63-87 Crossmember raised

[ruffrida2005]

Has anyone choped their crossmember 3-4" to move it up on the frame for ground clearence to lay out? I know you would have to move the upper arm up also. What would need to be done to the motor plates? just cut down or build new ones? I'm just trying to figure out if anyone else has done this. I cant see myself paying $1000 for a raised crossmember if that's all it takes. I think all you would have to do is where the x member attaches to the frame cut it out 3" since it's curved up anyways, and weld some flat stock to it. The spring mount would go up the side of the frame now, so you would have to build a braket to bolt the upper arm to. I dont see it being that hard, but I am also in Iraq right now and dont have it infront of me. I'm building a 64 and trying to do it cheap but build tough. If anyone could help me out on my Idea. Pics would be kick A$$ if someones done it!

[XXL]

Lots of info in this forum on the subject. Give the Search feature a try. Also, it may not be as simple as you make it out to be.

[Spray-Bomb]

There is a guy on here that has channeled it up quite a bit, its a fair amount of work, not so much modding the cross member, but the frame & all the steering stuff to make it work again

The other thing is, that there are a lot more advadtages to running a drop member than just being low, it corrects the all the geometry that "normal" lowering messes up

It can be done, but I wouldnt do it more than about 2"
And I think the reason that people dont channel their cross members as often as Z'ing is because its basically easier to Z & you run into less problems in some ways

[ruffrida2005]

good point there spray bomb, I know us east Texas boys help out one way or another! Did you say you got a dropmember?

[gottwake]

I took out like 2 inches...

[ruffrida2005]

Gottwake, do you have any pics of when you were doing it? and can you show how the spring perch sits and the uppers are put on? thanks

[gottwake]

I didnt do the frame. I sent it out to a shop. Are you referring to leaf spring mounts?

[Spray-Bomb]

No, I dont have one yet

I will be building a full custom frame for my truck eventually & then I will be giving Nate a call

[ruffrida2005]

no I'm talking about up front, where the air bag is sitting now! just wondering how it was done

[gottwake]

Here is a couple of pics, let me know if you need others. Hope it helps

[gottwake]

another one

[HotRodYJ]

I did mine 5" just like your talking about. Look in my build link in my signiture below. In hind site Z'ing the frame would be MUCH easier, but I like being a little different. As said before, correcting the steering geometry again is the biggest issue. Z'ing the frame takes care of that as well in the same step. For mine, I raised the trans tunnel the same 5" .