New to bagged C10

[Malidrag]

First let me say hello! Been a fan of the 67-72 c10s for a long time now and has always been a dream to get one. Finally at the age of 33 my wife allowed me to spend my money she agreed on me getting a truck for cruise nights around town and nice Sunday drives. Gave me a budget and the ok so the search began. I found what I was looking for and the price was where I wanted to be so I bought it. We both agreed on something done and driving not looking for anymore project cars. We have the truck now and beginning to enjoy it when the weather lets us but now it's time for me to personalize it to my likens

What I would like advice on is I want it to lay level when all aired out. To me the front seems to be higher. The rear has been c-notched and the front just bags on stock control arms. I feel this is where my issue is.

I would like to know if I run a set of tubular air bag control arms will it lower the truck the extra 2 inches it looks like I need? And if so will I run into upper control arm ball joint binding? If I replace the upper control arms to tubular will I not have to worry about binding?

Don't want to put truck out of commission to cut factory control arms and weld in buckets. Would love to get control arms ( been eyeballing porterbuilt ones) paint them to match and just do the swap and be done ( besides alignment).

Any info would be great and will post some pics thanks!
Corbin

[Malidrag]

[tinydb84]

If you switch to both upper and lower tubular control arms you will lay a couple inches lower and not bind your ball joints

Edit:

btw was your truck from California?

[Malidrag]

Thanks

If i do just lower control arms do you think I will run into binding issues?

[tinydb84]

Originally Posted by Malidrag

Thanks

If i do just lower control arms do you think I will run into binding issues?

You will probably hit the crossmember first...depends on how tall tires you have.

[lolife99]

Your going to have to move the crossmember up in the chassis.
A-arm pivot point is the low point.
Frame z or sectioned crossmember or Dropmember.
Tubular arms will help, but won't gain you any ground clearance.

[Malidrag]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

If you switch to both upper and lower tubular control arms you will lay a couple inches lower and not bind your ball joints

Edit:

btw was your truck from California?

Yup came from Cali. Do you know any history of this truck? If so and your willing to share pm me..


I'm only looking to lay level so hoping just the control arms will do. Not looking to ride aired out or low just want that level look parked. I saw the porterbuilt crossmembers and just not looking to go that deep till winter when truck comes off the road.

[tinydb84]

Sorry I dont. I saw it on craigslist for a while. I remembered it because it is so red lol.

lollife is right if you want to layout. Just to get flat I think the lower control arms will get you there. Do some research if you plan on going with a dropmember so that you can use whatever arms you buy on the dropmember when you get it.

[Malidrag]

Ok thanks again for all the help! Going to give porterbuilt a call

[PGSigns]

Been a long time since I have seen the malidrag name. I remember you and your brother from RC boats. Nice looking truck. When it is aired out is the front cross member on the ground? If so a drop member is the next step. A simple fix till next winter would be a set of bump stops in the back to let it sit level when aired out.
Welcome to old trucks.
Jimmy

[Malidrag]

Originally Posted by PGSigns

Been a long time since I have seen the malidrag name. I remember you and your brother from RC boats. Nice looking truck. When it is aired out is the front cross member on the ground? If so a drop member is the next step. A simple fix till next winter would be a set of bump stops in the back to let it sit level when aired out.
Welcome to old trucks.
Jimmy

Hey Jimmy, been a long time now from rc boats. Small word it is..lol

When all aired out my front member is about 5" from touching pavement. I've got a few calls out there and probably will just do both upper and lower control arms. It will complete the look that I am going for and come winter time think I want to do the drop member.

[tinydb84]

Just wait. Once you get the dropmember up front you are going to want the rear to sit as low. Good times!

[PGSigns]

I have all stock a arms in my 65 and aired out about 2" from the ground to the bottom of the a arms with a 20" wheel. Take a pic of the truck fully aired out on a concrete pad and look to see what the closest part to the ground is. From the pictures it looks like your lower ball joints are good and uppers may be getting close. If the uppers are still good then the truck may be setting on the bags. If so a cupped a arm will gain you a little more. Im still running boats. Got out of drag racing and just have to race something.
Jimmy

[Malidrag]

Originally Posted by PGSigns

I have all stock a arms in my 65 and aired out about 2" from the ground to the bottom of the a arms with a 20" wheel. Take a pic of the truck fully aired out on a concrete pad and look to see what the closest part to the ground is. From the pictures it looks like your lower ball joints are good and uppers may be getting close. If the uppers are still good then the truck may be setting on the bags. If so a cupped a arm will gain you a little more. Im still running boats. Got out of drag racing and just have to race something.
Jimmy

I will take some pics and post them but by the looks of it I got about 5 inches before subframe hits pavement aired out. I ordered the control arms cause like all said it will help and might be all I need in the end but will see when I get them in.

Sold all my boat stuff but my brother has all his still but hasn't ran them since 06 he said. Bought a real go fast boat and run the pond in that now..lol..

Went to first cruise night today and wife and kid they loved it so I see many good memories with the new purchase.

Nice hearing from you again jimmy and hope to be here for awhile.
Corbin

[PGSigns]

Didn't he have an S10? As little as I can remember last week you two from 8 years ago is a stretch. Good to see you are having a good time with your new truck.
Jimmy

[Malidrag]

Originally Posted by PGSigns

Didn't he have an S10? As little as I can remember last week you two from 8 years ago is a stretch. Good to see you are having a good time with your new truck.
Jimmy

Yup and he still has that S-10 too.. He backed halved it and now working on building up a small block 400 boosted..

Here's a little update on the truck. Put in full tubular control arms and a shorter shock. Just waiting on my upper shock relocater brackets now. My front k member is about 1" from pavement now. Problem is I'm sitting on fender now.. There's just no winning at the moment

[Malidrag]

Trying to figure how to post more than on pic at a time..

[Malidrag]

This is all aired out

[tinydb84]

Looks good. Time for some slosh tubs!

[andrewmp6]

You might want to think about different hood hinges http://www.porterbuiltfabrication.com/?p=355

[TBONE1964]

Hey Corbin,

I am trying to reach you through PM. I have your cluster done and ready to ship.

Please get in touch with me when you have time.

Thank you,
Tom

[Malidrag]

Sorry you got pm back

[zipper]

what wheels are those and the specs?

[Malidrag]

They are center line forged wheels. These are only the 18" ones. Working on getting the 22's for the rear and 20's for the front