body drop

[lotik]

anyone know if a 2 inch body drop would be enough to lay body on a 67? i can do a 2 inch stock floor drop that seems easier than the traditional drop.

[SCOTI]

I was considering doing one but got to thinking about the fact that the frame is already just about flush w/the rockers. If the rockers were lower than the frame they would be the first thing to hang up if you were to high center on anything...now that might be o.k. for a throw-away mini but I don't want to tear my trucks up. I've seen a few videos of trucks 'railing' & all of them had torn up bed corners, bumpers, & rockers/cab corners. Have you considered this possible damage? I don't want to discourage--just trying to give you as much info as possible so you can make an educated decision.

[lotik]

i have "somewhat" that baout that. i know lots of railers use skid plates but i know that fron corssmember is gonna catch alot of asphalt. you could also use bumpstops.

[69 longhorn]

I have a 1 1/2" body drop,to go with a 3/5 suspension drop. I have never dragged anything. I have seen too many trucks in my area that are set so low that sparks fly when the hit they rough spots......not worth it in my book.........69

[This message has been edited by 69 longhorn (edited April 24, 2002).]

[SCOTI]

That 1.5 bodydrop + 3/5 lowering is about the same as my un-bodydropped 5/7 driver so that amount isn't enough to worry about but my 67 is 2" lower(7/9) & when I was looking into doing the 2-3" bodydrop on it was when I was concernd w/the rockers dragging. They're no fun when your dragging asphault everywhere. I use to own a 70's camaro that you couldn't roll a beer can under. Looked bad-a but eventually you drag enough that it eats up the metal all around the crossmember edges so that's the best thing about bodydrops(the frame isn't dragging)but if the body drags you haven't gained much IMHO.

[69 longhorn]

I agree Scotti,one can go too much, on body or chassis drops & or both . In my area,a 4/6 drop is about all I would want to do on a driver,due to the conditions of the roads.Our winters play he!! with the roads!.......69

[lotik]

i am saying with bags. not just a static drop. the truck will lay frame. i just wnated to know if a body drop of 2" would lay rocker.

[69 longhorn]

I would say, lay a straight edge across the bottom of the frame,then measure to the bottom of the rocker,from the top of the straight edge.....that sould tell you. Good luck........69

[NSANE68!!!]

lotik, with a 2" body drop it would almost lay rocker. When my truck is laid out, the frame is about 3/4" off the ground, and the rocker measures 3 1/4"-3 1/2", so if you got the frame to lay, and a 2" body drop, the rocker would be 1/4" - 1/2" off the ground. Which would be cool, so if you wanna lay rail, you don't jack your rockers up. Later

[rednecknate]

a 2"body drop will not lay the rockers you need to go 3"s depednding on the rims your running lay rocker they make replacements cheap kepp it in primer just get good at welding or the use of jb weld ive owned 2 body dropped truck and am doing a 71 sub now to lay door NOW dont go getting mad stock freaks its a rust bucket that needs tha rockers cut off any ways so its that or throw it away DRAG ON BUDDY LET THE SPARKS FLY Nate

[lotik]

rednecknate, is it possibly to get 3" retaining the stock floor? i really wouldn't like to lose any head or foot room.

[rednecknate]

lotik ive never done a stock floor body drop but i have done a frame raise on a 69 which gave it 2"s and alomost laid rocker i supose you could do that and a chanlell the frame raise basically is what it sounds like where your subframe bolt on in front you take it an the section in front of the steering gear and raise it up its alot of work but looks real clean when done correct i dont have any pics of the one i did or id send them to you i would offer to take pics but i dont have a clue where the truck endend up sorry ,if you channelled the frame into the cab it would require very little work on the inside of the trck other than you have to build a new trans tunnel depending on trens used hope this helps Nate

[SCOTI]

The 'frame raise' is more commonly refered to as 'z-ing' the frame. Another idea thats not quite as radical(you can't get as much drop) would be notching the frame to raise the front crossmember. If you were to drop the body around the rails(channel it) I would think the rails are out too far away from the trans hump that a little more than just tunnel work would be needed but I've never done it-I've only measured the floor trying to figure the best place to cut for a body drop.

[69 longhorn]

I channeled mine 1 1/2" by lowering the cab mounts,& cutting a strip out of the floor from the "toe boards" to the seat area. This was covered up with a 3 sided box(16 guage,welded back to the floor). You will also need to rework the trans hump for clearance. Up front the frame horns were cut off,dropped ,& welded &boxed. On the box , the lip was cut off 1 1/2" up,then welded back on. I left the gate stock height(for proportion),& used a set of drop down brackets on the rear bumper. For the more radical drops,it will take more cutting on the floor......69 longhorn.

[Primer_72]

Im halfway through a 3" body drop, (well Ive been halfway through for months but you know how that goes)I cut around the perimeter of the floor and dropped the cab over it. Seems like the easiest way to me but I didnt put alot of thought into it before I decided to take that route. I dont think anything short of 3 inches will allow you to lay rocker though...

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72 chevy future dragger
1993 GMC K2500
tchsusp@hotmail.com
"Built not Bought"
"Are you pondering what I'm pondering, Pinky?" -The Brain