Lowering help

[firedrag79]

I have been lurking and taking in all the information that has been posted over the years... and now I can't find an answer... so maybe ya'll can help me out.

I'm trying to wrap up the first stages (getting it legal and reliable) of a crewcab build and need some advice. Its an 88 crewcab with a 350 small block (1/2 ton drive train all the way). I swapped all the front 3/4 ton control arms and springs from my old 85 1/2 ton onto the 88 3/4 ton frame. The spring is a 1" drop spring from beltech (for a single cab truck, from donor truck). I took it to the alignment shop this morning and they say that its too low to get back in spec. I know the spring isn't rated for all the weight of the crewcab but was wondering if anyone has any advice on how to get it back into spec? Should I put the 3/4 ton springs in? Go back to stock height spring? If so small block or big block spring. They told me that longer adjusting bolts were not an option.

I like the lower appearance but need to get this back on the road as I am without a daily driver.
I know everyone likes pictures... so here is the album of all my progress and a pic of how it looks now.
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/c...edrag79/Truck/
Thanks
Mike

[N2TRUX]

I don't want to disagree with what the shop told you, but something isn't right if they can't spec a 1" spring.

BTW-That's not your truck. I found a pic of the real owner...

[firedrag79]

I don't really get it either... it could have something to do with switching the 1/2 ton control arms onto the 3/4 ton frame... and having more weight in the crewcab then the old single cab long bed.
I am no expert at this stuff but the upper control arm is shimmed all the way out with just a little thread past the nut. I will try and get a picture of it and post it tonight.

[Captkaos]

You put the 1/2T crossmeber from the 85 C10 under the 3/4T crew cab frame right? They should be able to align it. Are they using the Crew cab specs or the pickup specs?

Any good shop should know how to realign it.

[firedrag79]

I was going to use the 1/2 ton crossmember until I found out that the 1/2 ton frame was about 3/8 inch wider than the 3/4 ton frame. Based on measurements taken before the swap it appeared that the mount for the lower control arms were closer together as well so I didn't think there would be a problem with the alignment since all points moved inwards.
I believe they were using the specs from the 3/4 ton frame when trying to get it aligned but not sure. They said they were unable to give me a printout as the printer was broken.

[Captkaos]

Frame widths are the same on these trucks. Track widths are the same also.

[lolife99]

I suggest going somewhere else. A 1" spring should be no problem.

[firedrag79]

Here is a picture of the alignment bolts.
I thought all the frames were the same width when i started this ... then i tried to move the whole crossmember at once and thats when i made the discovery that it wouldn't fit . I don't have any pictures of trying to fit the wider crossmember as I was not in the right mindset to handle any fragile piece of equipment at that time. Maybe the frame was not original but i'm certain i didn't dream up the difference in width.
If these bolts are maxed out what could another shop do?