does a 3.5 x 5 drop need a c-notch and drop center crossmember? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

futura72 · 09-25-2006, 07:16 PM

I have a 72 1/2ton SWB, I'm planning to drop 3.5" x 5". I find mixed results in the boards about notching the frame and adding a drop crossmember. Anybody with the same ride having problems?

centsless · 09-25-2006, 08:24 PM

I just put 3" front and 5" rear springs in my 72. No other mods were done and the only issues I am having is the exhaust is hitting the panhard bar mount on the right side, I am going to put an adjustable panhard bar on so hopefully a shorter bar will help that. The axle is now off center by about 1/2 inch so other than the exhaust clearance, a shorter bar isn't needed, but it will correct that also. On the front I just need to shorten or remove the front lower bump stops. It rides OK, but if I fix these two things it would be better.
Bob

CG · 09-25-2006, 10:07 PM

Ive read on this board you can do a 4/6 drop, but if you use your truck to haul stuff around you will hit without a notch. Not true with burbs or panels because they are heavier in the rear.

JustLiveIt · 09-25-2006, 10:28 PM

I have a 4/6 on mine that is all spring (no drop spindles). I don't have a C-notch and it works ok. I just don't have much travel in the front or back. Bottoms out very easily. I also have a 2 piece driveline. From the looks of my truck you would need a drop center cross member if you wanted to run a 1 piece. Also my driveline angles are not what they should be because of the 6 inch drop in the rear.

futura72 · 09-26-2006, 01:25 AM

Thanks for the input. I'm really trying to save over $300 in parts i may not need and the labor of putting them in. I think I'll use that money towards front and rear swaybars and go without the drop center and c.

case_bt · 09-26-2006, 11:10 AM

I have a 3/5 drop on mine no problems with it no c-notch either

case_bt · 09-26-2006, 11:11 AM

here it is

futura72 · 09-26-2006, 06:13 PM

that is the exact stance i am going for. looks great.

centsless · 09-26-2006, 09:46 PM

Nice truck case_bt !! Here is mine with 3/5 drop and 17" Impala SS wheels.

Attachment 217217

pissonNOS · 09-27-2006, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustLiveIt

I have a 4/6 on mine that is all spring (no drop spindles). I don't have a C-notch and it works ok. I just don't have much travel in the front or back. Bottoms out very easily. I also have a 2 piece driveline. From the looks of my truck you would need a drop center cross member if you wanted to run a 1 piece. Also my driveline angles are not what they should be because of the 6 inch drop in the rear.

whatd u use for coils all around all i did was cut my front coils and put 2 inch blocks out back it rides pretty decent but id sacriice ride for look seeing as i dont drive it much

**Already Gone** · 09-27-2006, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by centsless

Nice truck case_bt !! Here is mine with 3/5 drop and 17" Impala SS wheels.

Attachment 217217

Super looking truck, I love the stance, navy blue paint and how the wheels cap it off. How did you do the drop and what sizes are the tires?

JustLiveIt · 09-27-2006, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pissonNOS

whatd u use for coils all around all i did was cut my front coils and put 2 inch blocks out back it rides pretty decent but id sacriice ride for look seeing as i dont drive it much

PO put the coils on it so unfortunately I am not sure where they came from.

I would like to replace the front setup with 1" drop coils and drop spindles from Early Classic.

c10crazy · 09-27-2006, 10:28 AM

[QUOTE=centsless;1814037]Nice truck case_bt !! Here is mine with 3/5 drop and 17" Impala SS wheels.

Beautiful truck but that looks more like a 2/4 drop with all that space above the tires.

Jimbotronics · 09-27-2006, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by case_bt

I have a 3/5 drop on mine no problems with it no c-notch either

I have a question. I just installed the 3" front drop springs, if i lift the front end off the ground by the front cross member the springs are way loose and fall outta place. Is this normal? Thanks, Jim.

btw - do you happen to have a side profile photo of you truck? Looks sharp!

case_bt · 09-27-2006, 01:48 PM

the springs getting loose doesn't seem right make sure they are seated properly

CJJ67 · 09-27-2006, 02:22 PM

I have a 3/4 drop on my 67 sb stepside (but would love to get a little lower) and my springs are loose or fall out of place when i jack up my front end also. The ride is fairly smooth but sometimes I forget to put the springs back in their indents. So, this is not normal?

see ten · 09-27-2006, 04:12 PM

Yep, 3" drop springs will fall over when you jack up your truck by the crossmember.

boraxman · 09-27-2006, 05:44 PM

I have 3-5 spring drop and everything is fine, you can do it yourself easy. Get a pic up later.

centsless · 09-27-2006, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Already Gone

Super looking truck, I love the stance, navy blue paint and how the wheels cap it off. How did you do the drop and what sizes are the tires?

Drop was done with springs only. 3" front, 5" rear. Front tires are 255/50zr17, rear tires are 255/60vr17. The color is 2006 chevrolet impala laser blue.Mine also loses the front springs when you jack it up by the crossmember. I thought it was because it is missing the rubber bump stops on the upper control arm.

case_bt · 09-27-2006, 05:47 PM

took me 1.5 hours

redneckgirl · 09-27-2006, 06:25 PM

[QUOTE=c10crazy;1814394]

Quote:

Originally Posted by centsless

Nice truck case_bt !! Here is mine with 3/5 drop and 17" Impala SS wheels.

Beautiful truck but that looks more like a 2/4 drop with all that space above the tires.

It is a 3/5 drop. Since that pic was taken, we changed the rear tires to the 255/60vr17 and it helped fill the wheel wells. The 255/50zr17's are still a little too low of profile even for a 3" drop on the front. We measured height before & after to be sure we had the correct springs, so I can assure you it actually is a 3/5 drop.

You should have seen all the clearance before we swapped springs!!!

09-25-2006, 07:16 PM	#1
futura72 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Portland Posts: 14	does a 3.5 x 5 drop need a c-notch and drop center crossmember? I have a 72 1/2ton SWB, I'm planning to drop 3.5" x 5". I find mixed results in the boards about notching the frame and adding a drop crossmember. Anybody with the same ride having problems?

09-25-2006, 08:24 PM	#2
centsless sufficiently talented fool Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Forest Hill, MD Posts: 2,231	Re: does a 3.5 x 5 drop need a c-notch and drop center crossmember? I just put 3" front and 5" rear springs in my 72. No other mods were done and the only issues I am having is the exhaust is hitting the panhard bar mount on the right side, I am going to put an adjustable panhard bar on so hopefully a shorter bar will help that. The axle is now off center by about 1/2 inch so other than the exhaust clearance, a shorter bar isn't needed, but it will correct that also. On the front I just need to shorten or remove the front lower bump stops. It rides OK, but if I fix these two things it would be better. Bob __________________ "it's impossible to be surrounded by idiots when you are part of the circle" 2003 Suburban 2002 Pontiac Montana 1981 Corvette 1966 Impala Convertible Click here to support the board

09-25-2006, 10:07 PM	#3
CG BlahBlahBlah Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wa. Posts: 20,153	Re: does a 3.5 x 5 drop need a c-notch and drop center crossmember? Ive read on this board you can do a 4/6 drop, but if you use your truck to haul stuff around you will hit without a notch. Not true with burbs or panels because they are heavier in the rear.

09-25-2006, 10:28 PM	#4
JustLiveIt Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Los Angeles, Ca Posts: 136	Re: does a 3.5 x 5 drop need a c-notch and drop center crossmember? I have a 4/6 on mine that is all spring (no drop spindles). I don't have a C-notch and it works ok. I just don't have much travel in the front or back. Bottoms out very easily. I also have a 2 piece driveline. From the looks of my truck you would need a drop center cross member if you wanted to run a 1 piece. Also my driveline angles are not what they should be because of the 6 inch drop in the rear. __________________ 1968 Chev SWB Fleet with GMC Clip and lots of 71-72 parts!

09-26-2006, 01:25 AM	#5
futura72 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Portland Posts: 14	Re: does a 3.5 x 5 drop need a c-notch and drop center crossmember? Thanks for the input. I'm really trying to save over $300 in parts i may not need and the labor of putting them in. I think I'll use that money towards front and rear swaybars and go without the drop center and c.

09-26-2006, 11:10 AM	#6
case_bt Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: willis tx Posts: 374	Re: does a 3.5 x 5 drop need a c-notch and drop center crossmember? I have a 3/5 drop on mine no problems with it no c-notch either Last edited by case_bt; 09-26-2006 at 11:10 AM. Reason: typing with broke hand lol

09-26-2006, 11:11 AM	#7
case_bt Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: willis tx Posts: 374	Re: does a 3.5 x 5 drop need a c-notch and drop center crossmember? here it is Attached Images

09-26-2006, 06:13 PM	#8
futura72 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Portland Posts: 14	Re: does a 3.5 x 5 drop need a c-notch and drop center crossmember? that is the exact stance i am going for. looks great.

09-26-2006, 09:46 PM	#9
centsless sufficiently talented fool Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Forest Hill, MD Posts: 2,231	Re: does a 3.5 x 5 drop need a c-notch and drop center crossmember? Nice truck case_bt !! Here is mine with 3/5 drop and 17" Impala SS wheels. Attachment 217217 __________________ "it's impossible to be surrounded by idiots when you are part of the circle" 2003 Suburban 2002 Pontiac Montana 1981 Corvette 1966 Impala Convertible Click here to support the board Last edited by centsless; 10-04-2007 at 08:52 PM.

09-27-2006, 10:28 AM	#13
c10crazy Like a Rock! Join Date: May 2002 Location: USA Posts: 1,092	Re: does a 3.5 x 5 drop need a c-notch and drop center crossmember? [QUOTE=centsless;1814037]Nice truck case_bt !! Here is mine with 3/5 drop and 17" Impala SS wheels. Beautiful truck but that looks more like a 2/4 drop with all that space above the tires. __________________ 69 LWB Runs great - work in progress Mess with me and you mess with the whole trailer park!

09-27-2006, 01:48 PM	#15
case_bt Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: willis tx Posts: 374	Re: does a 3.5 x 5 drop need a c-notch and drop center crossmember? the springs getting loose doesn't seem right make sure they are seated properly Attached Images

09-27-2006, 02:22 PM	#16
CJJ67 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Temecula, Ca. Posts: 64	Re: does a 3.5 x 5 drop need a c-notch and drop center crossmember? I have a 3/4 drop on my 67 sb stepside (but would love to get a little lower) and my springs are loose or fall out of place when i jack up my front end also. The ride is fairly smooth but sometimes I forget to put the springs back in their indents. So, this is not normal?

09-27-2006, 04:12 PM	#17
see ten WTB this ad Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Lafayette Georgia Posts: 5,074	Re: does a 3.5 x 5 drop need a c-notch and drop center crossmember? Yep, 3" drop springs will fall over when you jack up your truck by the crossmember.

09-27-2006, 05:44 PM	#18
boraxman Keepin an eye out Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: So.Cal Posts: 3,920	Re: does a 3.5 x 5 drop need a c-notch and drop center crossmember? I have 3-5 spring drop and everything is fine, you can do it yourself easy. Get a pic up later. __________________ 1970 Chevy C10 SWB 5.3 1996 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 2007 Vespa GTS 250 Scooter ZIP 91351

09-27-2006, 05:47 PM	#20
case_bt Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: willis tx Posts: 374	Re: does a 3.5 x 5 drop need a c-notch and drop center crossmember? took me 1.5 hours



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