48 AD with C4 suspension

[4544speed]

I am new to the forum but have been reading for about a year. I have read many of the builds and threads. I know plenty of you out there have some ‘mad’ fabrication skills. I have seen so many good ideas and good advice on the message board. I have searched for builds related to C4 and read many. Now I want to ask for some advice myself. This is my first thread so please be excuse my ignorance, I am learning.
So, I have stripped my truck and now have a bare frame that I have started installing the Flat-Out engineering C4 front and rear setup. Not super low, and not ‘stick bug’ height either. I plan to use a late model 5.3 and 4L60E. Plan is to rebuild the stock C4 suspension and brakes. Good quality work but not show quality. I just want a driver.
If you have any experience that you can share with me regarding all things related to an AD with C4 components please let me know. Some of my concerns are steering column, master cylinder, and wheel backspacing, tire and wheel width. I would just like to hear from the experience of others. Since I have never had a modified AD (I had 3 stock ones) I am not sure what I need to know. What is the best bang for the buck on different aspects of the build?

[xpickup]

Hi Don, Hopefully we will get some more people to chime in.

Shannon

[NEWFISHER]

" Some of my concerns are steering column, master cylinder "
I have absolutely NO experience on a C4 AD build but can offer you some info on threads I have followed and bump it back to the top for ya.

Ididit Column seems to be the bolt it in and go or you can modify your stock column if you don't need tilt by cutting the lower tube and shaft, inserting a lower column bearing and then building u-joint style intermediate shaft to the rack.

The most popular brake system seems to be the 7"boosted master combo under the floor. It is offered by several companies ( Brothers is a sponsor here) and if you run out of room underneath, you can mount a kit that allows it to stuff under the dash with hanging pedals. Most keep them off the firewall it seems.

Good build, Im following it!

[48 GMC BURB]

Originally Posted by 4544speed

I am new to the forum but have been reading for about a year. I have read many of the builds and threads. I know plenty of you out there have some ‘mad’ fabrication skills. I have seen so many good ideas and good advice on the message board. I have searched for builds related to C4 and read many. Now I want to ask for some advice myself. This is my first thread so please be excuse my ignorance, I am learning.
So, I have stripped my truck and now have a bare frame that I have started installing the Flat-Out engineering C4 front and rear setup. Not super low, and not ‘stick bug’ height either. I plan to use a late model 5.3 and 4L60E. Plan is to rebuild the stock C4 suspension and brakes. Good quality work but not show quality. I just want a driver.
If you have any experience that you can share with me regarding all things related to an AD with C4 components please let me know. Some of my concerns are steering column, master cylinder, and wheel backspacing, tire and wheel width. I would just like to hear from the experience of others. Since I have never had a modified AD (I had 3 stock ones) I am not sure what I need to know. What is the best bang for the buck on different aspects of the build?

PM sent for PIX ..sounds like the sister to my truck ..subscribed !!

[98layinframe]

Sounds like I'm in the exact same boat / spot as several of you guys. Only difference is I've already bought a comple 86 corvette to use everything I can off of. I do agree the stock column or even a 70's chevy truck column would look more at home in the ad cab... but in my case I might just use the nice tilt column thats in the vette allready just because I have it.


Are there any guys on the forum here with a c4 suspension truck thats together and sitting on the wheels? I really would like to see how the wheels sit width wise on a stock width setup.
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[xpickup]

I will hopefully have the front done this weekend. I will have the front tacked in tonight and get the front suspension bolted up on sunday. Then I can get some dimensions on the front track width.

Shannon

[Boss hawg]

Originally Posted by 98layinframe

Sounds like I'm in the exact same boat / spot as several of you guys. Only difference is I've already bought a comple 86 corvette to use everything I can off of. I do agree the stock column or even a 70's chevy truck column would look more at home in the ad cab... but in my case I might just use the nice tilt column thats in the vette allready just because I have it.


Are there any guys on the forum here with a c4 suspension truck thats together and sitting on the wheels? I really would like to see how the wheels sit width wise on a stock width setup.
Posted via Mobile Device

Ill try to get out soon and put the cab back on and the fenders and take some pictures with mine... I'm not ready to put it back on yet but I should really to do what you are asking and Check the wheel placement and width.
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[smittster]

[Boss hawg]

Originally Posted by smittster

Attachment 1070195

Attachment 1070196

Attachment 1070197

What is the width or your front with the after market crossmember?
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[smittster]

My truck is at a shop getting body/paint work completed. I may stop by in the next couple of days and will get an exact measurement of the front and rear.

[4544speed]

Smittster - Looks like you are using the Flat-out kit. Is that correct? Frame looks good . Were the photos in front of the house taken after the suspension was completed? I was interested to know if that is the ride height. I noticed it had 5 lug wheels. Thanks.

[98layinframe]

I noticed in the build pics you have the zq8 wheels on each corner.. but in the last pic with the body on there's a camaro looking wheel on the front. Are those a higher offset wheels that tuck in further to clear the fenders? Will the zq8 wheels not fit up front?
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[Boss hawg]

Originally Posted by 98layinframe

I noticed in the build pics you have the zq8 wheels on each corner.. but in the last pic with the body on there's a camaro looking wheel on the front. Are those a higher offset wheels that tuck in further to clear the fenders? Will the zq8 wheels not fit up front?
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I was going to try and get some picture for you of my front. I put the fenders and cab back on and stuck some 8" montecarlo wheels on it with some wide tires off a 10" rally wheel. The tire look like they would barely fit. I actually have to rework it cause it have it positioned a little to far forward and I'm having wheel base issues. One side measures 116 1/2" and the other 117 1/2" but it measures the same to the lower ball joint. It does have a bent tie rod so I don't know if that is throwing it off that much or not.
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[smittster]

I did use the flat out engineering kit. The picture taken outside the house is after the suspension change. I believe after that picture was taken I raised the truck just slightly using the adjustable shocks. I don't know if the different type wheel question was directed at me but I did have some s-10 wheels on all corners but I had to change the front wheels. The s-10 wheels rubbed my fenders so I changed it to those firebird? wheels for a different offset.

[smittster]

I measured from outside tire to outside tire on the front and it was 64 inches. I was not able to remove the tires so this was easier to do, I hope it helps.

[FarmerSid]

My plans are to use C4 IFS and IRS in my 52 build but am confused after reading all the build threads using C4 suspension. When the front and rear parts are installed on the frame, and the stock vette rims being used, are the tires not centered very well in the fenders? I was thinking using the stock vette wheels for the build and then when I'm ready for new wheels, I would order rims that are the same offset and backspacing as the vette rims. Is this what I should be doing? Please explain if I have this all wrong.

Cheers!

[Boss hawg]

Originally Posted by FarmerSid

My plans are to use C4 IFS and IRS in my 52 build but am confused after reading all the build threads using C4 suspension. When the front and rear parts are installed on the frame, and the stock vette rims being used, are the tires not centered very well in the fenders? I was thinking using the stock vette wheels for the build and then when I'm ready for new wheels, I would order rims that are the same offset and backspacing as the vette rims. Is this what I should be doing? Please explain if I have this all wrong.

Cheers!

That's probably a good plan... I only was asking questions because I used the factory corvette crossmember. I was just curious if there were any width differences or what the width differences were from say the flat out kit.
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[4544speed]

Farmer, I would say to wait until the body is back on before making decisions on wheels. I have a set of stock vette wheels and they appear to work on the front but I am not sure about the rear yet. I put a set of 8 inch wheels with 4 inch backspacing on the front (did not drive it) and they actually fit but might rub the outside of the fenders at times. Many people just don't like the look of the vette offset. I think the best wheel will be between the two.

Boss, I have the flat-out kit (front and rear) and it is designed as stock width but mine measures about 3/4 inch narrower in the front. Not sure why. But that is not a bad thing.

[Boss hawg]

Did you have to get the smaller rack?
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[Boss hawg]

Mine is 60 inches to the mounting face on the rotors believe
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[4544speed]

No, I used the stock rack. It has a couple inches of adjustment on the rod ends. I just took about 1/2 inch out of both sides.

[FarmerSid]

4544speed, Ya I don't plan on buying wheels till after the body is on for sure. When you mention "Many people just don't like the look of the vette offset", why not?

[4544speed]

Farmer, I was not trying to tell you what to do about the wheels. Hope that it did not seem that way. I was trying to say, what you have will probably work and they fit. If the back ones are too narrow just add some spacers for a while.

I plan to run the stock Vette wheels for a while myself. I have a set of 5 spoke magnesium wheels. I like the early ZR1 wheels also.

The difference is the offset. The wheels I have only have about 1 inch of lip or dish. Most people like the deeper dish look. Say about 4 inches or better. That is a matter of preference and it is your truck.

I think, with the width of the vette suspension, it will be difficult to run anything too deep. I think it will need more backspacing. The wheels I have have around 7inches of backspacing.

[FarmerSid]

No apologies needed 4544speed. So the vette rear is pretty wide. Did they vary much over the years of the C4? I have yet to worry about the offset and all that for the rims. I just like wide meats on the rear. The vette tire width looks good to me and so far will shoot for that. A little narrower on the front. That's now but things could change later on. The reason I ask all these questions is I don't want to go through all the work of installing the vette rear and it's not going to give me the look I'm after. The look I'm after is just a nice wide tire on the rear like the vette and look right from behind.

[xpickup]

Hi Don

This is what I have figured out. The one I am working on has a earlier c4 rear and with the later style wheels I measure 68" outside to outside of the tires. Then I changed to s10 wheels and I then get 71". I have a 54 pickup that is mine and I am now going to put C4 stuff in it. I already have a 90 front end and and getting the same year rear end. I am planning on using the corvette style wheels and figured if I need to run spacers that is what I will do to get the wheels to fit right. I like the look of the vette style wheels and think it goes good with the suspension.


Shannon