a few questions about lowering ??

[smoknbarrels]

As I got my truck in pieces, I don't have any original measurements, I hope someone can help me out. I currently did a c-notch in the rear and I plan to drop the truck 5-7. it's a '67 swb (wood floor).

can someone tell me (if the c-notch wasn't there) what is the measurement between the axel and the frame rail if I lowered it 7"? how much space is there for travel?

now the tough one... I am putting in rear coil-overs and need as much length as possible, and want to mount the top of the shocks as close to the top of the frame rails or bottom bed floor as possible. so what is the distance from the bottom of the wood floor to the axel? (at 7" drop).

and last, when you cut a front coils, what are the rough increments? 1/2 a coil = 1/2" ?? or 1/2 coil = 1" or something of the sort? its got six banger front coils so I figure I shouldn't need too much cut to get me to a 5" drop after the big blocks in it and with ece drop spindles too..but i just don't know how much to cut?

oh yea, one more.. I am running 29" tall tires, how low can I go before the stock wheel wells (front and back) need to be raised or removed?

Thanks for anyones help!

[Orange]

Just a couple of thinks I can answer to get started...
At 7" in the rear, you axle is going to be VERY close to the bed wood. Not sure of the exact measurement, but I know that you are going to be close to touching, if not.

One other thought - cutting the front springs to get 5" of drop isn't really a good way to go, but whatever suits you. You could easily accomplish the same with some components, and make you ride a lot nicer, and for the most part safer. (Spindles, lowering springs, drop control arms...)

Like I said, just a start.

DLB

[smoknbarrels]

I am using ece 2.5 drop spindles.. all other front components are stock. never heard of drop control arms before!? have a link? sounds interesting.

[lowrollin70gmc]

A 29" won't hit the rear tubs if you're only on a simple notch (not a step notch). I ran that on my bagged truck and drove home with no suspension one night.

Also, be wary of combining dropped arms and dropped spindles, this puts the spring pocket very close to the ground and man hole covers. A spindle and spring can combine to get that 5" drop, but aftermarket springs may be the way to go. I would imagine a bad ride with cut 6 banger coils and a massive motor.

But cut springs are free, so if it doesn't ride right swap in new lowered springs.

[Orange]

I agree with lowrollin - your most cost effective way to go is going to be the spindle+spring. But unless you can find a 3" spindle and then standard 2" springs or a 2" spindle and CPP's 3" springs, you aren't going to get a true 5". Most spindles are 2.5" drop.

DLB

[smoknbarrels]

but how about the rear? I put in a cpp bolt in C-notch, how much travel will i have in there with that puppy with a 7" drop?