Lowered straight axle

[mr48chev]

The broken white line across under the crossmeber is the axle RINC. Ol' Jeff gets a bit carried away with the "in the weeds" thing but you can still make out the outline of the axle.

And you are right Jeff, that's probably the lowest truck with an axle and leaf springs under it that I have ever seen that still had suspension travel. I've got an old axle that is around a 38/39 Chevy that has been stretch dropped quite a bit and it still has a lot more clearance than that.

[RINC]

I hear ya mr48chev.

Been doing the lowered VW bus thang for the 15 years. The bus I just sold ran around Phoenix with 1in between the beam an the road.

I aint skeerd !

As to a contructive post from me, get an new I-beam Jeff56. I know its easy to spend your money from where I am but ....

[Jeff56]

I appreciate it guys. I know a guy that has a 2 inch drop axle with the proper leafs and disc brakes installed already for $500 so I think I'll try that route. I was debating between that or just replacing my leaf packs but that still doesn't increase my ground clearance
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[mr48chev]

That axle is a real show truck item for a guy who wants to keep an axle under the truck and not go to independent but as you have already seen it isn't too practical for a guy who is going to actually drive the truck on the road on a regular basis.
You should be able to sell it and the springs for enough to go a long ways towards paying for the other axle setup though. Someone will want their truck that low and won't care if they clip a manhole cover once in a while in the process. Or someone will think it's just the ticket for his "ratrod" so don't start too cheap on the selling price.
I can see the add now
Extreme dropped tube axle for 56 Chevy pickup, This is one low setup for your truck or rat rod XXX$$$ Complete with springs.

[Jeff56]

Thanks for the advice. Now trying to set a price is the hard part. Maybe if someone reads this they will make an offer and go from there. I appreciate all the help.
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[mr48chev]

I'd say that the selling price is going to have to be somewhere in the 250 and up range depending on what shape the rest of the setup is and what goes with it.

You can bet that right now there is someone within 50 miles of Bakersfield collecting parts for a truck or rat rod that will think that axle is the ultimate setup for what he is building.

[mknittle]

all I see is weeds.

[mr48chev]

The axle is in there but you have to look really really close. That broken white line just above that piece of wood is the axle as you can see come down and under the spring from the left side.

[Choady]

It looks like the Spring shackles were changed out too.
there is no center bolt like the OEM set-up.
It looks like the spring has a bolt going thru the eye.

[Jeff56]

Ok ill look in to that. I'll have to look and see what the stock looks like I cant remember. So would changing the shackles like that lower the truck. How would that work. Thanks again guys
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[Jeff56]

I actually looked at a stock 56 & 57 Chevy pickup today. And the hangers look just like the ones on my truck. So if it's possible can you show me or explain whats diff. Thanks
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[Choady]

If you look at one the various suppliers of parts for the Trucks
(I have a 55.2) like LMC (I have no affiliation with any and buy my parts all over like most..) you can see that the shackles are held together by a bolt in the center. The point that pivots is not a bolted joint. The "Pins" are tapered on each end and the shackles have tapered holes to contain them.
I can try and post a picture if my rambling was too confusing.

[mr48chev]

Choady is correct Jeff, who ever hung the suspension under that truck used bolts rather than the stock pins. You might have some slop in that setup the way it is.

You can see it in the square marked 4 here on page 89 http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/ca/full.aspx?Page=89

[Jeff56]

Ok I get it now. So do you think replacing the spring pack would help me out. I was debating on putting the stock leafs in and not changing that axle out. Or taking that axle out and putting a 2inch lowered axle with a stock spring pack. I have access to both. Original spring pack for $100 or 2 inch axle, original springs and disc brake kit installed on axle for $500. Which route you think would be best or any other suggestions.
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[LDO]

Originally Posted by Jeff56

Ok I get it now. So do you think replacing the spring pack would help me out. I was debating on putting the stock leafs in and not changing that axle out. Or taking that axle out and putting a 2inch lowered axle with a stock spring pack. I have access to both. Original spring pack for $100 or 2 inch axle, original springs and disc brake kit installed on axle for $500. Which route you think would be best or any other suggestions.
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I would go with the disk brake deal but keep in mind you will need a master cylinder, booster (maybe) and proportion valve to go along with the front disks.

[1BadAction]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Man that's wicked, I'd rock it every chance I got!

[mr48chev]

When the truck is sitting out of a flat concrete slab with the tires aired up right how much clearance do you have between the axle and the slab and is the bottom of the axle lower than the bottom or the wheel rims on the front?

Having the axle below the scrub line is going to cause problems sooner or later. Either it will get you a ticket from a law enforcement officer or it will get you hung up if you ever have a flat. Or worse get hung up on something like a man hole cover sticking up a few inches out of the street.

You don't need to change the spring packs but I'd suggest replacing all of the bushings and getting the correct pins and shackles. Right now I'd imagine that the truck feels a bit loose in the front end with the trailer shackle setup that's on it.

Those of us with extremely lowered trucks learn how to drive them so we can negotiate the streets and driveway entrances without getting hung up most of the time. I've been hung up on the front bumper going in or out of a business parking lot a couple of times. One time in Utah I had to have my family get out of the truck so I could get out of the parking lot. Bontiful Utah is a town you want to avoid if you have an extremely lowered vehicle. We also learn to watch for obstructions in the road ahead of us so we can miss or deal with them.

I'm with you LDO I love the way Jeff's truck sits and always wanted a Task Force truck so I could have one that sat like that. I've got too many trucks now for that though.

[Jeff56]

The reason I thought I would replace the spring pack is because he took out all the leafs but 2. And the weight of the truck has caused the springs to dearch. I appreciate all your guys help. I will move the truck to a cement slab and take the measurements and go from there.
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[mr48chev]

Leaving it looking something like mine I take it.


I think that I removed two or three leaves when I put the truck together in 1989 so I could take it to the Kustom Kemps Lead sled Mountain High Nationals in Centralia Wa. Soon after that I wrecked my daily driver and the 48 again became my daily driver.

[Jeff56]

Yes that's exactly aha mine looks like lol.
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[mr48chev]

The plan when I did that was to take the truck to two car shows and pull it apart and put a MII front end under it. That never came to pass as I ended up using it as my daily driver for the next ten years and over a hundred thousand miles. And yes it is rough riding and hard steering.

[zenchal26]

I have 3" drop axle with 3" monos for a 6" drop up front and have 5-6"
between the ground and bottom of axle.

[Jeff56]

See what I mean I didn't think I was crazy well I dont think anyway. So I don't know why mine is sitting so low. You have any ideas
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