Another Crossmember drop question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bagged_and_bodydrop · 04-06-2005, 11:57 AM

I'm going to do a 4 inch cross member drop on my 85 chevy short bed (can't afford $600-$1000 for control arms) Where do yall get the rack and pinion? Is there any other clearence problems I should worry about?

fastbagged68 · 04-06-2005, 02:12 PM

Are you sure you need a 4inch crossmember drop? You are going to run into a few problems... What size tire you going to run on the front? So with drop spindles and a 4 inch crossmember drop you will have a static drop of 7 inchs....with a stock spring.. now factor in a bag instead of a coil spring..... You better go take some measurements before you do a 4 inch crossmember drop. My truck with a 2 inch crossmember drop sits 1.5" off the ground when my frame is on the ground.... Now I have my custom lower control arms so add and inch to the bottom of my crossmember since with my arms I can cut off the section plate on the lower part of my crossmember. Go do a search for crossmember drop and look at the pics! Very educational!

bagged_and_bodydrop · 04-06-2005, 10:05 PM

My truck needs 3 and 3/4 inches layin, but my cups are 2inches tall so if i cut some out of them i could cut them about an 1 1/2 inches without problem. SO that would give me 2 1/4 inches to be layed out. I have 20inch wheels and 245/35 toyo tires up front and 285/50 goodyears on the back there massive yes, but i like my back tires huge. I have fire stone 2600s up front with 2.5 drop spindels. I saw on loweredd.com where they did a 4 inch crossmember drop. Didnt really give in depth info on relocating crap though.

DM310 · 04-07-2005, 12:17 AM

I dont think they did a crossmember drop, they Z'ed the frame. If you Z the frame you wont need a rack and pinion.

fastbagged68 · 04-07-2005, 02:19 AM

Taking out 1.5" of bag cups would be more then 1.5" at the wheel. My Suburban lays out on 245-40-20's with a 2inch drop crossmember and my custom lower control arms, 2.5 drop spindles.And my crossmember is 1-1.5" off the ground when layed out!

bagged_and_bodydrop · 04-07-2005, 11:08 AM

Is it easier if just Z the frame a few inches and cut the cups? Sounds cheaper since I wouldnt have to have rack and pinion.

DM310 · 04-07-2005, 01:15 PM

check out http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php3?t=130318 and http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php3?t=60649 To me doing the crossemember drop is easier. I just got done chopping it 1.5" which should let me lay frame along w/ a couple of other mods. If you Z the frame, deppending on how much you might have to move the motor forward to avoid firewall interference, new trans crossmember, and redo the trans hump. To Z the frame is a lot more work than just doing the crossmember. How good are your fab skills? Other things are is your truck a auto or stick? Talking to Fastbagged68 helped me make the decision on weather to Z the frame or just do the crossmember

**Captkaos** · 04-07-2005, 07:04 PM

loweredd.com Z'd his frame (truck is for sale too). I personally think you will be well low enough with drop components and 1.5" crossmember drop.

**N2TRUX** · 04-07-2005, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bagged_and_bodydrop

I'm going to do a 4 inch cross member drop on my 85 chevy short bed (can't afford $600-$1000 for control arms) Where do yall get the rack and pinion? Is there any other clearence problems I should worry about?

Your contradicting yourself here. If your planning on saving money you are NOT going to by "attempting" a 4" crossmember drop. Once you go past 2.5 to 3" on a crossmember drop you are going spend a ton of money because nothing you have now will work anymore.....

bagged_and_bodydrop · 04-07-2005, 11:35 PM

N2TRUX is right by the time I get done pulling the motor, takin the front clip off, welding, grinding, cutting, and body work + paint, I could buy control arms, I spent about $23,000 on it whats another grand anyways, who makes good control arms, air ride, does belltech make em for bags, I know chassis Tech does or AIM whatever u wanna call them, but I know yall don't like them. + Either way I'm gonna have to build me a tranny cross member because mine is all bent up some one wrecked it and bent it down then I had to go off and drag it and its like 1/4 of an inch off the ground now anyone make em, or is that do it your self item on these trucks?

smokekiki · 04-08-2005, 08:09 AM

Here is a thread about airrides a-arms.http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ight=ride+arms

04-06-2005, 11:57 AM	#1
bagged_and_bodydrop Just drag it Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: ardmore, oklahoma Posts: 98	Another Crossmember drop question I'm going to do a 4 inch cross member drop on my 85 chevy short bed (can't afford $600-$1000 for control arms) Where do yall get the rack and pinion? Is there any other clearence problems I should worry about?

04-07-2005, 07:04 PM	#8
Captkaos www.73-87chevytrucks.com Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 6,935	loweredd.com Z'd his frame (truck is for sale too). I personally think you will be well low enough with drop components and 1.5" crossmember drop. __________________ Chris Lucas 1973 Chevy C-10 1978 GMC Jimmy (2WD) - SOLD 1987 R10 twin turbo LS 1991 R3500 SRW CrewCab 1985 K5 diesel swapped project 1989 K5 2WD conversion w/ Vette susp Project Captkaos Customs 73-87chevytrucks.com

04-08-2005, 08:09 AM	#11
smokekiki Mike Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: west chester pa Posts: 2,474	Here is a thread about airrides a-arms.http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ight=ride+arms __________________ 70'c/10, 71 suburban4x4 402bb, 72suburban 4/6 drop, 72k/5 4x4 blazer 4" lift 35 tires

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04-06-2005, 02:12 PM	#2
fastbagged68 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tri Valley California Posts: 792	Are you sure you need a 4inch crossmember drop? You are going to run into a few problems... What size tire you going to run on the front? So with drop spindles and a 4 inch crossmember drop you will have a static drop of 7 inchs....with a stock spring.. now factor in a bag instead of a coil spring..... You better go take some measurements before you do a 4 inch crossmember drop. My truck with a 2 inch crossmember drop sits 1.5" off the ground when my frame is on the ground.... Now I have my custom lower control arms so add and inch to the bottom of my crossmember since with my arms I can cut off the section plate on the lower part of my crossmember. Go do a search for crossmember drop and look at the pics! Very educational!

04-06-2005, 10:05 PM	#3
bagged_and_bodydrop Just drag it Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: ardmore, oklahoma Posts: 98	My truck needs 3 and 3/4 inches layin, but my cups are 2inches tall so if i cut some out of them i could cut them about an 1 1/2 inches without problem. SO that would give me 2 1/4 inches to be layed out. I have 20inch wheels and 245/35 toyo tires up front and 285/50 goodyears on the back there massive yes, but i like my back tires huge. I have fire stone 2600s up front with 2.5 drop spindels. I saw on loweredd.com where they did a 4 inch crossmember drop. Didnt really give in depth info on relocating crap though.

04-07-2005, 12:17 AM	#4
DM310 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 256	I dont think they did a crossmember drop, they Z'ed the frame. If you Z the frame you wont need a rack and pinion.

04-07-2005, 02:19 AM	#5
fastbagged68 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tri Valley California Posts: 792	Taking out 1.5" of bag cups would be more then 1.5" at the wheel. My Suburban lays out on 245-40-20's with a 2inch drop crossmember and my custom lower control arms, 2.5 drop spindles.And my crossmember is 1-1.5" off the ground when layed out!

04-07-2005, 11:08 AM	#6
bagged_and_bodydrop Just drag it Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: ardmore, oklahoma Posts: 98	Is it easier if just Z the frame a few inches and cut the cups? Sounds cheaper since I wouldnt have to have rack and pinion.

04-07-2005, 01:15 PM	#7
DM310 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 256	check out http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php3?t=130318 and http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php3?t=60649 To me doing the crossemember drop is easier. I just got done chopping it 1.5" which should let me lay frame along w/ a couple of other mods. If you Z the frame, deppending on how much you might have to move the motor forward to avoid firewall interference, new trans crossmember, and redo the trans hump. To Z the frame is a lot more work than just doing the crossmember. How good are your fab skills? Other things are is your truck a auto or stick? Talking to Fastbagged68 helped me make the decision on weather to Z the frame or just do the crossmember

04-07-2005, 11:35 PM	#10
bagged_and_bodydrop Just drag it Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: ardmore, oklahoma Posts: 98	N2TRUX is right by the time I get done pulling the motor, takin the front clip off, welding, grinding, cutting, and body work + paint, I could buy control arms, I spent about $23,000 on it whats another grand anyways, who makes good control arms, air ride, does belltech make em for bags, I know chassis Tech does or AIM whatever u wanna call them, but I know yall don't like them. + Either way I'm gonna have to build me a tranny cross member because mine is all bent up some one wrecked it and bent it down then I had to go off and drag it and its like 1/4 of an inch off the ground now anyone make em, or is that do it your self item on these trucks?



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