 82. My heading the same route with the 2x4 box tubing and trimming the bottom of the frame off, but instead plan to just Z the stock front clip enough to lay the rockers. May slice an inch out of the cross member depending on how much it hurts the steering geometry during the suspension travel. No drop spindles, and all stock arms... im on a much tighter build budget then my buddy as this is now the 3rd "toy" truck i own now.


Just to fill you guys in a little bit on what im talking about. My bagged 98 s10 laid on 20's.



Plans for it include stretching the frame to convert it into a 4 door quad cab truck, and stock floor body dropping it.

Have the cab.



The first gen s10, body dropped, narrowed backhalf, small block 350 swap.

very old pic, for some reason i cant find a newer one... yes the motor is sitting that far above the hood line.







I will try and get up some pics of the 2 projects im sure you guys are more interested in... the 73 and 82. But any answers to my questions would be great appreciated! thanks.